List of North Carolina hurricanes (pre-1900)

The list of North Carolina hurricanes before 1900 encompasses 139 tropical cyclones that affected the U.S. state of North Carolina. Collectively, cyclones in North Carolina during the time period resulted in over 775 direct fatalities during the period. Seven cyclones affected the state in the 1893 season, which was the year with the most tropical cyclones impacting the state during the time period. From the beginning of the official North Atlantic hurricane record in 1851 to 1899, there were 12 years without a known tropical cyclone affecting the state. The strongest hurricane to hit the state during the official record was the San Ciriaco hurricane of 1899, which struck the state with winds of 120 mph (195 km/h),[1] although the 1821 Norfolk and Long Island Hurricane may have been stronger.

Historical data prior to 1700 is sparse due to lack of significant European settlements along the coastline; the few storms listed are largely records from Roanoke Colony and later the Province of Carolina. Modern meteorologists believe early storms were tropical cyclones, though due to the time period confirmation is impossible.[2] One theory explaining the disappearance of Roanoke Colony suggests a hurricane destroyed the village, though there is no evidence to prove the theory. It is considered unlikely due to lack of damage to a fence around the village, on which the villagers left an inscription.[3]

Pre-1700

1584 map of Roanoke Colony, which was affected by several hurricanes

1700s

1800–1849

1850–1859

Image of the SS Central America

1860–1869

1870–1879

Reconstructed Weather Map of the Gale of 1878

1880–1889

1890–1899

Track map of 1899 Hurricane San Ciriaco

Monthly statistics

Number of recorded storms affecting North Carolina
Month Number of storms
June
8
July
6
August
41
September
46
October
36
November
2

Deadly storms

The table lists hurricanes by death tolls; hurricanes that caused an unknown number of deaths are excluded.

Name Year Number of deaths
Unnamed 1857 424
Independence Hurricane 1775 163
Racer's Storm 1837 90
Unnamed 1883 53
Unnamed 1772 50
San Ciriaco 1899 20+
Unnamed 1842 8
Expedition Hurricane 1861 7
Unnamed 1815 4
Unnamed 1878 4
Unnamed 1827 2
Unnamed 1876 2
Unnamed 1899 1

