Havelock

Population 17,430 (2025)

64 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Havelock since 1851; the strongest at closest approach was Helene in 1958 (Category 4).

Hazard fingerprint for Havelock Tornado: 72th percentile. Tropical: 100th percentile. Wildfire: 79th percentile. Flood: 64th percentile. Hail & wind: 70th percentile. Heat: 62th 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 1950113
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger132
  • Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 198425
  • Major flood years since 1978, Craven 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 Craven 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 Craven County.

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

64

27 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Large wildfires within 25 mi

25

Largest: Great Lakes, 2023

Details

Tornadoes since 1950, within 25 mi

113

1 rated F3/EF3 or stronger

Details

Flood insurance claims

6,126

Craven County

$239 million paid since 1979

Details

Strongest tornado

F3

March 17, 1965, 41.3 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 4

Hurricane Helene, 1958, 41.0 miles away

Federal disaster declarations

32

Most recent: Severe Winter Storm, 2026

Details

Record high

106°F

July 22, 1952

Details

Tornadoes

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

Strongest

March 17, 1965

F3, 41.3 mile path

100 yards wide; 2 killed along the whole path.

Most recent

Monday, September 16, 2024

EF0, 0.3 mile path

2 years ago.

Tornadoes by decade, within 25 miles Doppler radar era² 1950s: 0 1960s: 8 8 1970s: 5 5 1980s: 8 8 1990s: 28 28 2000s: 34 34 2010s: 20 20 2020s: 10 10 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 4 F: 0 M: 5 A: 17 M: 9 J: 11 J: 13 A: 10 S: 25 25 O: 9 N: 8 D: 2 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes within 25 miles since 1950
Sep 16, 2024EF00.36000
Jan 10, 2024EF00.16000
Jan 10, 2024EF10.27500
Jan 10, 2024EF15.012500
May 16, 2022EF10.18000
Sep 17, 2020EF10.12500
Aug 3, 2020EF12.34000
Apr 13, 2020EF00.37500
Apr 13, 2020EF00.16000
Apr 13, 2020EF00.77500
Oct 31, 2019EF00.46000
Sep 5, 2019EF00.17500
Sep 5, 2019EF213.020000
Nov 24, 2018EF00.54000
Nov 24, 2018EF22.87500
Nov 24, 2018EF00.37000
Nov 13, 2018EF12.015000
Sep 14, 2018EF14.530000
Sep 14, 2018EF18.220000
Sep 14, 2018EF19.315000
Sep 14, 2018EF12.715000
Sep 13, 2018EF10.625000
Sep 2, 2016EF10.15000
Jun 25, 2016EF00.53010
Nov 26, 2013EF13.220000
Nov 26, 2013EF20.420020
Dec 26, 2012EF10.910000
May 30, 2012EF10.625000
Apr 16, 2011EF00.13000
Apr 16, 2011EF24.120070
May 11, 2008EF00.11000
May 11, 2008EF00.33000
May 11, 2008EF12.73000
May 11, 2008EF00.22000
May 11, 2008EF25.010060
Mar 2, 2007EF00.11000
Aug 31, 2006F00.12500
Jun 14, 2006F00.52500
Aug 27, 2005F00.11000
Jul 13, 2005F00.12000
Jun 25, 2005F01.02500
Oct 13, 2004F00.12000
Oct 13, 2004F00.12000
Oct 13, 2004F00.12000
Oct 13, 2004F00.11000
Aug 15, 2004F00.22000
Aug 13, 2004F10.32030
Jul 17, 2004F13.03500
Jul 17, 2004F00.11000
Jun 23, 2004F00.13000
Jun 23, 2004F00.12500
Jun 22, 2004F01.02000
Jun 7, 2004F00.12500
Apr 13, 2004F00.52500
Aug 6, 2003F00.22000
Jul 2, 2003F00.13000
Jul 2, 2003F00.12000
Apr 17, 2001F00.510000
Apr 17, 2001F10.510000
Apr 1, 2001F00.25000
Sep 18, 2000F00.15000
Apr 15, 2000F00.25000
Apr 15, 2000F10.810010
Apr 15, 2000F00.25000
Sep 15, 1999F02.02000
Sep 15, 1999F00.21000
Sep 15, 1999F01.5000
Sep 15, 1999F13.0000
Sep 15, 1999F22.02000
Sep 15, 1999F00.21000
Apr 15, 1999F02.0000
Sep 3, 1998F02.05000
Aug 26, 1998F00.13000
Aug 26, 1998F10.54000
Aug 26, 1998F10.33000
Jul 31, 1998F00.23000
Jun 2, 1998F017.05000
Oct 26, 1997F00.25000
Apr 21, 1997F02.010000
Oct 8, 1996F10.65000
Jul 12, 1996F00.55000
Jul 12, 1996F00.55000
Apr 26, 1996F00.22500
Oct 28, 1995F00.22300
Jul 28, 1994F00.11000
Jul 11, 1994F00.11000
Jun 27, 1994F10.510000
Sep 27, 1993F12.02000
Jul 20, 1993F00.21000
Jun 20, 1991F00.11000
Oct 23, 1990F10.710000
Sep 15, 1990F20.54000
Sep 23, 1989F01.27000
Mar 20, 1989F20.210000
Nov 28, 1988F130.010050
Apr 19, 1988F10.610000
Nov 10, 1987F02.02000
Sep 13, 1987F10.22000
Mar 14, 1986F11.210000
Mar 21, 1983F00.11700
Jun 9, 1977F11.32010
Jul 25, 1976F10.11000
May 26, 1974F11.04020
Sep 30, 1972F00.11000
May 13, 1971F244.430000
Apr 19, 1969F20.11000
Jul 12, 1968F10.11000
Dec 3, 1967F20.12700
Mar 17, 1965F341.3100852
Sep 13, 1964F10.11000
Sep 29, 1963F26.63000
Jan 20, 1963F10.11000
Aug 1, 1961F11.05000
  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

