Greenville

Population 96,443 (2025)

47 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Greenville since 1851; the strongest at closest approach was an unnamed storm in 1878 (Category 2).

Hazard fingerprint for Greenville Tornado: 67th percentile. Tropical: 92th percentile. Wildfire: 0th percentile. Flood: 70th percentile. Hail & wind: 63th percentile. Heat: 39th percentile. Cold: 9th percentile. Winter: 26th 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 1950104
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger97
  • Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 19841
  • Major flood years since 1978, Pitt County3

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 Pitt 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 Pitt County.

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

47

9 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Flood insurance claims

1,205

Pitt County

$36.3 million paid since 1979

Details

Tornadoes since 1950, within 25 mi

104

9 rated F3/EF3 or stronger

Details

Large wildfires within 25 mi

1

Largest: Unnamed, 1991

Details

Strongest tornado

F4

March 28, 1984, 28.0 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 2

Hurricane (unnamed), 1878, 22.3 miles away

Federal disaster declarations

30

Most recent: Severe Winter Storm, 2026

Details

Record high

104°F

Reached 4 times, most recently August 18, 1988

Details

Tornadoes

About one tornado a year since 1950, 9 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

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

EF1, 2.2 mile path

Within the past year.

Tornadoes by decade, within 25 miles Doppler radar era² 1950s: 10 10 1960s: 5 5 1970s: 12 12 1980s: 6 6 1990s: 15 15 2000s: 32 32 2010s: 19 19 2020s: 5 5 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 2 F: 6 M: 9 A: 26 26 M: 19 J: 11 J: 4 A: 7 S: 7 O: 7 N: 6 D: 0 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes within 25 miles since 1950
May 13, 2025EF12.212000
May 13, 2025EF11.711500
May 12, 2025EF12.110000
Aug 8, 2024EF29.540000
Jun 22, 2023EF10.710000
Oct 22, 2019EF00.04000
Sep 5, 2019EF05.77500
Jun 5, 2017EF10.310000
Jun 13, 2015EF10.37500
Apr 29, 2014EF04.210000
Apr 25, 2014EF321.0350160
Apr 25, 2014EF21.17500
Apr 25, 2014EF00.02000
Apr 25, 2014EF14.212500
Apr 25, 2014EF00.35000
Aug 11, 2012EF10.24000
Apr 28, 2011EF00.15000
Apr 26, 2011EF00.13000
Apr 16, 2011EF00.13000
Apr 16, 2011EF00.17500
Apr 16, 2011EF13.37550
Apr 16, 2011EF320.4400300
Mar 6, 2011EF00.63000
Mar 6, 2011EF00.42500
Jul 17, 2009EF01.210000
May 7, 2009EF00.11000
May 7, 2009EF00.11000
May 5, 2009EF00.21000
May 5, 2009EF00.31000
Apr 11, 2009EF00.31000
Mar 27, 2009EF10.810000
Mar 27, 2009EF10.710000
Nov 15, 2008EF11.75000
Sep 25, 2008EF00.52000
Apr 20, 2008EF00.22000
Apr 20, 2008EF00.12000
Apr 12, 2008EF00.12000
Feb 18, 2008EF16.215000
Feb 18, 2008EF19.815000
Feb 18, 2008EF21.515030
Jul 11, 2007EF11.010000
May 14, 2006F00.12500
May 14, 2006F00.12500
Jan 14, 2006F11.57500
Jan 14, 2006F10.77500
Aug 14, 2004F00.12000
Jun 11, 2004F00.12000
Jun 4, 2004F00.12500
Jun 4, 2004F00.12500
Jun 4, 2004F00.12500
Nov 19, 2003F00.02000
Jul 2, 2003F00.13000
Oct 11, 2002F12.05000
Oct 11, 2002F17.010000
May 13, 2002F00.510000
Feb 14, 2000F00.1000
Sep 15, 1999F00.21000
Apr 11, 1999F00.1000
Apr 1, 1998F00.55000
Apr 1, 1998F00.55000
Oct 8, 1996F10.55010
Sep 16, 1996F10.57500
Sep 16, 1996F11.010010
Apr 15, 1996F10.75000
Apr 15, 1996F21.37500
Apr 15, 1996F00.55000
Nov 11, 1995F11.010030
Oct 5, 1995F00.22300
Aug 2, 1993F12.53000
Jun 4, 1993F15.03000
Nov 23, 1992F3160.0100440
Apr 15, 1984F10.18300
Mar 28, 1984F428.01,22315316
Sep 26, 1982F12.03300
Oct 3, 1980F11.550000
May 20, 1980F10.520000
Feb 23, 1980F00.11000
Apr 3, 1979F10.110000
Nov 17, 1977F00.51700
May 5, 1977F11.52300
Mar 4, 1977F34.96000
Oct 9, 1976F15.75000
Mar 14, 1975F232.6100200
Sep 14, 1973F15.26700
May 29, 1973F00.11000
May 29, 1973F012.91000
May 23, 1973F11.01000
May 15, 1972F38.512040
Feb 22, 1971F385.7500602
Aug 16, 1966F10.11000
Aug 31, 1964F15.71020
May 17, 1963F28.95020
Apr 8, 1962F064.11000
Aug 20, 1961F11.02720
Jun 4, 1959F11.020000
Nov 8, 1957F346.915050
Mar 18, 1956F11.04000
Jun 11, 1955F219.420000
Jun 27, 1954F11.05000
Apr 16, 1953F22.010000
Mar 15, 1953F330.12710
Jul 26, 1950F10.11000
May 31, 1950F10.11000
May 12, 1950F12.01000
  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

