NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Southern Pines, 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
62 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Southern Pines, North Carolina since 1851, 7 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Debby in 2024. Since 1950, 46 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 4 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 7
- Tropical storms
- 55
- Tornadoes
- 46
- EF3 or stronger
- 4
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
13 deaths in all
What the records show for Southern Pines
The strongest storm to pass near Southern Pines was Hazel in 1954, a Category 2 hurricane with 109 mph winds when its centre passed 55 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1896, whose centre came within 5 miles. The record near Southern Pines begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Debby in 2024, a tropical storm 65 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 7 systems. Of the 62 systems, 10 have come since 2000. Southern Pines has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 60% of the 475 North Carolina cities on this site. The strongest of the 46 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F4 on April 8, 1957; its path came within 25 miles, and it killed 4 people. The deadliest, an EF3 on April 16, 2011, killed 6 people. Of the 46, 8 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 20 have come since 2000. September has had the most tornadoes, 11. The most recent tornado was on May 21, 2020. Of the 475 North Carolina cities, 71% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Southern Pines. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 55 times since 1970, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 475 North Carolina cities, 60% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Southern Pines.
Compare Southern Pines's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Southern Pines
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | DebbyAug 8 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2022 | IanOct 1 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 8 | overhead | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2021 | ClaudetteJun 21 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2019 | NestorOct 20 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 7 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | HannaSep 6 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2006 | AlbertoJun 14 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1998 | EarlSep 4 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1996 | FranSep 6 | 39 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | BobJul 25 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1984 | DianaSep 14 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 5 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1972 | AgnesJun 21 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1970 | AlmaMay 26 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 16 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1956 | FlossySep 26 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1955 | DianeAug 17 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1954 | HazelOct 15 | 55 mi | Category 2 (109 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1952 | AbleAug 31 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1952 | Unnamed 1952 stormAug 28 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 25 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 18 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 20 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormAug 2 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 6 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 2 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 19 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1920 | Unnamed 1920 stormSep 23 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormSep 6 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 16 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1913 | Unnamed 1913 stormOct 10 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1913 | Unnamed 1913 stormSep 3 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 14 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 14 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormJul 13 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormOct 31 | 36 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 29 | 5 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 9 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 13 | 46 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 4 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 28 | 62 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 10 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 2 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 22 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 13 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1883 | Unnamed 1883 stormSep 12 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 12 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 29 | 64 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1867 | Unnamed 1867 stormJun 23 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormSep 1 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 9 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormOct 10 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 25 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Southern Pines: 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 Southern Pines
By decade
- 2020s1
- 2010s4(2 EF3+)
- 2000s15
- 1990s5
- 1980s8
- 1970s8
- 1960s2(1 EF3+)
- 1950s3(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 8, 1957 | F4 | 25 mi | 121.4 mi | 4 / 70 |
| Apr 16, 2011 | EF3 | 12 mi | 65.23 mi | 6 / 103 |
| Apr 16, 2011 | EF3 | 18 mi | 52.86 mi | 2 / 176 |
| Apr 18, 1969 | F3 | 25 mi | 77.3 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Feb 11, 1981 | F2 | 22 mi | 12.4 mi | 1 / 0 |
| May 19, 1986 | F2 | 21 mi | 19 mi | 0 / 5 |
| Feb 11, 1981 | F2 | 2 mi | 7.6 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 11, 1981 | F2 | 4 mi | 5.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 9, 1976 | F2 | 24 mi | 6.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 29, 1963 | F2 | 17 mi | 11 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 21, 2020 | EF1 | 16 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 19, 2019 | EF1 | 24 mi | 1.6 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 46, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Southern Pines
The Storm Prediction Center has 55 hail reports within 10 miles of Southern Pines since 1970, made on 41 separate days. Of these, 34 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 12 days, most recently August 12, 2024. The most recent report is from May 29, 2025. May has the most reports, 21.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Southern Pines
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Jackson Springs 5 WNW, NC, 16 miles west of Southern Pines at 730 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 90°F and low of 70°F; January is the coolest, at 52°F and 33°F. September is the wettest at 5.3 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 3.3 inches; the year adds up to 48.3 inches over 77 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 54% of the year's precipitation (26.2 of 48.3 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 62 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (25); a normal September there has highs of 83°F and 5.3 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 44 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 58 nights a year. Snowfall averages 3.3 inches a year, most of it in January. That 48.3 inches is more than at 49 of the 140 North Carolina stations used on this site (35%). Vass, 9 miles east, has its own station (Raeford, NC): 48.8 inches a year, 0.5 more than here, and the same July average high, 90°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52 | 33 | 3.9 | 7 | 2.3 |
| Feb | 55 | 35 | 3.3 | 7 | 0.6 |
| Mar | 63 | 41 | 4.1 | 7 | 0.2 |
| Apr | 73 | 50 | 3.5 | 6 | 0.0 |
| May | 80 | 59 | 3.4 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 87 | 67 | 4.4 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 90 | 70 | 4.6 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 88 | 69 | 4.5 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 83 | 63 | 5.3 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 73 | 52 | 3.7 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 63 | 42 | 3.7 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Dec | 55 | 36 | 3.9 | 7 | 0.2 |
| Year | 72 | 51 | 48.3 | 77 | 3.3 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Jackson Springs 5 WNW, NC (730 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 Southern Pines
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 164 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Southern Pines: 137 thunderstorm wind reports, 22 flash floods and 5 lightning strikes. They killed 0 people and injured 19, and the NWS estimated $8.9 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 69 mph, on May 2, 2003. Of the 472 North Carolina cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 307 have had fewer than Southern Pines.
August 19, 2015: lightning strike 7 miles from the centre of Southern Pines — 18 injured.
July 8, 2015: thunderstorm wind 5 miles from the centre of Southern Pines — 1 injured, $5,000 damage.
July 6, 2025: flash flood 3 miles from the centre of Southern Pines — $5.0 million 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
Flood insurance policyholders in Southern Pines's ZIP code 28387 have filed 17 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1993, and were paid $92,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 76% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 263 North Carolina cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 50 have fewer than Southern Pines.
Moore County, which includes Southern Pines, has been named in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1968, 10 of them major disasters (by incident: 11 hurricanes, 2 biological emergencies, 2 ice storms, 2 snowstorms). The latest major disaster declaration was Tropical Depression Chantal, on September 11, 2025. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Moore County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for lightning; Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, tornadoes and inland flooding; Relatively Low for hail, strong wind and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $34.6 million a year, the 38th highest of 100 North Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $16.8 million (49%), 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.