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
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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