64 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 27 at hurricane strength, 2 as major hurricanes.

Strongest within 50 miles

September 27, 1958

Helene, Category 4

41.0 miles at closest approach, winds near 135 mph.

Most recent

September 23, 2023

Ophelia, Tropical storm

11.7 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 4 60s: 3 70s: 4 80s: 5 5 90s: 5 00s: 4 10s: 3 20s: 0 30s: 1 40s: 2 50s: 4 60s: 5 70s: 4 80s: 5 90s: 5 00s: 4 10s: 5 20s: 1 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
Ophelia202311.7Tropical storm64Tropical storm
Idalia202383.7Post-tropical63Category 4
Claudette202158.6Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Isaias202067.0Tropical storm69Category 1
Arthur202066.8Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Nestor201996.9Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Dorian201939.9Category 2101Category 5
Florence201851.9Category 298Category 4
Matthew201642.2Category 181Category 5
Hermine20169.8Tropical storm64Category 1
Colin201646.3Post-tropical55Tropical storm
Arthur201422.9Category 298Category 2
Andrea201386.3Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Beryl201219.4Remnant low47Tropical storm
Irene201120.5Category 184Category 3
Hanna200879.9Tropical storm55Category 1
Cristobal200850.6Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Gabrielle200729.5Tropical storm56Tropical storm
Barry200711.3Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Ernesto200653.6Tropical storm46Category 1
Alberto200653.1Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Ophelia200541.9Category 183Category 1
Charley200437.8Tropical storm61Category 4
Alex200453.8Category 298Category 3
Isabel200331.2Category 298Category 5
Kyle20028.1Tropical storm40Category 1
Gustav200285.1Tropical storm63Category 2
Helene200062.8Tropical storm43Tropical storm
Irene199965.5Category 2101Category 2
Floyd199920.3Category 189Category 4
Dennis19998.4Tropical storm58Category 2
Earl199862.4Post-tropical58Category 2
Bonnie19988.4Category 183Category 3
Danny199783.4Tropical storm43Category 1
Josephine199629.9Post-tropical52Tropical storm
Fran199685.6Category 297Category 3
Bertha199640.2Category 175Category 3
Arthur199630.9Tropical storm41Tropical storm
Allison199511.3Post-tropical46Category 1
Emily199399.0Category 3115Category 3
Bob199192.4Category 2107Category 3
Charley198626.9Category 175Category 1
Kate198528.3Tropical storm47Category 3
Gloria198569.8Category 2104Category 4
Isidore198498.9Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Diana198429.3Tropical storm52Category 4
Unnamed198217.8Subtropical storm69Tropical storm
Dennis198112.5Tropical storm64Category 1
Hallie197559.2Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Amy197560.6Tropical storm48Category 1
Agnes197234.9Tropical storm47Category 1
Ginger197121.2Tropical storm63Category 3
Doria19719.0Tropical storm69Tropical storm
Unnamed197018.3Tropical storm58Category 1
Alma197098.1Tropical storm40Category 1
Gerda196991.2Category 184Category 3
Gladys196845.4Category 186Category 2
Alma196684.3Category 175Category 3
Unnamed196554.5Post-tropical44Tropical storm
Isbell19643.4Tropical storm63Category 3
Dora19649.9Post-tropical69Category 4
Unnamed196365.4Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Alma196260.9Tropical storm67Category 1
Unnamed196245.7Post-tropical63Tropical storm
Unnamed196120.9Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Donna19607.0Category 2101Category 4
Brenda196043.9Tropical storm62Tropical storm
Cindy195988.7Tropical storm40Category 1
Helene195841.0Category 4135Category 4
Unnamed195614.5Post-tropical53Tropical storm
Flossy195631.4Post-tropical58Category 1
Ione195511.4Category 2101Category 4
Diane195575.2Tropical storm67Category 2
Connie195515.1Category 298Category 4
Hazel195487.8Category 2108Category 4
Carol195466.8Category 2109Category 3
