NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Sophia, NC
Every tropical system within 75 miles since 1851 and every tornado within 25 miles since 1950.
Data: NOAA NHC HURDAT2 and NOAA SPC tornado and hail reports, through 2025 · Updated
35 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Sophia, North Carolina since 1851, 1 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Elsa in 2021. Since 1950, 42 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 1
- Tropical storms
- 34
- Tornadoes
- 42
- EF3 or stronger
- 2
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
4 deaths in all
What the records show for Sophia
The strongest storm to pass near Sophia was an unnamed storm in 1896, a Category 1 hurricane with 82 mph winds when its centre passed 39 miles away. The record near Sophia begins with an unnamed storm in 1854; the most recent system was Elsa in 2021, a tropical storm 51 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 6 systems. Of the 35 systems, 5 have come since 2000. Of the 475 North Carolina cities on this site, 65% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Sophia. The highest rating among the 42 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 2 times; the most recent, on March 28, 2010, came within 16 miles. The deadliest, an EF2 on November 16, 2011, killed 2 people. Of the 42, 2 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 13 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 10. The most recent tornado was on March 18, 2021. Of the 475 North Carolina cities, 76% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Sophia. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 69 times since 1985, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Sophia has more hail reports within 10 miles than 54% of the 475 North Carolina cities.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Sophia
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ElsaJul 8 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2021 | ClaudetteJun 21 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2019 | NestorOct 20 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1996 | FranSep 6 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | BobJul 25 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 5 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1970 | AlmaMay 26 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 16 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | DianeAug 17 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1952 | AbleAug 31 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 28 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 18 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 20 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 6 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 2 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 3 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 14 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 14 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 12 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 29 | 39 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 28 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 10 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 2 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 22 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 13 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | overhead | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 12 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1867 | Unnamed 1867 stormJun 23 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 9 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Sophia: a hurricane's worst winds sit within a few dozen miles of its centre, and inland cities are usually past that.
Tornadoes within 25 miles of Sophia
By decade
- 2020s2
- 2010s7(1 EF3+)
- 2000s4
- 1990s8
- 1980s4
- 1970s8
- 1960s5(1 EF3+)
- 1950s4
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 7, 1965 | F3 | 12 mi | 1 mi | 1 / 4 |
| Mar 28, 2010 | EF3 | 16 mi | 3.46 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 16, 2011 | EF2 | 8 mi | 12.51 mi | 2 / 15 |
| May 8, 2008 | EF2 | 19 mi | 3.85 mi | 1 / 3 |
| Apr 15, 2018 | EF2 | 18 mi | 32.75 mi | 0 / 5 |
| Mar 29, 1991 | F2 | 7 mi | 28 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 1, 1977 | F2 | 4 mi | 9.4 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 15, 1976 | F2 | 20 mi | 18.8 mi | 0 / 7 |
| Apr 18, 1969 | F2 | 17 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Aug 17, 1954 | F2 | 20 mi | 2.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 18, 2021 | EF1 | 10 mi | 2.63 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 6, 2020 | EF1 | 15 mi | 0.38 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 42, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Sophia
The Storm Prediction Center has 69 hail reports within 10 miles of Sophia since 1985, made on 53 separate days. Of these, 30 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2.75 inches (baseball size), was reported on 2 days, most recently August 29, 1987. The most recent report is from April 22, 2025. May has the most reports, 22.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Sophia
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Asheboro 2 W, NC, 8 miles southeast of Sophia at 870 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 88°F and low of 67°F; January is the coolest, at 50°F and 29°F. September is the wettest at 4.8 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 3.2 inches; the year adds up to 46.7 inches over 78 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 52% of the year's precipitation (24.1 of 46.7 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 35 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (12); a normal September there has highs of 81°F and 4.8 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 33 days a year, almost all from June to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 65 nights a year. That 46.7 inches is more than at 29 of the 140 North Carolina stations used on this site (21%). Trinity, 5 miles northwest, has its own station (High Pt, NC): 48.6 inches a year, 1.9 more than here, and a July average high of 89°F against 88°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50 | 29 | 4.0 | 7 |
| Feb | 54 | 32 | 3.2 | 6 |
| Mar | 62 | 39 | 4.1 | 8 |
| Apr | 72 | 47 | 3.9 | 6 |
| May | 78 | 55 | 3.8 | 7 |
| Jun | 85 | 63 | 4.1 | 6 |
| Jul | 88 | 67 | 4.2 | 8 |
| Aug | 87 | 66 | 3.9 | 7 |
| Sep | 81 | 60 | 4.8 | 6 |
| Oct | 71 | 48 | 3.5 | 5 |
| Nov | 61 | 38 | 3.6 | 6 |
| Dec | 53 | 32 | 3.6 | 7 |
| Year | 70 | 48 | 46.7 | 78 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Asheboro 2 W, NC (870 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Normals describe the station; the farther a place is from it, and the bigger the difference in height, the more its weather can differ.
Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Sophia
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 223 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Sophia: 189 thunderstorm wind reports, 30 flash floods and 4 lightning strikes. They killed 0 people and injured 4, and the NWS estimated $862,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on February 22, 2003. July has had the most flash floods, 8 of 30. Of the 472 North Carolina cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 381 have had fewer than Sophia.
April 28, 2011: thunderstorm wind 2 miles from the centre of Sophia — 2 injured, $10,000 damage.
NWS: “Two individual sustained minor injuries when their truck crashed into a downed tree on Old Marlboro Road near Sophia, North Carolina.”
June 26, 2002: thunderstorm wind 10 miles from the centre of Sophia — 2 injured.
June 13, 2013: thunderstorm wind 8 miles from the centre of Sophia — $250,000 damage.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, events whose starting point is on record, 1996 to June 30, 2026. Damage is the NWS estimate in the dollars of the year, not insured losses, and NWS notes that some reports are unverified.
Flood insurance claims, disaster declarations and FEMA risk ratings
Randolph County, which includes Sophia, has been named in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 12 of them major disasters (by incident: 12 hurricanes, 2 biological emergencies, 2 ice storms, 2 severe storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, on May 8, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Randolph County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, inland flooding, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Low for heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $39.4 million a year, the 33rd highest of 100 North Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $23.4 million (59%), is from inland flooding.
Claims: FEMA, OpenFEMA Dataset FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims – v3, summed over ZIP codes; payments in the dollars of each year, not adjusted for inflation. Declarations: Disaster Declarations Summaries – v2, by county. Retrieved October 25, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
Risk ratings: FEMA, National Risk Index county table, December 2025 (v1.20), retrieved October 26, 2026; ratings compare counties nationwide, are meant for planning and are no substitute for a local risk assessment. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.
Cities near Sophia
- Trinity, NC5 mi
- Randleman, NC6 mi
- Archdale, NC8 mi
- Asheboro, NC10 mi
- Thomasville, NC11 mi
- Franklinville, NC12 mi
- Pleasant Garden, NC12 mi
- Jamestown, NC13 mi
- Climax, NC14 mi
- High Point, NC14 mi
- Ramseur, NC16 mi
- Denton, NC17 mi
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