Goldsboro

Population 35,012 (2025)

40 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Goldsboro since 1851; the strongest at closest approach was Hazel in 1954 (Category 2).

Hazard fingerprint for Goldsboro Tornado: 69th percentile. Tropical: 89th percentile. Wildfire: 0th percentile. Flood: 68th percentile. Hail & wind: 73th percentile. Heat: 39th percentile. Cold: 9th percentile. Winter: 30th percentile. TORTROPFIREFLOODSEVEREHEATCOLDWINTER

Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed

2026
  • Tornado damage paths within 25 miles since 1950112
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger92
  • Major flood years since 1978, Wayne County4

At a glance

Tornado paths within 25 miles, tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles and wildfire perimeters within 25 miles of the city centre. Storm events, flood insurance claims and disaster declarations are for Wayne County. Earthquakes within 50 miles, volcanoes within 100 miles and smoke days are measured from the city centre; river and tide gauges, tsunami and landslide records and the drought index are for Wayne County.

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

40

7 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Tornadoes since 1950, within 25 mi

112

11 rated F3/EF3 or stronger

Details

Flood insurance claims

1,193

Wayne County

$47.0 million paid since 1978

Details

Strongest tornado

F4

March 28, 1984, 28.0 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 2

Hurricane Hazel, 1954, 29.4 miles away

Federal disaster declarations

28

Most recent: Severe Winter Storm, 2026

Details

Record high

107°F

July 22, 1952

Details

Record low

−5°F

January 21, 1985

Details

Tornadoes

About one tornado a year since 1950, 11 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest

March 28, 1984

F4, 28.0 mile path

1,223 yards wide; 16 killed along the whole path.

Most recent

Thursday, August 8, 2024

EF3, 6.5 mile path

2 years ago.

