Lumberton
Population 18,955 (2025)
40 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Lumberton since 1851; the strongest at closest approach was Hazel in 1954 (Category 3).
Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed
- Tornado damage paths within 25 miles since 195093
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger87
- Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 19846
- Major flood years since 1978, Robeson 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 Robeson 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 Robeson County.
Strongest tornado
F4
April 8, 1957, 121.4 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
Cat. 3
Hurricane Hazel, 1954, 34.7 miles away
Tornadoes
About one tornado a year since 1950, 6 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
April 8, 1957
F4, 121.4 mile path
150 yards wide; 4 killed along the whole path.
Deadliest
March 28, 1984
12 killed, F3
101 injured along the whole path.
Most recent
Tuesday, May 14, 2024
EF0, 6.0 mile path
2 years ago.
Every recorded tornado
| May 14, 2024 | EF0 | 6.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 14, 2024 | EF0 | 2.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 14, 2024 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 14, 2024 | EF0 | 5.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 14, 2024 | EF0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 17, 2022 | EF0 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 2, 2021 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 2, 2021 | EF0 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 24, 2020 | EF0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 16, 2018 | EF0 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 16, 2018 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 16, 2018 | EF0 | 2.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 16, 2018 | EF0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 23, 2017 | EF0 | 2.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 27, 2015 | EF1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 27, 2015 | EF1 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 21, 2014 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 21, 2014 | EF0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 1, 2012 | EF0 | 2.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 6, 2011 | EF0 | 0.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 16, 2011 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 16, 2011 | EF2 | 13.1 | 0 | 1 |
| Apr 16, 2011 | EF1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 16, 2011 | EF1 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 16, 2011 | EF1 | 1.5 | 3 | 0 |
| Mar 28, 2009 | EF2 | 1.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 27, 2009 | EF1 | 4.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 27, 2009 | EF2 | 2.0 | 1 | 0 |
| Mar 27, 2009 | EF0 | 2.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 15, 2008 | EF0 | 1.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 14, 2008 | EF2 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 15, 2008 | EF0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 7, 2004 | F0 | 1.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 7, 2004 | F0 | 1.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 7, 2004 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 7, 2004 | F1 | 4.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 7, 2004 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 7, 2004 | F1 | 10.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 2, 2003 | F1 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 18, 2001 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 28, 2000 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 15, 1999 | F2 | 0.1 | 5 | 0 |
| Apr 15, 1999 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 15, 1999 | F2 | 0.3 | 4 | 1 |
| Mar 20, 1998 | F1 | 0.5 | 1 | 0 |
| Mar 8, 1998 | F0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 8, 1998 | F1 | 2.0 | 3 | 0 |
| Mar 8, 1998 | F0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 5, 1997 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 7, 1996 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 16, 1996 | F0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 6, 1996 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 11, 1996 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 7, 1995 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 7, 1995 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 19, 1995 | F1 | 6.0 | 1 | 0 |
| Mar 28, 1994 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 4, 1992 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 3, 1991 | F1 | 1.5 | 3 | 0 |
| Oct 23, 1990 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 21, 1989 | F0 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 |
| May 19, 1986 | F2 | 19.0 | 5 | 0 |
| Apr 14, 1984 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | F3 | 40.0 | 101 | 12 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | F4 | 40.0 | 395 | 4 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | F4 | 17.0 | 100 | 7 |
| Jun 7, 1983 | F2 | 6.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 11, 1981 | F2 | 12.4 | 0 | 1 |
| May 20, 1980 | F1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 21, 1979 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 21, 1979 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 23, 1979 | F2 | 9.8 | 9 | 0 |
| Jun 3, 1978 | F1 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 19, 1978 | F1 | 13.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 4, 1977 | F1 | 11.5 | 4 | 0 |
| Mar 4, 1977 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 9, 1976 | F2 | 6.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 15, 1976 | F2 | 10.1 | 4 | 3 |
| May 15, 1975 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 15, 1975 | F1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 16, 1975 | F1 | 0.1 | 1 | 0 |
| Sep 6, 1974 | F1 | 0.1 | 2 | 0 |
| Apr 18, 1969 | F3 | 77.3 | 3 | 0 |
| Mar 4, 1966 | F1 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 4, 1964 | F2 | 54.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 29, 1963 | F2 | 85.8 | 12 | 3 |
| Jul 19, 1963 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 19, 1963 | F1 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 11, 1960 | F1 | 15.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 27, 1958 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 8, 1957 | F4 | 0.8 | 21 | 0 |
| Apr 8, 1957 | F4 | 121.4 | 70 | 4 |
| Jun 25, 1956 | F1 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond this area.
