Bertie County

Population 17,086 (2025) 699 sq mi

66 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Bertie County since 1851, 16 of them at hurricane strength; the strongest was an unnamed storm in 1879 (Category 2).

Hazard fingerprint for Bertie County Tornado: 58th percentile. Tropical: 91th percentile. Wildfire: 0th percentile. Flood: 60th percentile. Hail & wind: 14th percentile. Heat: 39th percentile. Cold: 28th percentile. Winter: 32th 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 since 195031
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger109
  • Major flood years since 19784

At a glance

The record for Bertie County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

66

19th of 100 in North Carolina

16 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Flood insurance claims

423

34th of 100 in North Carolina

$13.1 million paid since 1980

Details

Tornadoes since 1950

31

14th of 100 in North Carolina

2.2 times the typical North Carolina county

Details

Strongest tornado

F3

November 23, 1992, 160.0 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 2

Hurricane (unnamed), 1879, 33.1 miles away

Federal disaster declarations

28

Most recent: Severe Winter Storm, 2026

Details

Record high

107°F

August 9, 2007

Details

Record low

−5°F

January 21, 1985

Details

Tornadoes

About one every 2.5 years since 1950, 5 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest

November 23, 1992

F3, 160.0 mile path

100 yards wide.

Deadliest

April 16, 2011

12 killed, EF3

58 injured along the whole path.

Most recent

Monday, July 3, 2023

EF0, 0.6 mile path

3 years ago.

Tornadoes by decade Doppler radar era² 1950s: 2 2 1960s: 2 2 1970s: 3 3 1980s: 4 4 1990s: 5 5 2000s: 6 6 2010s: 7 7 2020s: 2 2 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 0 F: 1 M: 5 A: 5 M: 7 7 J: 2 J: 1 A: 3 S: 4 O: 1 N: 2 D: 0 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes in Bertie County since 1950
Jul 3, 2023EF00.66000
Aug 3, 2020EF310.0600142
Sep 14, 2018EF00.65000
May 5, 2017EF011.710000
Mar 31, 2017EF14.810000
Feb 24, 2016EF00.55000
Apr 25, 2014EF235.540020
Apr 16, 2011EF217.550080
Apr 16, 2011EF317.91,3005812
Sep 26, 2008EF00.67500
May 11, 2008EF215.020020
May 9, 2008EF211.730000
Apr 20, 2008EF00.22500
May 9, 2003F01.05000
Sep 24, 2001F01.05000
Sep 15, 1999F00.55000
May 11, 1995F10.11000
Jun 4, 1993F00.52000
Nov 23, 1992F3160.0100440
Mar 29, 1991F10.57010
Aug 20, 1986F00.11300
Mar 28, 1984F25.052770
Mar 28, 1984F36.0880196
Aug 9, 1983F12.58000
Apr 3, 1979F10.53000
Jun 3, 1978F20.88300
May 29, 1973F00.11000
Oct 2, 1969F120.21000
Mar 15, 1964F10.32700
Nov 8, 1957F346.915050
May 10, 1952F20.11060
  1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Bertie County: 20.
  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

66 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 16 at hurricane strength.

Strongest within 50 miles

August 18, 1879

Unnamed storm, Category 2

33.1 miles at closest approach, winds near 109 mph.

Most recent

September 23, 2023

Ophelia, Tropical storm

6.1 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 5 60s: 3 70s: 5 80s: 9 9 90s: 7 00s: 2 10s: 2 20s: 0 30s: 2 40s: 2 50s: 4 60s: 5 70s: 3 80s: 2 90s: 4 00s: 5 10s: 2 20s: 4 50s60s70s80s90s00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s00s10s20s
Storms within 50 miles, by decade. Records before about 1900 miss storms that never reached land or ships.