Unnamed195458.4Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Barbara195343.3Category 192Category 1
Unnamed194957.9Tropical storm43Tropical storm
Unnamed194961.9Category 2104Category 2
Unnamed194740.4Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Unnamed194614.4Tropical storm52Category 1
Unnamed194522.3Category 175Category 2
Unnamed194489.7Category 3121Category 5
Unnamed194473.7Tropical storm60Category 1
Unnamed193751.1Tropical storm64Tropical storm
Unnamed193479.3Category 190Category 2
Unnamed193437.0Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed193386.5Category 2105Category 4
Unnamed193395.7Category 192Category 4
Unnamed193236.9Post-tropical55Category 1
Unnamed193066.5Category 192Category 4
Unnamed192862.3Category 177Category 5
Unnamed192516.5Post-tropical72Category 1
Unnamed192456.2Post-tropical70Category 1
Unnamed192415.5Post-tropical48Category 1
Unnamed192487.0Category 2104Category 3
Unnamed19189.4Category 175Category 1
Unnamed191666.7Tropical storm41Tropical storm
Unnamed19137.5Category 175Category 1
Unnamed191227.6Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Unnamed191026.2Tropical storm62Category 4
Unnamed191035.5Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Unnamed190825.7Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed190810.3Category 178Category 1
Unnamed190855.2Category 175Category 1
Unnamed190724.2Post-tropical55Tropical storm
Unnamed190484.6Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Unnamed190137.0Tropical storm41Category 1
Unnamed190120.3Tropical storm48Category 1
Unnamed190027.3Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Unnamed189949.0Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Unnamed189965.4Category 3121Category 4
Unnamed189781.8Tropical storm54Tropical storm
Unnamed189766.0Tropical storm63Category 1
Unnamed189735.5Tropical storm69Tropical storm
Unnamed189439.5Tropical storm69Category 3
Unnamed189417.4Tropical storm69Category 3
Unnamed189395.1Tropical storm69Tropical storm
Unnamed189364.1Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed189396.5Category 192Category 3
Unnamed189324.2Tropical storm40Category 4
Unnamed189335.9Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed188958.9Tropical storm52Category 1
Unnamed188815.6Tropical storm61Category 2
Unnamed188782.9Tropical storm64Category 1
Unnamed188754.7Tropical storm39Category 1
Unnamed188787.0Category 3127Category 3
Unnamed188772.7Category 3121Category 3
Unnamed188699.2Tropical storm43Category 2
Unnamed188575.1Category 177Category 1
Unnamed18856.3Category 181Category 2
Unnamed188378.9Tropical storm58Category 3
Unnamed188262.5Category 181Category 4
Unnamed18827.0Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed188139.5Tropical storm69Category 2
Unnamed18808.4Category 181Category 1
Unnamed187919.3Category 3113Category 3
Unnamed187813.6Category 2104Category 2
Unnamed187888.2Tropical storm72Category 1
Unnamed187775.0Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed187636.3Category 190Category 3
Unnamed187465.3Tropical storm67Category 1
Unnamed187382.0Tropical storm72Category 1
Unnamed187234.3Tropical storm55Category 1
Unnamed187177.8Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed187177.4Tropical storm58Category 3
Unnamed186867.0Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed186797.2Category 296Category 2
Unnamed18635.0Tropical storm67Tropical storm
Unnamed186122.3Category 181Category 1
Unnamed186194.4Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed186123.1Tropical storm69Category 1
Unnamed185883.9Category 2104Category 2
Unnamed18578.5Category 178Category 2
Unnamed18568.6Tropical storm58Category 3
Unnamed185623.5Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed185473.0Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed18528.5Tropical storm58Category 2
Unnamed185268.1Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed185152.6Tropical 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

