A list of the most destructive hurricanes in North Carolina history

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Thursday, October 15, 2020
Most destructive hurricanes in NC history
The most destructive hurricanes in North Carolina history have always struck in September and October.

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Here are the six most destructive hurricanes ever to hit North Carolina:



6. Hurricane Diana



Date: September 13, 1984


Landfall: Cape Fear, North Carolina


Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale: Category 2


Main impact: Flooding


Highest rainfall total: Duplin County, 14 inches


Highest wind gust: Oak Island, 115 mph


Damage estimates: $65.5 million dollars (1984 USD)


Deaths: 0 (3 indirectly)



5. Hurricane Matthew


Date: October 8, 2016


Landfall: McClellanville, South Carolina


Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale: Category 1


Main impact: Flooding


Highest rainfall total: Evergreen, 18.95 inches


Highest wind gust: Nags Head, 97 mph


Damage estimates: $10.3 billion total, $1.5 billion NC


Deaths: 29 total, 25 in North Carolina



4. Hurricane Floyd



Date: September 16, 1999


Landfall: Cape Fear, North Carolina


Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale: Category 2


Main impact: Flooding


Highest rainfall total: Southport, 24.06 inches


Highest wind gust: Wrightsville Beach, 138 mph


Damage estimates: $6.5 billion (1999 USD)


Deaths: 57 total, 36 in North Carolina



3. Hurricane Fran


Date: September 5, 1996


Landfall: Cape Fear, North Carolina


Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale: Category 3


Main impacts: storm surge, wind damage


Highest rainfall total: Southport, 24.06 inches


Highest wind gust: Wilmington, 137 mph


Damage estimates: $4.16 billion (1996 USD)


Deaths: 26 total, 14 in North Carolina



2. Hurricane Florence


Date: September 14, 2018


Landfall: Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina


Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale: Category 1


Main impacts: Flooding, storm surge


Highest rainfall total: Elizabethtown, 35.93 inches


Highest wind gust: Cape Lookout, 106 mph


Damage estimates: $25 billion total, $22 billion in NC


Deaths: 22 total, 15 in North Carolina (25 more indirect deaths in NC)



1. Hurricane Hazel


Date: October 15, 1954


Landfall: Calabash, North Carolina


Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale: Category 4


Main impacts: wind, flooding, storm surge


Highest rainfall total: Robbins, 11.3 inches


Highest wind gust: Cape Lookout, 106 mph


Damage estimates: $308 million (1954 USD)


Deaths: 95 total, 19 in North Carolina

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