- 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, 1 as major hurricanes.
Strongest within 50 miles
October 15, 1954
Hazel, Category 3
34.7 miles at closest approach, winds near 124 mph.
Most recent
August 8, 2024
Debby, Subtropical storm
71.1 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Debby | 2024 | 71.1 | Subtropical storm |
| Idalia | 2023 | 78.4 | Tropical storm |
| Ian | 2022 | 20.6 | Post-tropical |
| Elsa | 2021 | 40.7 | Tropical storm |
| Claudette | 2021 | 25.9 | Tropical storm |
| Isaias | 2020 | 44.2 | Category 1 |
| Nestor | 2019 | 30.7 | Post-tropical |
| Michael | 2018 | 84.4 | Tropical storm |
| Florence | 2018 | 51.9 | Tropical storm |
| Matthew | 2016 | 75.5 | Category 1 |
| Hermine | 2016 | 49.7 | Tropical storm |
| Colin | 2016 | 99.8 | Post-tropical |
| Andrea | 2013 | 6.5 | Tropical storm |
| Beryl | 2012 | 60.1 | Tropical storm |
| Hanna | 2008 | 32.1 | Tropical storm |
| Barry | 2007 | 73.4 | Post-tropical |
| Ernesto | 2006 | 58.7 | Tropical storm |
| Alberto | 2006 | 19.2 | Post-tropical |
| Charley | 2004 | 48.4 | Tropical storm |
| Floyd | 1999 | 78.8 | Category 2 |
| Earl | 1998 | 9.1 | Post-tropical |
| Bonnie | 1998 | 76.7 | Category 2 |
| Josephine | 1996 | 36.0 | Post-tropical |
| Fran | 1996 | 33.2 | Category 1 |
| Bertha | 1996 | 73.0 | Category 2 |
| Allison | 1995 | 33.9 | Post-tropical |
| Kate | 1985 | 55.8 | Tropical storm |
| Bob | 1985 | 84.9 | Tropical storm |
| Diana | 1984 | 29.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1982 | 86.0 | Subtropical storm |
| Dennis | 1981 | 72.3 | Tropical storm |
| David | 1979 | 91.3 | Tropical storm |
| Agnes | 1972 | 16.0 | Tropical storm |
| Alma | 1970 | 35.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1965 | 25.9 | Post-tropical |
| Isbell | 1964 | 95.8 | Post-tropical |
| Dora | 1964 | 55.6 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1961 | 82.3 | Tropical storm |
| Donna | 1960 | 88.8 | Category 2 |
| Brenda | 1960 | 60.8 | Tropical storm |
| Helene | 1958 | 93.9 | Category 4 |
| Unnamed | 1956 | 86.2 | Post-tropical |
| Flossy | 1956 | 27.5 | Post-tropical |
| Diane | 1955 | 44.5 | Tropical storm |
| Hazel | 1954 | 34.7 | Category 3 |
| Able | 1952 | 98.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1952 | 31.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1947 | 12.6 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1946 | 60.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1945 | 40.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1944 | 30.7 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1944 | 46.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1935 | 37.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1929 | 46.8 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1928 | 26.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1924 | 21.6 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1924 | 57.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1920 | 8.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 48.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 93.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 23.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1913 | 36.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1912 | 20.6 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1910 | 75.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1908 | 91.6 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1908 | 96.9 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1907 | 72.6 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1906 | 89.4 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1904 | 92.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1904 | 21.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1902 | 46.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1901 | 67.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1901 | 20.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1899 | 9.1 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1896 | 44.5 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1894 | 35.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1894 | 51.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 13.7 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 11.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 96.5 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 42.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1889 | 74.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 72.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 46.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1886 | 17.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1885 | 57.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1885 | 50.6 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1883 | 37.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1882 | 95.6 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1882 | 95.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1881 | 60.2 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1880 | 88.0 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1878 | 57.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1877 | 30.1 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1876 | 82.3 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1874 | 25.6 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1873 | 99.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1872 | 76.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1871 | 98.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1867 | 7.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1863 | 99.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1861 | 92.5 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1859 | 87.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1857 | 76.5 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1856 | 24.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1854 | 24.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1852 | 28.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1852 | 64.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1851 | 7.3 | Tropical storm |
- 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
6 large fires burned within 25 miles since 1984.
Largest
July 24, 2007
Longbranch-Robeson Complex, 1,945 acres
5.1 miles from the city centre.
Most recent
March 20, 2024
Horseshoe Lake Fire
990 acres in total.