Tornadoes by decade, within 25 miles Doppler radar era² 1950s: 3 3 1960s: 7 7 1970s: 12 12 1980s: 9 9 1990s: 26 26 2000s: 27 27 2010s: 24 24 2020s: 4 4 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 6 F: 7 M: 17 A: 23 23 M: 10 J: 8 J: 5 A: 11 S: 12 O: 6 N: 7 D: 0 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes within 25 miles since 1950
Aug 8, 2024EF36.520001
Aug 8, 2024EF29.540000
Jun 22, 2023EF10.710000
Jan 3, 2022EF10.17500
Sep 5, 2019EF00.15000
Sep 5, 2019EF10.820000
Sep 5, 2019EF00.612500
Sep 5, 2019EFU0.15000
Sep 17, 2018EF00.410000
Sep 14, 2018EF09.015000
Oct 8, 2016EF00.925000
Feb 24, 2016EF10.210000
Feb 24, 2016EF01.07500
Apr 29, 2014EF00.02500
Apr 25, 2014EF14.212500
Apr 25, 2014EF00.35000
Feb 21, 2014EF10.817500
Feb 26, 2013EF00.57500
Aug 11, 2012EF10.24000
Aug 6, 2011EF02.57500
Apr 16, 2011EF320.4400300
Apr 16, 2011EF00.23000
Apr 16, 2011EF29.0200100
Apr 16, 2011EF18.610000
Apr 16, 2011EF229.9800133
Apr 16, 2011EF352.98001762
Mar 6, 2011EF00.63000
Mar 6, 2011EF00.42500
May 5, 2009EF22.810010
May 5, 2009EF00.42500
May 5, 2009EF00.02500
May 5, 2009EF00.11000
Mar 27, 2009EF10.710000
Nov 15, 2008EF24.115021
Nov 15, 2008EF03.35000
Sep 25, 2008EF00.52000
Aug 27, 2008EF01.910000
Aug 27, 2008EF04.55000
Apr 12, 2008EF00.92000
Apr 12, 2008EF00.42000
Apr 5, 2008EF02.910000
Feb 18, 2008EF21.515030
Jul 17, 2007EF00.01000
Jan 14, 2006F11.57500
Jan 14, 2006F10.77500
Oct 22, 2005F00.12000
Jun 29, 2004F00.12000
Jun 4, 2004F01.010000
Jun 4, 2004F01.010000
Jun 4, 2004F00.510000
May 9, 2003F00.12500
Oct 11, 2002F12.05000
Oct 11, 2002F14.07500
May 21, 2000F00.55000
Feb 14, 2000F00.1000
Apr 1, 1998F11.58030
Apr 1, 1998F11.510000
Apr 1, 1998F11.05000
Apr 1, 1998F00.55000
Mar 8, 1998F21.05000
Jul 5, 1997F00.510000
May 1, 1997F02.05000
Sep 16, 1996F11.010010
Sep 16, 1996F21.010010
Sep 16, 1996F12.010000
Jul 12, 1996F00.35000
Apr 15, 1996F00.55000
Apr 15, 1996F10.55000
Apr 15, 1996F00.35000
Apr 15, 1996F00.32500
Apr 15, 1996F21.07500
Oct 5, 1995F00.22300
Jan 6, 1995F10.550220
Jan 6, 1995F11.010080
Jan 6, 1995F11.07310
Aug 6, 1993F11.03000
Nov 23, 1992F3160.0100440
Nov 4, 1992F12.03000
Nov 4, 1992F00.21000
Nov 4, 1992F10.32000
Nov 4, 1992F10.42000
Aug 20, 1986F21.02300
Aug 18, 1985F10.215000
Mar 28, 1984F428.01,22315316
Mar 28, 1984F39.0527810
Mar 28, 1984F421.01,4071493
Mar 28, 1984F340.01,40710112
Jul 4, 1981F10.11000
Jul 3, 1980F00.11000
Jun 26, 1980F00.11000
Mar 4, 1977F34.96000
Mar 4, 1977F10.21000
Mar 4, 1977F10.21020
Mar 4, 1977F10.52000
Oct 9, 1976F15.75000
Jun 2, 1976F20.31300
May 23, 1975F10.11000
Mar 14, 1975F232.6100200
May 29, 1973F00.11000
May 29, 1973F117.91000
Mar 15, 1971F164.05000
Feb 22, 1971F385.7500602
Apr 18, 1969F325.830010
Aug 16, 1966F10.11000
Mar 15, 1964F00.11000
Sep 29, 1963F285.8100123
Apr 8, 1962F064.11000
Aug 20, 1961F11.02720
Jun 21, 1961F11.05010
Mar 18, 1956F01.03000
Mar 16, 1955F26.650011
Sep 20, 1954F20.510040
  1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond this area.
  2. Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

40 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 7 at hurricane strength.

Strongest within 50 miles

October 15, 1954

Hazel, Category 2

29.4 miles at closest approach, winds near 108 mph.

Most recent

September 23, 2023

Ophelia, Tropical storm

42.4 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 4 60s: 1 70s: 3 80s: 3 90s: 5 5 00s: 1 10s: 2 20s: 1 30s: 1 40s: 1 50s: 2 60s: 1 70s: 2 80s: 1 90s: 4 00s: 4 10s: 0 20s: 4 50s60s70s80s90s00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s00s10s20s
Storms within 50 miles, by decade. Records before about 1900 miss storms that never reached land or ships.