47 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 9 at hurricane strength.

Strongest within 50 miles

October 23, 1878

Unnamed storm, Category 2

22.3 miles at closest approach, winds near 104 mph.

Most recent

September 23, 2023

Ophelia, Tropical storm

8.3 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 5 60s: 2 70s: 4 80s: 6 6 90s: 3 00s: 0 10s: 2 20s: 1 30s: 1 40s: 2 50s: 2 60s: 3 70s: 3 80s: 1 90s: 4 00s: 4 10s: 1 20s: 3 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
Ophelia20238.3Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Elsa202160.0Tropical storm52Category 1
Claudette20214.9Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Isaias202026.6Tropical storm69Category 1
Nestor201943.0Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Dorian201991.8Category 2101Category 5
Michael201865.0Post-tropical58Category 5
Florence201896.5Category 296Category 4
Matthew201696.4Category 181Category 5
Hermine201645.8Tropical storm64Category 1
Arthur201473.3Category 298Category 2
Andrea201333.3Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Beryl201273.9Remnant low47Tropical storm
Irene201159.8Category 177Category 3
Hanna200841.3Tropical storm52Category 1
Gabrielle200766.5Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Barry200765.9Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Alberto20069.7Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Ophelia200596.4Category 183Category 1
Charley200420.5Tropical storm61Category 4
Isabel200327.8Category 186Category 5
Kyle200260.0Tropical storm40Category 1
Helene20009.5Tropical storm43Tropical storm
Floyd199926.1Category 185Category 4
Dennis199915.8Tropical storm44Category 2
Earl19988.5Post-tropical58Category 2
Bonnie199842.5Category 175Category 3
Danny199729.3Tropical storm43Category 1
Josephine199627.9Post-tropical52Tropical storm
Fran199678.0Tropical storm70Category 3
Bertha19962.5Tropical storm72Category 3
Arthur199682.9Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Allison199543.3Post-tropical46Category 1
Charley198667.1Category 175Category 1
Kate198582.8Tropical storm47Category 3
Diana198425.0Tropical storm51Category 4
Unnamed198268.5Subtropical storm69Tropical storm
Dennis198165.1Tropical storm64Category 1
Agnes197219.9Tropical storm47Category 1
Doria197133.7Tropical storm69Tropical storm
Unnamed197070.3Tropical storm58Category 1
Alma197043.8Tropical storm40Category 1
Gladys196898.3Category 185Category 2
Doria196765.9Tropical storm44Category 2
Unnamed196512.7Post-tropical44Tropical storm
Isbell196419.1Tropical storm46Category 3
Dora196463.7Post-tropical69Category 4
Unnamed196386.7Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed196278.5Tropical storm63Tropical storm
Unnamed196126.4Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Donna196051.2Category 298Category 4
Brenda196014.0Tropical storm61Tropical storm
Cindy195936.0Tropical storm41Category 1
Helene195895.4Category 4135Category 4
Unnamed195634.2Post-tropical52Tropical storm
Flossy195622.7Post-tropical58Category 1
Ione195542.6Category 184Category 4
Diane195563.2Tropical storm62Category 2
Connie195554.2Category 194Category 4
Hazel195458.8Post-tropical92Category 4
Barbara195373.0Category 186Category 1
Unnamed194714.4Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Unnamed194640.3Tropical storm52Category 1
Unnamed194595.0Tropical storm48Category 4