Every storm within 100 miles

Tropical cyclones within 100 miles
Ophelia20236.1Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Elsa202133.1Tropical storm52Category 1
Claudette20212.5Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Isaias202013.0Tropical storm69Category 1
Fay202092.4Remnant low40Tropical storm
Nestor201915.7Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Dorian201979.3Category 298Category 5
Michael201826.8Post-tropical60Category 5
Matthew201691.2Category 181Category 5
Hermine201642.3Tropical storm67Category 1
Colin201696.0Post-tropical55Tropical storm
Arthur201457.5Category 298Category 2
Andrea20138.5Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Beryl201273.3Remnant low48Tropical storm
Irene201132.2Category 175Category 3
Hanna200822.9Tropical storm52Category 1
Cristobal200898.5Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Gabrielle200743.0Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Barry200756.5Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Ernesto20065.7Tropical storm40Category 1
Alberto20067.9Post-tropical43Tropical storm
Ophelia200596.1Category 177Category 1
Charley20047.3Tropical storm54Category 4
Alex200491.4Category 298Category 3
Isabel20030.0Category 183Category 5
Kyle200254.1Tropical storm44Category 1
Gustav200296.7Tropical storm63Category 2
Helene20000.0Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Floyd19999.5Category 181Category 4
Dennis199941.0Tropical storm44Category 2
Earl19980.0Post-tropical58Category 2
Bonnie199831.5Tropical storm71Category 3
Danny19970.0Tropical storm44Category 1
Josephine199619.7Post-tropical52Tropical storm
Fran199685.5Tropical storm60Category 3
Bertha19960.0Tropical storm71Category 3
Arthur199671.4Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Allison199541.3Post-tropical46Category 1
Danielle199280.4Tropical storm63Tropical storm
Charley198637.0Category 177Category 1
Kate198586.3Tropical storm46Category 3
Gloria198573.5Category 2104Category 4
Diana198430.0Tropical storm54Category 4
Unnamed198257.5Subtropical storm69Tropical storm
Dennis198164.5Tropical storm67Category 1
Agnes197218.4Tropical storm48Category 1
Doria19714.6Tropical storm69Tropical storm
Unnamed197061.0Tropical storm61Category 1
Alma19709.3Tropical storm40Category 1
Camille196961.7Tropical storm40Category 5
Gladys196893.0Category 184Category 2
Doria196733.1Tropical storm48Category 2
Unnamed19654.3Post-tropical45Tropical storm
Isbell196441.5Post-tropical40Category 3
Dora196460.1Post-tropical69Category 4
Unnamed196345.7Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Alma196293.2Tropical storm72Category 1
Unnamed196253.0Tropical storm63Tropical storm
Unnamed19614.6Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Donna196034.5Category 298Category 4
Brenda19600.0Tropical storm60Tropical storm
Cindy19595.9Tropical storm43Category 1
Helene195893.9Category 4132Category 4
Unnamed195616.6Post-tropical52Tropical storm
Flossy195619.7Post-tropical58Category 1
Ione195514.1Category 177Category 4
Diane195571.0Tropical storm60Category 2
Connie195524.4Category 190Category 4
Hazel195454.6Post-tropical92Category 4
Carol195495.3Category 3112Category 3
Barbara195342.0Category 183Category 1
Unnamed194713.1Post-tropical41Tropical storm
Unnamed194638.3Tropical storm52Category 1
Unnamed194578.3Post-tropical46Category 4
Unnamed194557.4Category 175Category 2
Unnamed194428.1Post-tropical48Category 4
Unnamed194492.3Category 3117Category 5
Unnamed194445.0Tropical storm48Category 1
Unnamed193790.3Tropical storm67Tropical storm
Unnamed193514.9Tropical storm60Category 5
Unnamed193492.5Category 189Category 2
Unnamed193385.6Category 2101Category 4
Unnamed193340.0Category 183Category 4
Unnamed193270.7Post-tropical56Category 1
Unnamed192951.7Post-tropical58Category 4
Unnamed19287.1Post-tropical77Category 5
Unnamed192883.5Post-tropical43Category 2
Unnamed192539.8Post-tropical69Category 1
Unnamed19240.0Post-tropical71Category 1
Unnamed192461.5Post-tropical51Category 1
Unnamed191844.4Tropical storm69Category 1
Unnamed19160.0Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed191365.4Tropical storm63Category 1
Unnamed191235.1Post-tropical41Tropical storm
Unnamed191080.7Tropical storm60Category 4
Unnamed191070.5Post-tropical44Tropical storm
Unnamed190860.4Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed190865.5Tropical storm72Category 1
Unnamed190879.3Category 175Category 1
Unnamed190714.8Post-tropical54Tropical storm
Unnamed190426.3Tropical storm63Category 1
Unnamed190251.7Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Unnamed190187.4Tropical storm43Category 1
Unnamed190135.9Tropical storm69Category 1
Unnamed190062.3Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Unnamed189949.5Tropical storm62Category 2
Unnamed189991.9Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Unnamed189942.2Category 2104Category 4
Unnamed189749.7Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed189783.9Tropical storm62Category 1
Unnamed189774.3Tropical storm69Tropical storm
Unnamed189699.5Category 178Category 3
Unnamed18940.0Tropical storm71Category 3
Unnamed189446.7Tropical storm69Category 3
Unnamed189375.2Tropical storm55Tropical storm
Unnamed189362.6Category 186Category 3
Unnamed189337.7Tropical storm40Category 4
Unnamed18936.0Tropical storm60Category 1
Unnamed188935.1Tropical storm46Category 2
Unnamed188828.3Tropical storm60Category 2
Unnamed188847.7Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed18875.8Post-tropical41Category 1
Unnamed188627.2Tropical storm40Category 2
Unnamed188587.8Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed188548.1Category 181Category 2
Unnamed188341.7Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed18824.6Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed188258.6Tropical storm48Category 3
Unnamed18810.0Tropical storm60Category 2
Unnamed188039.7Category 181Category 1
Unnamed187933.1Category 2109Category 3
Unnamed18789.8Category 2101Category 2
Unnamed187734.9Post-tropical58Category 3
Unnamed18764.0Category 181Category 3
Unnamed18744.5Tropical storm61Category 1
Unnamed18720.0Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed186791.5Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed186310.2Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed186145.1Category 178Category 1
Unnamed186189.8Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed18612.1Tropical storm69Category 1
Unnamed185951.7Tropical storm55Category 1
Unnamed185723.2Tropical storm61Category 2
Unnamed185652.0Tropical storm58Category 3
Unnamed185621.4Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed18540.0Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed185249.9Tropical storm58Category 2
Unnamed18511.6Tropical 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

No large wildfire has been mapped here since satellite mapping began in 1984.