Every storm within 100 miles

Tropical cyclones within 100 miles
Ophelia202342.4Tropical storm54Tropical storm
Ian202293.8Post-tropical46Category 5
Elsa202147.4Tropical storm52Category 1
Claudette202112.8Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Isaias20207.0Tropical storm69Category 1
Nestor201930.7Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Michael201863.2Tropical storm55Category 5
Florence201882.2Category 192Category 4
Hermine201654.0Tropical storm62Category 1
Arthur201490.1Category 298Category 2
Andrea201318.3Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Beryl201277.0Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Irene201187.9Category 183Category 3
Hanna200814.6Tropical storm55Category 1
Gabrielle200795.0Tropical storm54Tropical storm
Barry200774.8Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Ernesto200613.5Tropical storm43Category 1
Alberto20066.4Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Charley200434.5Tropical storm61Category 4
Isabel200363.1Category 186Category 5
Helene20002.2Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Floyd199948.7Category 189Category 4
Dennis199916.1Tropical storm39Category 2
Earl199810.4Post-tropical58Category 2
Bonnie199859.1Category 189Category 3
Josephine199637.3Post-tropical52Tropical storm
Fran199642.9Category 175Category 3
Bertha199627.4Category 174Category 3
Arthur199697.2Tropical storm43Tropical storm
Allison199549.2Post-tropical46Category 1
Charley198694.1Category 175Category 1
Kate198582.5Tropical storm48Category 3
Diana198423.7Tropical storm47Category 4
Unnamed198281.1Subtropical storm69Tropical storm
Dennis198172.2Tropical storm63Category 1
Agnes197224.9Tropical storm45Category 1
Doria197159.9Tropical storm69Tropical storm
Unnamed197085.9Tropical storm58Category 1
Alma197040.2Tropical storm40Category 1
Doria196798.1Tropical storm43Category 2
Unnamed19659.6Post-tropical43Tropical storm
Isbell196417.5Post-tropical40Category 3
Dora196469.3Post-tropical69Category 4
Unnamed196150.3Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Donna196065.9Category 2104Category 4
Brenda196030.4Tropical storm61Tropical storm
Helene195899.2Category 4136Category 4
Unnamed195655.0Post-tropical53Tropical storm
Flossy195633.3Post-tropical58Category 1
Ione195571.9Category 186Category 4
Diane195527.1Tropical storm62Category 2
Connie195581.8Category 298Category 4
Hazel195429.4Category 2108Category 4
Unnamed194720.4Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Unnamed194650.5Tropical storm52Category 1
Unnamed194573.2Tropical storm51Category 4
Unnamed194589.9Category 175Category 2
Unnamed194443.6Post-tropical51Category 4
Unnamed194413.4Tropical storm55Category 1
Unnamed193538.4Tropical storm56Category 5
Unnamed192958.9Post-tropical58Category 4
Unnamed19286.8Category 175Category 5
Unnamed192585.0Post-tropical72Category 1
Unnamed192423.4Post-tropical70Category 1
Unnamed192468.8Post-tropical48Category 1
Unnamed192070.5Tropical storm40Category 1
Unnamed191877.4Category 175Category 1
Unnamed191613.0Tropical storm41Tropical storm
Unnamed191319.3Tropical storm52Category 1
Unnamed191219.3Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Unnamed191083.7Tropical storm63Category 4
Unnamed190894.3Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed190872.2Category 181Category 1
Unnamed190752.2Post-tropical55Tropical storm
Unnamed190434.6Tropical storm67Category 1
Unnamed190258.9Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed190196.5Tropical storm40Category 1
Unnamed190187.1Tropical storm54Category 1
Unnamed190093.4Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Unnamed189936.2Tropical storm71Category 2
Unnamed189672.5Category 181Category 3
Unnamed189429.3Tropical storm69Category 3
Unnamed189470.6Tropical storm69Category 3
Unnamed189334.8Category 190Category 3
Unnamed189319.3Tropical storm40Category 4
Unnamed189331.3Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed188964.5Tropical storm46Category 2
Unnamed188859.1Tropical storm62Category 2
Unnamed188858.8Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed188631.4Tropical storm43Category 2
Unnamed188697.6Tropical storm39Category 2
Unnamed188579.0Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed188557.8Category 183Category 2
Unnamed188312.9Tropical storm58Category 3
Unnamed188260.4Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed188286.0Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed188129.3Tropical storm69Category 2
Unnamed188068.0Category 181Category 1
Unnamed187984.3Category 3113Category 3
Unnamed187852.7Category 2104Category 2
Unnamed187742.9Post-tropical58Category 3
Unnamed187631.9Category 186Category 3
Unnamed18749.9Tropical storm67Category 1
Unnamed187233.8Tropical storm54Category 1
Unnamed186747.4Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed186364.5Tropical storm64Tropical storm
Unnamed186190.7Category 181Category 1
Unnamed186150.7Tropical storm69Category 1
Unnamed185977.2Tropical storm52Category 1
Unnamed185759.1Category 183Category 2
Unnamed185647.0Tropical storm58Category 3
Unnamed185686.2Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed185411.1Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed185249.0Tropical storm58Category 2
Unnamed185111.1Tropical storm46Category 3
  1. Tropical storms and hurricanes (34 kt or more, still tropical) at closest approach. Post-tropical remnants with gale-force winds are listed but not counted. Direct: track within 50 miles; near: within 100 miles. Distance is measured to the county boundary for counties and to the city centre for cities, using positions interpolated hourly between HURDAT2 fixes.