25 large fires burned within 25 miles since 1984.

Largest

April 19, 2023

Great Lakes Fire, 31,029 acres

4.8 miles from the city centre.

Most recent

April 19, 2023

Great Lakes Fire

31,029 acres in total.

Acres burned by large fires within 25 miles, cumulative 1985: 5,8091986: 9691989: 3,2011990: 1,5941992: 2,8451994: 21,7721995: 3,7122002: 2,9302005: 8932006: 5,1572007: 4,5302009: 3,0542010: 7102013: 2,0182016: 1,4212022: 7212023: 31,029 92,365 acres 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Running total of acres burned (line) and each year’s acres (bars).

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984
Great Lakes20234.831,029
Hancock Creek20222.9721
Millis Swamp201610.61,421
Woodpecker Fire201312.42,018
Gum Branch20102.9710
Carolina Bay200910.13,054
Training Fire200722.33,843
Unnamed200712.5687
Unnamed200610.62,026
Unnamed200615.01,603
Unnamed200613.9943
Walton Road200623.7585
Unnamed200525.0893
Bt-11200222.42,193
White Oak Fire200211.6737
Unnamed199522.73,041
Millis Road199510.4671
Fish Day19945.421,772
Great Lake199210.12,845
Unnamed199025.0704
Unnamed199024.1890
Unnamed198924.2779
Unnamed198919.52,422
Memorial198610.9969
Unnamed19859.95,809
  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: 34 days

Heavy smoke on 7 days in 2011, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

8.2 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

5 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 30 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 14 2012: 9 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 3 2016: 1 2017: 0 2018: 3 2019: 1 2020: 6 2021: 15 2022: 9 2023: 34 34 2024: 8 2025: 5 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

6,126 federal flood insurance claims since 1979, with $239 million paid.

Flood insurance figures are for Craven County, the county that contains Havelock.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1981: 7 1982: 28 1983: 39 1991: 5 1993: 7 1994: 5 1996: 760 1998: 53 1999: 551 2000: 7 2002: 7 2003: 220 2005: 146 2006: 20 2009: 14 2010: 195 2011: 1,156 2012: 9 2015: 15 2016: 65 2018: 2,738 2,738 2019: 15 2022: 7 2023: 5 2024: 9 19811994200220102018
Claims per year since 1979. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

2018: 2,738 claims

$203 million paid.