Every large fire
| Horseshoe Lake | 2024 | 23.2 | 990 |
| Cedar Creek | 2022 | 23.6 | 874 |
| Valentine | 2011 | 21.1 | 1,082 |
| Jackson Swamp Complex | 2007 | 9.5 | 743 |
| Longbranch-Robeson Complex | 2007 | 5.1 | 1,945 |
| Unnamed | 2001 | 24.4 | 656 |
- 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: 37 days
Heavy smoke on 3 days in 2025, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
8.5 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
6 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 30 so far in 2026.
- 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
1,430 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $54.6 million paid.
Flood insurance figures are for Robeson County, the county that contains Lumberton.
Most claims in one year
2018: 759 claims
$31.3 million paid.
2nd most
2016: 416 claims
$20.7 million paid.
3rd most
1999: 73 claims
$352,000 paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 28358 | 866 | $33.2 million |
| 28360 | 319 | $16.0 million |
| 28364 | 66 | $1.5 million |
| 28383 | 61 | $761,000 |
| 28372 | 43 | $1.4 million |
| 28369 | 20 | $747,000 |
| 28384 | 18 | $339,000 |
| 28340 | 14 | $398,000 |
| 28377 | 8 | $117,000 |
| 28371 | 6 | $49,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flash Flood30
- Flood10
- Heavy Rain6
3 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 Robeson County, the county that contains Lumberton.
Most severe crest
September 17, 2018
Lumber River at Lumberton, 29.00 ft
16.00 feet above the 13.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.
Most recent moderate or major crest
August 13, 2024
Lumber River at Lumberton West 5th Street, 18.79 ft
Major flooding.
River gauges
| Big Swamp near Tarheel | 16.0 | 18.72 ft | 0 |
| Lumber River at Lumberton | 13.0 | 29.00 ft | 7 |
| Lumber River at Lumberton West 5th Street | 13.0 | 22.21 ft | 7 |
| Lumber River near Pembroke | 10.0 | 15.10 ft | 0 |
- 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 117 of 1,581 months since 1895 (7%); the longest spell lasted 19 months.
The drought index is for Robeson County, the county that contains Lumberton.
117
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
43
Months in extreme drought
7%
Share of all months, severe or worse
12
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
January 1934
−5.97, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
19 months
November 2021 to May 2023.
Latest month
September 2026
−5.07, extreme drought
- 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
4 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more within 50 miles since 2006; none reached magnitude 4.
2
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
September 25, 2006
Magnitude 3.7
7 km W of Rowland, North Carolina; 21.2 miles away, 3.1 miles deep.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
September 25, 2006
Magnitude 3.7
7 km W of Rowland, North Carolina; 21.2 miles away.
- 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.
- 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
727 events in the National Weather Service record for Robeson County, 597 of them since 1996.
86
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
6
Hail, 2 inches or larger
302
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
29
Winter weather events since 1996
5
Heat events since 1996
3
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
April 20, 2024
4.00 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
May 11, 2009
125 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 8 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Sep 5, 1996High Wind, Robeson$24.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Winds sustained 50 mph and gusted near 70 mph, with nearly 6 inches of rain as the outskirts of Hurricane Fran crossed Robeson County Thursday evening. There were 45 injuries associated with the storm and during cleanup efforts over the following few days, and one man died while clearing a tree on Friday. Ten homes and 20 businesses suffered major damage, and schools had $500,000 damage.
- Apr 16, 2011Tornado$3.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
A National Weather Service Storm Survey Team concluded an EF1 tornado touched down near Barker Ten Mile, North Carolina. The maximum wind speed was estimated to 105 mph. The path length was near one and a half miles. The maximum path width was 352 yards. Several headstones were turned over in a cemetery on Highway 301. Several ornamental trees, up to eight inches in diameter, were snapped. A half dozen power poles were leaning over and a flag pole was completely bent over. Numerous trees were snapped along Interstate-95. Several dozen large hardwood and pine trees, up to two feet in diameter, were snapped or uprooted. Fallen trees caused substantial damage to over 100 homes along…
- Jan 26, 2004Ice Storm, Robeson$3.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Another round of frozen precipitation moved into the area on the heels of the storm of Jan 25th, bringing more freezing rain and sleet to areas that already had over a quarter inch of ice still in the trees. The total ice accumulations ranged from a trace near the coast to as much as three quarters of an inch over interior sections. The weight of the ice caused major power outages from falling limbs, as well as significant structural damage to many homes. There was some ice accumulations on the roads, especially on bridges and overpasses, with numerous traffic accidents reported. Many residences were without power for over a week. Monetary damages totaled over a million dollars…
- Oct 8, 2016Flash Flood$2.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Interstate 95 from mile marker 33 to mile marker 25 was closed in both directions due to flooding. Adjacent roadways and numerous structures were impacted by the flood waters.