National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, 1851 to 2025.

Wildfire and smoke

No large wildfire has been mapped within 25 miles since satellite mapping began in 1984.

Smoke overhead

Smokiest year

2023: 36 days

Heavy smoke on 5 days in 2023, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

8.1 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

7 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 30 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 8 2012: 4 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 1 2016: 1 2017: 0 2018: 2 2019: 1 2020: 3 2021: 15 2022: 10 2023: 36 36 2024: 6 2025: 7 201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Days each year on which a satellite-traced plume of medium or heavy smoke covered the city centre, 2011 to 2025.
  1. A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.

NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Floods and flood insurance

1,193 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $47.0 million paid.

Flood insurance figures are for Wayne County, the county that contains Goldsboro.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1982: 9 1992: 13 1996: 71 1998: 16 1999: 394 2001: 6 2005: 7 2006: 10 2016: 456 456 2017: 5 2018: 161 2020: 9 198220012018
Claims per year since 1978. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

2016: 456 claims

$30.0 million paid.

2nd most

1999: 394 claims

$10.6 million paid.

3rd most

2018: 161 claims

$4.6 million paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
27530840$32.4 million
27534179$8.3 million
2857856$3.0 million
2833339$1.2 million
2836527$583,000
2855119$680,000
2756915$403,000
278638$86,000

Flood events since 1996

  • Flash Flood53
  • Heavy Rain11
  • Flood5

4 deaths recorded in flood events since 1996.

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).

OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.

River crests

River gauges in Wayne County, the county that contains Goldsboro.

Most severe crest

October 12, 2016

Neuse River near Goldsboro, 29.74 ft

11.74 feet above the 18.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

August 14, 2024

Neuse River near Goldsboro, 21.29 ft

Moderate flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Oct 12, 2016Neuse River near Goldsboro29.74+11.74Major
Sep 20, 1999Neuse River near Goldsboro28.85+10.85Major
Sep 19, 2018Neuse River near Goldsboro27.60+9.60Major
Oct 5, 1929Neuse River near Goldsboro27.30+9.30Major
Sep 23, 1945Neuse River near Goldsboro26.70+8.70Major
Sep 12, 1996Neuse River near Goldsboro26.21+8.21Major
Oct 9, 1964Neuse River near Goldsboro26.10+8.10Major
Apr 11, 1936Neuse River near Goldsboro25.30+7.30Major
Apr 30, 2017Neuse River near Goldsboro24.90+6.90Major
Sep 8, 1955Neuse River near Goldsboro24.40+6.40Major
Mar 4, 1975Neuse River near Goldsboro24.39+6.39Major
Feb 3, 1937Neuse River near Goldsboro24.10+6.10Major
Jan 28, 1954Neuse River near Goldsboro23.77+5.77Moderate
Feb 9, 1973Neuse River near Goldsboro23.20+5.20Moderate
Mar 6, 1987Neuse River near Goldsboro22.93+4.93Moderate
Feb 12, 2020Neuse River near Goldsboro22.39+4.39Moderate
May 13, 1958Neuse River near Goldsboro22.35+4.35Moderate
Feb 20, 2021Neuse River near Goldsboro21.96+3.96Moderate
Jan 7, 2021Neuse River near Goldsboro21.49+3.49Moderate
Mar 10, 1966Neuse River near Goldsboro21.38+3.38Moderate
Aug 14, 2024Neuse River near Goldsboro21.29+3.29Moderate
Feb 23, 1995Neuse River near Goldsboro21.01+3.01Moderate
May 7, 1989Neuse River near Goldsboro20.84+2.84Moderate
Nov 19, 2018Neuse River near Goldsboro20.07+2.07Moderate
Apr 15, 2003Neuse River near Goldsboro20.00+2.00Moderate

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Neuse River at Main St in Seven Springs15.017.67 ftAug 15, 20240
Neuse River near Goldsboro18.029.74 ftOct 12, 201612
Stony Creek at Bus US 709.0——0
  1. Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.

NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Drought

In severe drought or worse for 95 of 1,581 months since 1895 (6%); the longest spell lasted 19 months.

The drought index is for Wayne County, the county that contains Goldsboro.

95

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

20

Months in extreme drought

6%

Share of all months, severe or worse

Lowest reading

July 1986

−4.78, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

19 months

May 1985 to November 1986.

Latest month

September 2026

−4.64, extreme drought

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 0 1896: 0 1897: 0 1898: 0 1899: 0 1900: 1 1901: 0 1902: 0 1903: 0 1904: 0 1905: 0 1906: 0 1907: 0 1908: 0 1909: 0 1910: 0 1911: 6 1912: 0 1913: 0 1914: 0 1915: 0 1916: 0 1917: 0 1918: 0 1919: 0 1920: 0 1921: 0 1922: 0 1923: 0 1924: 0 1925: 0 1926: 4 1927: 5 1928: 0 1929: 0 1930: 4 1931: 3 1932: 2 1933: 1 1934: 2 1935: 0 1936: 0 1937: 0 1938: 0 1939: 0 1940: 0 1941: 0 1942: 2 1943: 0 1944: 0 1945: 0 1946: 0 1947: 0 1948: 0 1949: 0 1950: 0 1951: 0 1952: 0 1953: 0 1954: 4 1955: 7 1956: 0 1957: 0 1958: 0 1959: 0 1960: 0 1961: 0 1962: 0 1963: 0 1964: 0 1965: 0 1966: 0 1967: 0 1968: 0 1969: 0 1970: 0 1971: 0 1972: 0 1973: 1 1974: 0 1975: 0 1976: 0 1977: 0 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 0 1981: 0 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 8 1986: 11 11 1987: 2 1988: 4 1989: 0 1990: 0 1991: 0 1992: 0 1993: 2 1994: 1 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 0 1999: 0 2000: 0 2001: 0 2002: 0 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 0 2007: 5 2008: 6 2009: 0 2010: 0 2011: 1 2012: 0 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 0 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 0 2022: 4 2023: 3 2024: 0 2025: 0 18951905191519251935194519551965197519851995200520152025
Months each year with a Palmer index of −3 or lower, 1895 to 2025. Twelve means the whole year.
  1. The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.

NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.

Earthquakes

No earthquake of magnitude 2.5 or more is recorded within 50 miles of the city centre in the USGS catalogue, which begins in 1900.

Severe weather and other events

615 events in the National Weather Service record for Wayne County, 492 of them since 1996.

58

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

1

Hail, 2 inches or larger

233

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

42

Winter weather events since 1996

6

Heat events since 1996

2

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

June 9, 1988

2.75 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

April 30, 1981

91 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Lightning1111Jun 21, 2006

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Oct 9, 2016Flood$121 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Torrential rainfall of 12 to 15 inches caused widespread flash flooding across the county. Additional rainfall upstream caused all-time record major flooding along the Neuse River near Goldsboro. Flooding damaged approximately 5,092 structures throughout the county, resulting in $120.8 million in property damage and and at least $20 million in crop damage. Numerous roads were closed due to flooding. Numerous homes and businesses were flooded as well, with more than 125 people rescued from trapped homes and vehicles. There were 2 direct fatalities when a 54 year old male and a 47 year old female when their vehicles were swept away by flood waters along Wayne Memorial Drive near…

  2. Sep 17, 2018Flood$20.9 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Torrential rainfall of 15 to 20 inches upstream caused major flooding along the Neuse River Basin. Flooding damaged approximately 1,482 structures throughout the county, resulting in over $20.93 million in property damage, and over $30 million in crop damage. Numerous streets and roads were reported flooded.

  3. Jul 5, 1997Hail$2.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL FELL ON OAKLAND CHURCH ROAD. CONSIDERABLE CROP DAMAGE OCCURRED OVER WESTERN AND NORTHERN WAYNE COUNTIES DURING THE HAIL STORMS.