Unnamed194573.1Category 175Category 2
Unnamed194455.4Post-tropical48Category 4
Unnamed194446.9Tropical storm52Category 1
Unnamed193549.3Tropical storm58Category 5
Unnamed193394.0Category 184Category 4
Unnamed193286.8Post-tropical55Category 1
Unnamed192975.5Post-tropical58Category 4
Unnamed192814.7Category 178Category 5
Unnamed192562.0Post-tropical71Category 1
Unnamed192413.5Post-tropical70Category 1
Unnamed192465.0Post-tropical49Category 1
Unnamed191860.1Tropical storm71Category 1
Unnamed191618.6Tropical storm43Tropical storm
Unnamed191343.1Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed191225.0Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Unnamed191080.5Tropical storm62Category 4
Unnamed191086.4Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Unnamed190873.3Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed190864.9Category 178Category 1
Unnamed190731.9Post-tropical55Tropical storm
Unnamed190450.6Tropical storm64Category 1
Unnamed190275.5Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed190191.4Tropical storm41Category 1
Unnamed190158.6Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed190077.8Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Unnamed189962.4Tropical storm67Category 2
Unnamed189977.5Category 2104Category 4
Unnamed189790.8Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed189786.2Tropical storm69Tropical storm
Unnamed189411.9Tropical storm70Category 3
Unnamed189465.8Tropical storm69Category 3
Unnamed189364.1Category 190Category 3
Unnamed189327.5Tropical storm40Category 4
Unnamed189316.8Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed188969.0Tropical storm46Category 2
Unnamed188843.0Tropical storm61Category 2
Unnamed188873.0Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed188713.3Tropical storm39Category 1
Unnamed188649.3Tropical storm40Category 2
Unnamed188549.2Category 181Category 2
Unnamed188344.1Tropical storm52Category 3
Unnamed188233.0Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed188292.1Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed18816.1Tropical storm66Category 2
Unnamed188052.4Category 181Category 1
Unnamed187959.7Category 3112Category 3
Unnamed187822.3Category 2104Category 2
Unnamed187759.2Post-tropical58Category 3
Unnamed18760.2Category 183Category 3
Unnamed187418.9Tropical storm66Category 1
Unnamed18727.1Tropical storm48Category 1
Unnamed186780.4Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed186337.3Tropical storm62Tropical storm
Unnamed186166.5Category 181Category 1
Unnamed186131.5Tropical storm69Category 1
Unnamed185984.0Tropical storm54Category 1
Unnamed185742.4Category 175Category 2
Unnamed185647.6Tropical storm58Category 3
Unnamed185655.2Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed185421.8Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed185246.3Tropical storm58Category 2
Unnamed18516.6Tropical 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

1 large fire burned within 25 miles since 1984.

Largest

March 26, 1991

Unnamed Fire, 1,401 acres

24.2 miles from the city centre.

Most recent

March 26, 1991

Unnamed Fire

1,401 acres in total.

Acres burned by large fires within 25 miles, cumulative 1991: 1,401 1,401 acres 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Running total of acres burned (line) and each year’s acres (bars).