- Oct 8, 2016Flash Flood$2.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Flooding was reported throughout Pembroke. Flood waters were reportedly entering structures to include homes. Several roads were under water and impassable.
- Jan 25, 2004Ice Storm, Robeson$1.5 million
National Weather Service narrative
Freezing rain began falling over the area the morning of Jan 25th, with ice accumulations reaching a quarter of an inch by the afternoon. Tree limbs snapped from the weight of the ice, causing widespread power outages. Much of the monetary damages were due to debris removal and utility company expenses. Many homes were also damaged when the tree limbs fell on them.
- Apr 16, 2011Tornado$1.5 million
National Weather Service narrative
A National Weather Service Storm Survey Team concluded an EF1 tornado touched down near Rowland, North Carolina. The maximum wind speed was estimated to 105 mph. The path length was just over two-thirds of a mile. The maximum path width was 50 yards. Significant damage occurred to about 50 homes as a result of snapped pine trees, up to two feet in diameter. Shingles were observed to be missing from many roofs. A detached garage was pushed several feet off its foundation and a few outbuildings were destroyed. Significant damage was reported to an elementary school. Straight-line wind damage to trees was apparent for another mile beyond the point where the tornado lifted.
- May 11, 2009Thunderstorm Wind$813,000
National Weather Service narrative
A super-cell thunderstorm with damaging winds accelerated as it moved across Robeson County. Numerous trees and power lines were down and there was considerable structural damage. A National Weather Service Storm Survey concluded that a wet microburst produced a swath of damaging straight-line winds up to 125 mph. The microburst damage began near the intersection of Wilton Drive and Gem Road. Several trees were uprooted or snapped off and minor to moderate damage was observed to roof shingles and to siding. Significant damage was observed to the east of NC Highway 72. Numerous large trees were snapped off or uprooted along NC Highway 72 and significant structural damage occurred…
- Mar 16, 2002Thunderstorm Wind$750,000
National Weather Service narrative
A NWS Storm survey determined that straight line thunderstorm winds produce extensive damage to a trailer park in the northern part of Robeson county. 18 structures in all were damaged. 8 mobile homes were completely destroyed with one double wide trailer moved 10 feet off its foundation. A large metal electrical tower in the area was also blown down. A woman was injured in her mobile home during the event, dislocating her elbow. Large hail was also produced from the strong thunderstorm, with 2.5" hail reported in the area.
- Oct 8, 2016Flash Flood$500,000
National Weather Service narrative
Smith Mill Road was washed out due to flooding. Adjacent roadways and structures were impacted by the flood waters.
- 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 Lumberton Regional Airport, 2.8 miles from the city centre, with records from 1948.
- All-time high
- 107°F2 times, most recently Jun 27, 1954
- All-time low
- −1°FFeb 2, 2026
- Warmest night
- 80°FAug 9, 2007
- Coldest day
- 27°F2 times, most recently Jan 29, 2014
- Wettest day
- 12.53 inOct 8, 2016
- Hottest year
- 2015mean 65.4°F
- Coldest year
- 2000mean 61.6°F
- Wettest year
- 202064.77 in
- Driest year
- 200722.75 in
Station Lumberton Regional Airport (USW00013776), 121 ft elevation, 2.8 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1948 to October 27, 2026; 91.7% 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
24 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Winter Storm, January 24, 2026.
Declarations for Robeson County.
| Jan 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637-NC |
| Sep 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617-NC |
| Aug 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608-NC |
| Oct 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586-NC |
| Mar 3, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4588-NC |
| Aug 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534-NC |
| Mar 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4487-NC |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3471-NC |
| Oct 4, 2019 | Hurricane | DR-4465-NC |
| Sep 3, 2019 | Hurricane | EM-3423-NC |
| Sep 14, 2018 | Hurricane | DR-4393-NC |
| Sep 10, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3401-NC |
| Oct 10, 2016 | Hurricane | DR-4285-NC |
| Oct 7, 2016 | Hurricane | EM-3380-NC |
| Apr 19, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1969-NC |
| Sep 5, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3222-NC |
| Sep 10, 2004 | Hurricane | DR-1546-NC |
| Sep 18, 2003 | Hurricane | DR-1490-NC |
| Sep 16, 1999 | Hurricane | DR-1292-NC |
| Sep 15, 1999 | Hurricane | EM-3146-NC |
| Aug 27, 1998 | Hurricane | DR-1240-NC |
| Jan 15, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1200-NC |
| Sep 6, 1996 | Hurricane | DR-1134-NC |
| Mar 30, 1984 | Tornado | DR-699-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 USW00013776.
- 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.