  4. Aug 10, 2007Thunderstorm Wind$1.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Numerous trees were blown down all throughout the city. Numerous roads were blocked by downed trees and power lines from Wayne Memorial Drive east to Highway 13. A Days Inn Motel on HWY 70 sustained major roof damage. Four people were transported to Wayne Memorial Hospital with injuries ranging from a broken leg to scratches.

  5. Sep 5, 2019Tropical Storm, Wayne$1.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Frequent wind gusts of 35 to 55 mph resulted in scattered to numerous trees and power lines down across Wayne County, including some on homes. Numerous customers lost power in Wayne County as a result of the tropical storm force winds.

  6. Oct 29, 2020Strong Wind, Wayne$1.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Frequent wind gusts of 40 to 55 mph resulted in scattered to numerous trees and power lines down across Wayne County, including some on homes. Numerous customers lost power in Wayne County as a result of the strong winds.

  7. Sep 13, 2018Tropical Storm, Wayne$1.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Frequent wind gusts of 50 to 70 mph resulted in numerous trees down across Wayne County, including on homes, cars, power lines and damage to structures. Numerous customers lost power in Wayne County as a result of the tropical storm force winds.|A 81 year old male died(indirect)when he fell and struck his head while packing to evacuate.

  8. Aug 27, 2011High Wind, Wayne$1.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Trees and power-lines were blown down all throughout the county. Several homes were damaged from fallen trees and a portion of the Berkeley Mall collapsed. A fatality occurred when two cars collided with another at an intersection where the traffic signals were out.

  9. Aug 3, 2020Tropical Storm, Wayne$1.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Frequent wind gusts of 35 to 50 mph resulted in scattered to numerous trees and power lines down across Wayne County, including some on homes. Numerous customers lost power in Wayne County as a result of the tropical storm force winds.

  10. Sep 30, 2022Tropical Storm, Wayne$750,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Frequent wind gusts of 40 to 60 mph resulted in scattered to numerous trees and power lines down across Wayne County, including some on homes. Numerous customers lost power in Wayne County as a result of the tropical storm force wind gusts.

  1. Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.

Weather records

From Wilson 3 Sw, 21.9 miles from the city centre, with records from 1916.

All-time high
107°FJul 22, 1952
All-time low
−5°FJan 21, 1985
Warmest night
89°FAug 8, 1918
Coldest day
17°FJan 22, 1985
Wettest day
9.53 inSep 16, 1999
Snowiest day
15.0 inDec 11, 1958
Hottest year
2024mean 63.9°F
Coldest year
1988mean 57.0°F
Wettest year
198973.46 in
Driest year
198130.58 in
Snowiest season
30.3 in1947-48
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Wilson 3 Sw 32°F 52° 32° 3.6 Jan 56° 34° 3.1 Feb 64° 41° 3.9 Mar 73° 50° 3.8 Apr 80° 59° 4.0 May 87° 67° 4.3 Jun 90° 71° 6.0 Jul 88° 70° 5.3 Aug 83° 64° 6.0 Sep 74° 52° 3.0 Oct 64° 41° 3.1 Nov 56° 35° 3.8 Dec Precipitation, inches
Average daily high and low by month, and average monthly precipitation, over the last 30 years.
Days reaching 95°F per year 1976: 9 1977: 26 1978: 9 1979: 10 1980: 34 1981: 17 1982: 0 1983: 31 1984: 5 1985: 16 1986: 24 1987: 28 1988: 21 1989: 12 1990: 21 1991: 19 1992: 12 1993: 40 40 1994: 13 1995: 10 1996: 5 1997: 10 1998: 12 1999: 21 2000: 4 2001: 2 2002: 19 2003: 3 2004: 1 2005: 12 2006: 11 2007: 19 2009: 2 2010: 28 2011: 25 2012: 13 2013: 2 2014: 13 2015: 15 2016: 5 2017: 5 2018: 13 2019: 19 2020: 7 2021: 0 2022: 17 2023: 10 2024: 20 2025: 9 19761986199620062017
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 11.1.
Snowfall by winter 1960: 2.2 in 1962: 6.8 in 1963: 0.2 in 1964: 11.5 in 1965: 9.4 in 1966: 3.9 in 1967: 8.7 in 1968: 4.4 in 1969: 0.4 in 1970: 4.0 in 1971: 3.8 in 1973: 1.7 in 1974: 0.0 in 1975: 1.0 in 1976: 0.0 in 1977: 5.3 in 1978: 12.5 in 1979: 28.3 in 28.3 1980: 3.0 in 1981: 1.5 in 1982: 7.0 in 1983: 0.0 in 1984: 1.5 in 1985: 0.0 in 1986: 2.5 in 1988: 8.0 in 1989: 0.0 in 1990: 0.0 in 1991: 0.0 in 1992: 1.0 in 1993: 1.5 in 1994: 0.0 in 1996: 0.0 in 1997: 0.0 in 1998: 0.0 in 1999: 0.0 in 2000: 5.0 in 2001: 8.0 in 2002: 2.3 in 2003: 5.0 in 2004: 4.0 in 2006: 0.0 in 2007: 0.0 in 2009: 3.6 in 19601971198219932004
Total snowfall each winter (July to June), last 50 winters.