2nd most

2011: 1,156 claims

$18.3 million paid.

3rd most

1996: 760 claims

$6.7 million paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
285603,174$130 million
285622,009$87.7 million
28532639$14.5 million
28519141$3.8 million
28586106$2.4 million
2853014$324,000
2856312$714,000
2852310$123,000
285268$50,000

Flood events since 1996

  • Flash Flood23
  • Flood9
  • Coastal Flood6
  • Heavy Rain4

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 Craven County, the county that contains Havelock.

Most severe crest

September 20, 1999

Neuse River at Fort Barnwell, 22.75 ft

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

Most recent moderate or major crest

September 23, 2018

Neuse River at Fort Barnwell, 18.00 ft

Major flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Sep 20, 1999Neuse River at Fort Barnwell22.75+9.75Major
Sep 14, 2018Trent River at New Bern (in MLLW)10.69+7.69Major
Oct 15, 2016Neuse River at Fort Barnwell20.51+7.51Major
Sep 21, 1999Swift Creek above Streets Ferry12.28+7.28Major
Sep 14, 2018Trent River near River Bend (in MLLW)10.34+6.34Major
Sep 23, 2018Neuse River at Fort Barnwell18.00+5.00Major
Sep 19, 2018Neuse River at Spring Garden8.63+4.13Major
Oct 3, 2010Swift Creek above Streets Ferry8.96+3.96Major
Oct 16, 2016Swift Creek above Streets Ferry8.67+3.67Major
Sep 14, 2018Swift Creek above Streets Ferry8.67+3.67Major
Sep 14, 2018Neuse River at Spring Garden7.93+3.43Moderate
Sep 1, 2011Swift Creek above Streets Ferry6.07+1.07Moderate
Aug 27, 2011Swift Creek above Streets Ferry6.03+1.03Moderate
Nov 19, 2020Neuse River at Fort Barnwell14.67+1.67Minor
Sep 23, 2023Trent River at New Bern (in MLLW)4.47+1.47Minor
Aug 31, 2023Trent River at New Bern (in MLLW)4.27+1.27Minor
Nov 20, 2020Neuse River at Spring Garden5.73+1.23Minor
May 5, 2017Neuse River at Fort Barnwell14.13+1.13Minor
Sep 30, 2022Trent River at New Bern (in MLLW)4.10+1.10Minor
Feb 6, 1998Neuse River at Fort Barnwell14.01+1.01Minor
Apr 9, 2023Trent River at New Bern (in MLLW)3.93+0.93Minor
Aug 10, 2024Swift Creek at Vanceboro11.81+0.81Minor
Nov 25, 2006Neuse River at Fort Barnwell13.70+0.70Minor
Feb 8, 1998Swift Creek above Streets Ferry5.69+0.69Minor
Oct 8, 2016Trent River at New Bern (in MLLW)3.59+0.59Minor

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Mills Branch above Bridgeton12.510.43 ftAug 8, 20240
Neuse River at Fort Barnwell13.022.75 ftSep 20, 19993
Neuse River at Spring Garden4.58.63 ftSep 19, 20181
Swift Creek above Streets Ferry5.012.28 ftSep 21, 19994
Swift Creek at Vanceboro11.011.81 ftAug 10, 20240
Trent River at New Bern (in MLLW)3.010.69 ftSep 14, 20181
Trent River near River Bend (in MLLW)4.010.34 ftSep 14, 20181
  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 79 of 1,581 months since 1895 (5%); the longest spell lasted 11 months.

The drought index is for Craven County, the county that contains Havelock.

79

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

12

Months in extreme drought

5%

Share of all months, severe or worse

19

Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996

Lowest reading

September 1932

−4.75, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

11 months

September 1954 to July 1955.