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984
Unnamed199124.21,401
  1. Large fires mapped by the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity program since 1984: 1,000 acres or more in the West, 500 or more in the East. Prescribed burns are excluded. Acres here are the part of each perimeter inside this place.

Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (USGS and U.S. Forest Service), 1984 to 2026.

Smoke overhead

Smokiest year

2023: 40 days

Heavy smoke on 6 days in 2023, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

8.6 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

6 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 31 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 8 2012: 4 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 3 2016: 1 2017: 0 2018: 2 2019: 1 2020: 4 2021: 15 2022: 10 2023: 40 40 2024: 7 2025: 6 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

1,205 federal flood insurance claims since 1979, with $36.3 million paid.

Flood insurance figures are for Pitt County, the county that contains Greenville.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1987: 5 1996: 26 1998: 17 1999: 597 597 2000: 7 2003: 41 2004: 9 2006: 30 2010: 30 2011: 69 2012: 16 2015: 5 2016: 255 2018: 32 2021: 5 2024: 6 2025: 10 1987200320122024
Claims per year since 1979. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

1999: 597 claims

$26.6 million paid.

2nd most

2016: 255 claims

$7.0 million paid.

3rd most

2011: 69 claims

$676,000 paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
27834413$13.0 million
27858304$12.5 million
28590142$1.3 million
2853082$3.9 million
2851354$1.1 million
2782847$1.4 million
2783743$1.0 million
2788436$628,000
2788932$349,000
2781219$174,000
278358$194,000
278795$47,000
285865$46,000

Flood events since 1996

  • Flash Flood63
  • Flood15
  • Heavy Rain11

1 death 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 Pitt County, the county that contains Greenville.

Most severe crest

September 21, 1999

Tar River at Greenville, 29.74 ft

16.74 feet above the 13.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

June 16, 2025

Green Mill Run at 14th St in Greenville, 12.18 ft

Major flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Sep 21, 1999Tar River at Greenville29.74+16.74Major
Jul 28, 1919Tar River at Greenville24.50+11.50Major
Oct 14, 2016Tar River at Greenville24.46+11.46Major
Oct 6, 1928Tar River at Greenville23.50+10.50Major
Nov 7, 1887Tar River at Greenville22.30+9.30Major
Aug 22, 1940Tar River at Greenville22.07+9.07Major
Sep 25, 1928Tar River at Greenville21.90+8.90Major
Oct 14, 2016Tar River at Rock Springs25.93+7.93Major
Nov 17, 2020Tar River at Greenville19.89+6.89Major
Mar 14, 1958Tar River at Greenville19.70+6.70Major
Oct 8, 1929Tar River at Greenville19.70+6.70Major
Sep 2, 1908Tar River at Greenville19.40+6.40Major
Sep 25, 1945Tar River at Greenville19.24+6.24Major
Mar 11, 1922Tar River at Greenville19.10+6.10Major
Jun 16, 2025Green Mill Run at 14th St in Greenville12.18+4.68Major
Sep 23, 2023Green Mill Run at 14th St in Greenville10.81+3.31Major
Mar 23, 1975Tar River at Greenville18.80+5.80Moderate
Dec 8, 1934Tar River at Greenville18.80+5.80Moderate
Jan 29, 1954Tar River at Greenville18.77+5.77Moderate
Feb 3, 1937Tar River at Greenville18.70+5.70Moderate
Mar 9, 1929Tar River at Greenville18.60+5.60Moderate
Sep 5, 1939Tar River at Greenville18.60+5.60Moderate
Oct 10, 1964Tar River at Greenville18.53+5.53Moderate
Jun 19, 1910Tar River at Greenville18.50+5.50Moderate
Aug 24, 1967Tar River at Greenville18.50+5.50Moderate

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Contentnea Creek at Grifton16.020.04 ftSep 18, 20180
Green Mill Run at 14th St in Greenville7.512.18 ftJun 16, 20252
Johnsons Mill Run near Greenville14.511.82 ftJun 16, 20250
Little Contentnea Creek at Farmville13.514.47 ftNov 13, 20200
Parker Creek above Greenville12.513.63 ftJun 16, 20250
Tar River at Greenville13.029.74 ftSep 21, 199913
Tar River at Grimesland7.011.74 ftOct 15, 20160
Tar River at Rock Springs18.025.93 ftOct 14, 20161
  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 76 of 1,581 months since 1895 (5%); the longest spell lasted 9 months.