See also

References

  1. Hurricane Research Division (2007). "Continental U.S. Hurricanes: 1851 to 1914". Retrieved 2008-01-04.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.30 2.31 2.32 2.33 2.34 2.35 2.36 2.37 2.38 2.39 2.40 2.41 2.42 2.43 2.44 2.45 2.46 2.47 2.48 2.49 2.50 2.51 2.52 2.53 2.54 2.55 2.56 2.57 2.58 2.59 2.60 2.61 2.62 2.63 2.64 2.65 2.66 2.67 2.68 2.69 2.70 2.71 2.72 James E. Hudgins (2000). "Tropical Cyclones Affecting North Carolina since 1566 – An Historical Perspective". Blacksburg, Virginia National Weather Service. Archived from the original on 2007-03-11. Retrieved 2007-12-18.
  3. JG. "The Lost Colony of Roanoke, 1588". Retrieved 2007-12-18.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Edward N. Rappaport and Jose Fernandez-Partagas (1997). "The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492-1996: Cyclones that may have 25+ deaths". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-12-18.
  5. David Roth & Hugh Cobb (2001). "Sixteenth Century Virginia Hurricanes". NOAA. Retrieved 2007-12-18.
  6. Thomas Jefferson. "Virginia Records Timeline: 1553-1743". Library of Congress, Manuscript Division. Retrieved 2007-12-18.
  7. Abby Yochelson and Jay Sweany (2001). "Mystery of the Lost Colony". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2007-12-18.
  8. David M. Ludlum (1963). Early American Hurricanes, 1492-1870. American Meteorological Society. p. 9. Retrieved 2007-12-18.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 9.9 David Roth & Hugh Cobb (2001). "Eighteenth Century Virginia Hurricanes". NOAA. Retrieved 2007-12-18.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Edward N. Rappaport and Jose Fernandez-Partagas (1997). "The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492-1996". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-12-18.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 Michael Chenoweth (2006). "A Reassessment of Historical Atlantic Basin Tropical Cyclone Activity, 1700-1855" (PDF). NOAA. Retrieved 2007-12-23.
  12. David M. Ludlum (1963). Early American Hurricanes, 1492-1870. American Meteorological Society. p. 26. Retrieved 2007-12-23.
  13. Brian H. Bossak and James B. Elsner (2003). "Track Map for September 1804 Hurricane" (PDF). Florida State University. Retrieved 2007-12-23.
  14. David Ludlum (2003). "The Great Coastal Hurricane of 1806" (PDF). Florida State University. Retrieved 2007-12-23.
  15. David Ludlum (2003). "The North Carolina Hurricane of 1815" (PDF). Florida State University. Retrieved 2007-12-23.
  16. Barnes (2003). "The North Carolina Hurricane of 1815 (2)" (PDF). Florida State University. Retrieved 2007-12-23.
  17. Brian H. Bossak and James B. Elsner (2003). "Track Map for August 1817 Hurricane" (PDF). Florida State University. Retrieved 2007-12-23.
  18. David Ludlum (2003). "1821 Norfolk and Long Island Hurricane" (PDF). Florida State University. Retrieved 2007-12-24.
  19. Brian H. Bossak and James B. Elsner (2003). "Track Map for September 1824 Hurricane" (PDF). Florida State University. Retrieved 2007-12-23.
  20. Dunn and Miller (2003). "Storm 1 of 1827" (PDF). Florida State University. Retrieved 2007-12-24.
  21. 21.0 21.1 David Roth & Hugh Cobb (2001). "Early Nineteenth Century Virginia Hurricanes". NOAA. Retrieved 2007-12-24.
  22. Brian H. Bossak and James B. Elsner (2003). "Track Map for August 1830 Hurricane" (PDF). Florida State University. Retrieved 2007-12-24.
  23. David Ludlum (2003). "October Coastal Hurricane of 1830" (PDF). Florida State University. Retrieved 2007-12-24.
  24. Brian H. Bossak and James B. Elsner (2003). "Track Map for September 1835 Hurricane" (PDF). Florida State University. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  25. David Ludlum (2003). "The Key West Hurricane of October 1841" (PDF). Florida State University. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
  26. David Ludlum (2003). "The Gulf to Bermuda Hurricane of 1842" (PDF). Florida State University. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
  27. David Ludlum (2003). "The Cuban and Florida Straits Hurricane of 1844" (PDF). Florida State University. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
  28. David Ludlum (2003). "The Key West Hurricane of 1846" (PDF). Florida State University. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
  29. 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 29.6 29.7 29.8 29.9 29.10 29.11 29.12 29.13 29.14 29.15 29.16 29.17 29.18 29.19 29.20 29.21 29.22 29.23 29.24 National Hurricane Center; Hurricane Research Division (March 2, 2015). "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  30. 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 Hurricane Research Division (2007). "Documentation of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Changes". NOAA. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
  31. U.S. War Department (1875). "September 1875 Monthly Weather Review" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-01-01.
  32. David Roth & Hugh Cobb (2000). "Gale of '78". NOAA. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
  33. 33.0 33.1 U.S. Weather Bureau (1885). "Monthly Weather Review" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-01-02.
  34. U.S. Weather Bureau (1891). "Monthly Weather Review" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-01-02.
  35. 35.0 35.1 35.2 U.S. Weather Bureau (1893). "Monthly Weather Review" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-01-02.
  36. David Roth & Hugh Cobb (2001). "Early Nineteenth Century Virginia Hurricanes". NOAA. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
  37. U.S. Weather Bureau (1896). "Monthly Weather Review" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-01-02.