Latest month

September 2026

−3.35, severe drought

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 0 1896: 0 1897: 0 1898: 0 1899: 0 1900: 2 1901: 0 1902: 0 1903: 0 1904: 0 1905: 0 1906: 0 1907: 0 1908: 0 1909: 0 1910: 0 1911: 7 1912: 0 1913: 0 1914: 0 1915: 0 1916: 0 1917: 0 1918: 0 1919: 0 1920: 0 1921: 3 1922: 0 1923: 0 1924: 0 1925: 0 1926: 2 1927: 5 1928: 0 1929: 0 1930: 4 1931: 0 1932: 6 1933: 2 1934: 1 1935: 0 1936: 0 1937: 0 1938: 0 1939: 0 1940: 0 1941: 3 1942: 6 1943: 0 1944: 0 1945: 3 1946: 0 1947: 0 1948: 0 1949: 0 1950: 0 1951: 0 1952: 0 1953: 0 1954: 4 1955: 7 1956: 0 1957: 2 1958: 0 1959: 0 1960: 0 1961: 0 1962: 0 1963: 0 1964: 0 1965: 1 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: 1 1986: 0 1987: 0 1988: 0 1989: 0 1990: 0 1991: 0 1992: 0 1993: 0 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 0 1999: 0 2000: 0 2001: 1 2002: 1 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 0 2007: 2 2008: 8 8 2009: 2 2010: 1 2011: 2 2012: 2 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 0 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 0 2022: 0 2023: 0 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

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; 14.7 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; 14.7 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

689 events in the National Weather Service record for Craven County, 602 of them since 1996.

94

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

9

Hail, 2 inches or larger

244

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

38

Winter weather events since 1996

13

Heat events since 1996

2

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

June 9, 1988

3.50 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

March 17, 1965

98 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Storm surge and tide500Sep 22, 2023
Lightning523Jul 20, 2012

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Sep 13, 2018Hurricane (Typhoon), Craven$28.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    A first ever, county wide mandatory evacuation was issued prior to Florence. Widespread heavy rain and strong winds developed over the region from the morning of September 13th through the morning of September 16th. Rainfall was generally 8��� to 12��� over the north part of the county north of New Bern, with 15��� to 20��� south of New Bern over the south part of the County. Trent Woods had a storm total of 17.35���. Extremely heavy rainfall across the county initially lead to flash flooding with numerous roads that were impassable. Extreme rainfall led to flooding along the Neuse River with many homes and roads being inundated on the north side of…

  2. Aug 26, 2011Storm Surge/Tide, Craven$12.2 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Winds gusted to 75 mph resulting in minor to major structural damage with a maximum storm surge of 8 to 10 feet across the lower reaches of the Neuse River at Adams, Clubfoot, Hancock, and Slocum Creeks.

  3. Jul 12, 1996Hurricane (Typhoon), Craven$12.0 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.…

  4. Sep 4, 1996Hurricane (Typhoon), Craven$10.0 million
    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…

  5. Aug 26, 2011Hurricane (Typhoon), Craven$10.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Across Craven County...winds gusted to 75 mph resulting in minor to major structural damage and power outages across the county. Voluntary evacuations were called for on the 25th for residents in low lying and flood prone areas. Maximum storm surge ranged from 8 to 10 feet across the lower reaches of the Neuse River at Adams...Clubfoot...Hancock and Slocum Creeks.

  6. Apr 16, 2011Tornado$4.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    The tornado touched down in the Croatan Forest to the west of Highway 70 where it damaged numerous trees. The tornado crossed Highway 70 and did significant damage to the Riverdale area where it was estimated to be EF2 intensity with winds of 125 mph and a damage width of 200 yards. Numerous homes were severely damaged with several having the second story or roof removed. The tornado continued to track northeast across the Neuse River. Total damage is estimated at 4 million dollars.