The drought index is for Pitt County, the county that contains Greenville.

76

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

13

Months in extreme drought

5%

Share of all months, severe or worse

17

Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996

Lowest reading

January 1934

−5.06, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

9 months

June 2008 to February 2009.

Latest month

September 2026

−4.01, extreme drought

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 0 1896: 0 1897: 0 1898: 1 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: 4 1912: 0 1913: 0 1914: 0 1915: 0 1916: 0 1917: 0 1918: 0 1919: 0 1920: 0 1921: 4 1922: 0 1923: 0 1924: 0 1925: 0 1926: 1 1927: 3 1928: 0 1929: 0 1930: 5 1931: 3 1932: 3 1933: 2 1934: 2 1935: 0 1936: 0 1937: 0 1938: 0 1939: 0 1940: 0 1941: 0 1942: 1 1943: 0 1944: 0 1945: 0 1946: 0 1947: 0 1948: 0 1949: 0 1950: 0 1951: 1 1952: 0 1953: 0 1954: 4 1955: 4 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: 0 1974: 0 1975: 0 1976: 0 1977: 0 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 0 1981: 0 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 2 1986: 4 1987: 0 1988: 0 1989: 0 1990: 0 1991: 2 1992: 0 1993: 0 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 0 1999: 0 2000: 0 2001: 0 2002: 2 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 0 2007: 4 2008: 10 10 2009: 2 2010: 1 2011: 1 2012: 0 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 0 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 0 2022: 1 2023: 1 2024: 1 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

2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more within 50 miles since 1994; none reached magnitude 4.

1

Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973

0

Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900

0

Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900

Largest within 50 miles

August 6, 1994

Magnitude 3.6

4 km SSW of Bayboro, North Carolina; 47.7 miles away, 0.0 miles deep.

Most recent, magnitude 3 or more

August 6, 1994

Magnitude 3.6

4 km SSW of Bayboro, North Carolina; 47.7 miles away.

  1. Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the city centre.
  2. Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Severe weather and other events

651 events in the National Weather Service record for Pitt County, 539 of them since 1996.

109

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

5

Hail, 2 inches or larger

190

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

38

Winter weather events since 1996

6

Heat events since 1996

2

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

June 3, 1998

3.00 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

March 26, 2015

90 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Lightning300Jul 29, 2010

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Sep 14, 1999Hurricane (Typhoon), Pitt$200 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Floyd caused the largest peace time evacuation in the nations history. He also caused massive record flooding across inland sections of eastern North Carolina. At one time Floyd was classified as a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir/Simpson scale and will likely be categorized as one of the nation's most costly hurricanes in the 20th century.Tropical Depression number eight was detected by the National Hurricane Center at 1600 EST on September 7th. The broad center was nearly 1000 miles west of the Lesser Antilles. At that time the depression was moving toward the west at 14 mph with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph. Within 12 hours the depression gained strength,…

  2. Aug 26, 2011Tropical Storm, Pitt$10.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Across Pitt County...winds gusted near hurricane force resulting in minor to major structural damage to 2000 homes and businesses, mainly due to fallen trees. Agricultural losses were estimated at 38 million dollars from flooding and winds. Storm total rainfall was 7 to 13 inches with flooding of roads and low lying areas. Two direct deaths were reported from Hurricane Irene. One fatality was due to a tree falling on a house, and a second fatality resulted from a car that struck a tree.