Median first snow

January 18

Earliest: November 26, 1938

Median last snow

February 9

Latest: March 26, 1971

22 of 67 winters had no measurable snow.

Station Wilson 3 Sw (USC00319476), 110 ft elevation, 21.9 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1916 to October 25, 2026; 97.6% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.

NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.

Federal disaster declarations

28 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Winter Storm, January 24, 2026.

Declarations for Wayne County.

Federal disaster declarations
Jan 24, 2026Winter StormSevere Winter StormEmergencyEM-3637-NC
Sep 26, 2024Tropical StormHurricane HeleneEmergencyEM-3617-NC
Aug 6, 2024Tropical StormTropical Storm DebbyEmergencyEM-3608-NC
Oct 1, 2022HurricaneHurricane IanEmergencyEM-3586-NC
Aug 2, 2020HurricaneHurricane IsaiasEmergencyEM-3534-NC
May 8, 2020Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4543-NC
Mar 25, 2020BiologicalCovid-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4487-NC
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCovid-19EmergencyEM-3471-NC
Oct 4, 2019HurricaneHurricane DorianMajor disasterDR-4465-NC
Sep 3, 2019HurricaneHurricane DorianEmergencyEM-3423-NC
Sep 14, 2018HurricaneHurricane FlorenceMajor disasterDR-4393-NC
Sep 10, 2018HurricaneHurricane FlorenceEmergencyEM-3401-NC
Oct 10, 2016HurricaneHurricane MatthewMajor disasterDR-4285-NC
Oct 7, 2016HurricaneHurricane MatthewEmergencyEM-3380-NC
Aug 31, 2011HurricaneHurricane IreneMajor disasterDR-4019-NC
Aug 25, 2011HurricaneHurricane IreneEmergencyEM-3327-NC
Sep 14, 2005HurricaneHurricane OpheliaEmergencyEM-3254-NC
Sep 5, 2005HurricaneHurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3222-NC
Sep 18, 2003HurricaneHurricane IsabelMajor disasterDR-1490-NC
Dec 12, 2002Severe Ice StormSevere Ice StormMajor disasterDR-1448-NC
Sep 16, 1999HurricaneHurricane Floyd Major Disaster DeclarationsMajor disasterDR-1292-NC
Sep 15, 1999HurricaneHurricane Floyd Emergency DeclarationsEmergencyEM-3146-NC
Aug 27, 1998HurricaneHurricane BonnieMajor disasterDR-1240-NC
Mar 22, 1998Severe StormSevere Storms Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1211-NC
Sep 6, 1996HurricaneHurricane FranMajor disasterDR-1134-NC
Mar 30, 1984TornadoSevere Storms & TornadoesMajor disasterDR-699-NC
Aug 11, 1977DroughtDroughtEmergencyEM-3049-NC
Feb 10, 1968Severe Ice StormSevere Ice StormMajor disasterDR-234-NC

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).

OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.

Sources and vintage

Every number on this page comes from these public records.

  • Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
  • Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
  • Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
  • Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
  • Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
  • Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USC00319476.
  • River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
  • Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.

Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.