  7. Sep 17, 2003Hurricane (Typhoon), Craven$2.5 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…

  8. Sep 14, 1999Hurricane (Typhoon), Craven$1.5 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,…

  9. Apr 15, 2000Tornado$700,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    An F1 tornado touched down in the Neuse River just southwest of Bridgeton and moved northeast across the town. The tornado caused substantial roof damage to several homes and buisnesses near and along Highway 17. Two Buisnesses were destroyed. One woman in a car sustained minor injuries when her car was blown off the road. Seven mobile homes were destroyed as well as a couple of warehouses at ENCEE Chemicals.

  10. Aug 14, 2004Hurricane (Typhoon), Craven$525,000
    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…

  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 New Bern - Asos, 13.8 miles from the city centre, with records from 1948.

All-time high
106°FJul 22, 1952
All-time low
−4°FDec 25, 1989
Warmest night
81°F3 times, most recently Jul 22, 2026
Coldest day
19°FDec 25, 1983
Wettest day
9.90 inSep 19, 1955
Snowiest day
13.0 inJan 31, 2026
Hottest year
1990mean 65.4°F
Coldest year
1963mean 59.1°F
Wettest year
201879.17 in
Driest year
196536.07 in
Snowiest season
19.1 in1972-73
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, New Bern - Asos 32°F 55° 34° 3.0 Jan 59° 37° 3.0 Feb 66° 43° 3.5 Mar 74° 51° 3.2 Apr 81° 60° 4.5 May 87° 68° 4.8 Jun 90° 72° 6.9 Jul 88° 71° 7.2 Aug 83° 66° 6.3 Sep 75° 54° 2.9 Oct 66° 43° 2.9 Nov 59° 37° 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: 5 1977: 19 1978: 5 1979: 2 1980: 13 1981: 5 1982: 4 1983: 11 1984: 6 1985: 7 1986: 14 1987: 18 1988: 14 1989: 8 1990: 19 1991: 15 1992: 9 1993: 22 1998: 6 1999: 13 2000: 1 2001: 2 2002: 13 2003: 2 2004: 3 2005: 8 2006: 4 2007: 6 2008: 12 2009: 2 2010: 16 2011: 28 28 2012: 14 2013: 4 2014: 10 2015: 13 2016: 10 2017: 5 2018: 1 2019: 14 2020: 3 2021: 2 2022: 10 2023: 10 2024: 7 2025: 8 19761986200020102020
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 8.1.
Snowfall by winter 1976: 0.0 in 1977: 0.0 in 1978: 3.0 in 1979: 14.5 in 14.5 1980: 2.0 in 1981: 3.4 in 1982: 0.0 in 1983: 0.0 in 1984: 0.0 in 1985: 0.0 in 1986: 0.0 in 1987: 0.1 in 1988: 4.0 in 1989: 8.8 in 1990: 0.0 in 1991: 0.0 in 1992: 0.0 in 1993: 0.0 in 2024: 4.5 in 2025: 13.0 in 19761986
Total snowfall each winter (July to June), last 50 winters.

Median first snow

January 24

Earliest: December 11, 1958

Median last snow

January 31

Latest: April 11, 1989

23 of 48 winters had no measurable snow.

Station New Bern - Asos (USW00093719), 11 ft elevation, 13.8 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1948 to October 27, 2026; 96.8% 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

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

Declarations for Craven 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
Oct 7, 2005HurricaneHurricane OpheliaMajor disasterDR-1608-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
Sep 9, 1999HurricaneHurricane DennisMajor disasterDR-1291-NC
Sep 1, 1999HurricaneHurricane DennisEmergencyEM-3141-NC
Aug 27, 1998HurricaneHurricane BonnieMajor disasterDR-1240-NC
Sep 6, 1996HurricaneHurricane FranMajor disasterDR-1134-NC
Jul 18, 1996HurricaneHurricane BerthaMajor disasterDR-1127-NC
Mar 17, 1993SnowstormSevere Snowfall & Winter StormEmergencyEM-3110-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 USW00093719.
  • 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.