  3. Sep 17, 2003Hurricane (Typhoon), Pitt$2.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Isabel made landfall early in the afternoon on September 18th as a category two hurricane across Core Banks in extreme eastern Carteret county. Isabel moved north northwest near 20 mph across eastern North Carolina during the afternoon. Areas mainly near and east of the storm center experienced significant wind and storm surge effects. Major ocean overwash and beach erosion occurred along the North Carolina Outer Banks where waves up to 20 feet accompanied a 6 to 8 foot storm surge. Almost 350 million dollars in damage occurred in Dare county alone where several thousand homes and businesses, several piers, and sections of Highway 12 were damaged or washed away. Eastern…

  4. Apr 16, 2011Tornado$1.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    The tornado spun up just south of Farmville near the intersection of Highway 258 and Highway 264A. The tornado was estimated at EF1 with winds to 90 mph as if lifted rapidly northeast through the eastern sections of Farmville. Numerous homes had significant damage mainly to roofs. Trees and power lines were blown down. The tornado began to weaken north of Farmville as it crossed Highway 264 and lifted near Wesley Church Road. About 1 million dollars of damage occurred with this tornado with 5 minor injuries.

  5. Jul 12, 1996Hurricane (Typhoon), Pitt$1.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Bertha slammed into the North Carolina coastline between Surf City and North Topsail Beach causing severe damage to property, utilities and roads. Hardest hit were agricultural crops which suffered losses in excess of $126 million. Heaviest damage was in Topsail Beach and all of Onslow County up the coast to Emerald Isle in Carteret County. In Onslow alone, 199 structures were destroyed (117 were mobile homes). An 8-10 foot storm surge struck Swansboro and Emerald Isle. Several businesses were flooded. Water flowed through the streets of Belhaven in Beaufort County where the surge was around 7 feet. In New Bern, numerous boats were sunk or damaged at 3 private marinas.…

  6. Apr 25, 2014Tornado$600,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    The tornado touched down approximately one mile northeast of Chicod causing EF1 damage to hard and softwood trees. The tornado then caused EF1 to low end EF2 damage with winds estimated to 115 mph as it hit several mobile homes, some of which were destroyed. Farm equipment and outbuildings were damaged along Blackjack-Simpson Road. A tractor trailer was flipped as well before the tornado dissipated across some farm fields. There were no injuries reported with this tornado.

  7. Sep 4, 1996Hurricane (Typhoon), Pitt$500,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Fran moved onshore near Cape Fear Thursday evening (9/6) and raced north toward Raleigh cutting a swath of destruction. The Category 3 hurricane destroyed or damaged 90% of the homes in North Topsail Beach. The town hall and police station were destroyed. A 15 foot storm surge cut a 100-foot-wide inlet through thye middle of the island. A Camp Lejeune-based Marine lost his life when he and two others mistakenly drove onto the island at the height of the storm. State Route 1568 was washed out and NC210 was covered with sand. Damage in North Topsail and Onslow County alone exceeds $500 million as 6,688 structures were destroyed or damaged. In Carteret County, Emerald Isle…

  8. Mar 27, 2009Tornado$200,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    NWS survey revealed an EF-1 tornado with winds estimated between 85 and 90 mph touched down just southeast of Greenville. The tornado was on the ground a little over one half mile and was about one hundred yards wide. The tornado did minor damage to about forty homes off Ashcroft Drive resulting in about two hundred thousand dollars in damage.

  9. Aug 14, 2004Hurricane (Typhoon), Pitt$200,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Tropical Storm Charley moved northeast across the Coastal Plains of Eastern North Carolina during the afternoon hours on August 14th. Onslow county received the most damage, with estimates over 5 million dollars, as winds gusted to near hurricane force toppling trees and power lines with structural damage to homes and businesses. Winds gusted from 60-70 mph across Inland areas near the center of the storm resulting in wind damage to structures, and damage to crops reaching into the millions. Winds gusted from 40 to 50 mph across locations across Eastern North Carolina with minor wind damage reported. Storm surge values were highest along the Onslow County coastline where a 2 to 3…

  10. Mar 26, 2015Thunderstorm Wind$110,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Several homes received moderate to substantial damage. One out building with no foundation support was destroyed. Several trees were snapped in half.

  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 Greenville, 3.3 miles from the city centre, with records from 1897.

All-time high
104°F4 times, most recently Aug 18, 1988
All-time low
−4°FJan 21, 1985
Warmest night
86°FJul 1, 1897
Coldest day
16°FJan 21, 1985
Wettest day
10.75 inSep 16, 1999
Snowiest day
13.0 inFeb 18, 1896
Hottest year
2019mean 64.0°F
Coldest year
1917mean 58.7°F
Wettest year
192970.23 in
Driest year
193332.16 in
Snowiest season
27.9 in1979-80
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Greenville 32°F 53° 33° 3.6 Jan 57° 35° 3.5 Feb 65° 42° 3.9 Mar 74° 50° 3.7 Apr 81° 59° 4.2 May 88° 67° 4.5 Jun 90° 71° 6.5 Jul 89° 70° 6.3 Aug 83° 65° 7.1 Sep 74° 52° 3.1 Oct 64° 41° 3.3 Nov 57° 36° 3.7 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: 8 1977: 23 1978: 12 1979: 3 1980: 21 1981: 11 1982: 1 1983: 32 1984: 4 1985: 22 1986: 13 1987: 22 1988: 19 1989: 3 1990: 16 1991: 9 1992: 9 1993: 24 1994: 11 1995: 7 1996: 4 1997: 14 1998: 6 1999: 18 2000: 5 2001: 4 2002: 20 2003: 8 2004: 4 2005: 15 2006: 9 2007: 19 2008: 18 2009: 4 2010: 37 37 2011: 27 2012: 16 2013: 2 2014: 6 2015: 21 2016: 15 2017: 5 2018: 12 2019: 21 2020: 11 2021: 3 2022: 11 2023: 7 2024: 17 2025: 11 19761986199620062016
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 12.3.
Snowfall by winter 1976: 0.0 in 1977: 2.9 in 1978: 9.6 in 1979: 27.9 in 27.9 1980: 3.0 in 1981: 0.6 in 1982: 6.9 in 1983: 0.0 in 1984: 2.3 in 1985: 0.3 in 1987: 5.0 in 1988: 12.0 in 1989: 5.0 in 1990: 0.0 in 1991: 0.0 in 1992: 0.0 in 1993: 0.8 in 1994: 1.0 in 1995: 3.7 in 1996: 0.0 in 1997: 2.5 in 1998: 0.0 in 1999: 7.5 in 2000: 6.0 in 2001: 8.0 in 2002: 2.0 in 2003: 10.4 in 2004: 5.2 in 2005: 0.0 in 2006: 0.0 in 2007: 0.0 in 2008: 5.0 in 2009: 7.9 in 2017: 5.0 in 2018: 2.0 in 2019: 3.1 in 2020: 0.0 in 2021: 2.0 in 2022: 0.0 in 2023: 0.0 in 2024: 2.8 in 2025: 10.0 in 19761987199720072024
Total snowfall each winter (July to June), last 50 winters.

Median first snow

January 21

Earliest: November 27, 1922

Median last snow

February 6

Latest: April 11, 1989

29 of 81 winters had no measurable snow.

Station Greenville (USC00313638), 32 ft elevation, 3.3 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1897 to October 27, 2026; 99.7% 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

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

Declarations for Pitt 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
Oct 14, 2020HurricaneHurricane IsaiasMajor disasterDR-4568-NC
Aug 2, 2020HurricaneHurricane IsaiasEmergencyEM-3534-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
Apr 19, 2011Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1969-NC
Oct 14, 2010Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disasterDR-1942-NC
Sep 1, 2010HurricaneHurricane EarlEmergencyEM-3314-NC
Sep 14, 2005HurricaneHurricane OpheliaEmergencyEM-3254-NC
Sep 5, 2005HurricaneHurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3222-NC
Sep 18, 2003HurricaneHurricane IsabelMajor disasterDR-1490-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
Sep 6, 1996HurricaneHurricane FranMajor disasterDR-1134-NC
Jul 18, 1996HurricaneHurricane BerthaMajor disasterDR-1127-NC
Jan 13, 1996SnowstormBlizzard of 96Major disasterDR-1087-NC
Mar 30, 1984TornadoSevere Storms & TornadoesMajor disasterDR-699-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 USC00313638.
  • 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.