Smoke overhead

Smokiest year

2023: 43 days

Heavy smoke on 8 days in 2023, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

9.2 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

7 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 30 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 6 2012: 5 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 3 2016: 1 2017: 0 2018: 2 2019: 1 2020: 4 2021: 15 2022: 11 2023: 43 43 2024: 8 2025: 7 201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Days each year on which a satellite-traced plume of medium or heavy smoke covered the county’s population 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

423 federal flood insurance claims since 1980, with $13.1 million paid.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1999: 54 2003: 30 2010: 122 2011: 20 2016: 172 172 1999
Claims per year since 1980. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

2016: 172 claims

$5.5 million paid.

2nd most

2010: 122 claims

$5.0 million paid.

3rd most

1999: 54 claims

$1.4 million paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
27983356$11.9 million
2795729$707,000
2780515$93,000
2792415$256,000
278495$69,000

Flood events since 1996

  • Heavy Rain25
  • Flash Flood24
  • Flood8

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

Most severe crest

September 16, 1999

Cashie River near Windsor, 18.52 ft

10.52 feet above the 8.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

November 13, 2020

Cashie River near Windsor, 11.51 ft

Moderate flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Sep 16, 1999Cashie River near Windsor18.52+10.52Major
Oct 9, 2016Cashie River near Windsor16.63+8.63Major
Oct 1, 2010Cashie River near Windsor15.69+7.69Major
Sep 22, 2016Cashie River near Windsor14.78+6.78Major
Oct 19, 1999Cashie River near Windsor12.52+4.52Major
Aug 16, 2004Cashie River near Windsor12.24+4.24Major
Aug 28, 2011Cashie River near Windsor12.14+4.14Major
Jun 17, 2001Cashie River near Windsor12.07+4.07Major
Sep 20, 2003Cashie River near Windsor11.78+3.78Moderate
Nov 13, 2020Cashie River near Windsor11.51+3.51Moderate
Aug 18, 1992Cashie River near Windsor11.51+3.51Moderate
Feb 6, 1998Cashie River near Windsor11.49+3.49Moderate
Jun 16, 2006Cashie River near Windsor11.41+3.41Moderate
Feb 8, 2020Cashie River near Windsor10.74+2.74Moderate
Sep 3, 2006Cashie River near Windsor10.54+2.54Moderate
Mar 4, 1994Cashie River near Windsor10.07+2.07Moderate
Feb 6, 2016Cashie River near Windsor9.80+1.80Minor
Jun 12, 2021Cashie River near Windsor9.66+1.66Minor
Jun 5, 2021Cashie River near Windsor9.62+1.62Minor
May 3, 1989Cashie River near Windsor9.57+1.57Minor
Feb 7, 2010Cashie River near Windsor9.51+1.51Minor
Feb 25, 2019Cashie River near Windsor9.36+1.36Minor
Aug 5, 2014Cashie River near Windsor9.24+1.24Minor
Feb 16, 2021Cashie River near Windsor9.21+1.21Minor
Aug 1, 2018Cashie River near Windsor9.17+1.17Minor

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Cashie River near Windsor8.018.52 ftSep 16, 19998
  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 87 of 1,581 months since 1895 (6%); the longest spell lasted 9 months.

87

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

15

Months in extreme drought

6%

Share of all months, severe or worse

Lowest reading

January 1934

−5.27, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

9 months

June 2008 to February 2009.

Latest month

September 2026

−3.59, 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: 3 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: 0 1927: 0 1928: 0 1929: 0 1930: 3 1931: 3 1932: 3 1933: 3 1934: 1 1935: 0 1936: 0 1937: 0 1938: 0 1939: 0 1940: 0 1941: 2 1942: 8 1943: 2 1944: 0 1945: 0 1946: 0 1947: 0 1948: 0 1949: 0 1950: 0 1951: 0 1952: 0 1953: 0 1954: 0 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: 2 1981: 8 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 5 1986: 5 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: 4 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 0 2007: 4 2008: 11 11 2009: 5 2010: 1 2011: 0 2012: 0 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.

0

Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973

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; 49.6 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; 49.6 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 county boundary (or inside the county).
  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

296 events in the National Weather Service record, 243 of them since 1996.

28

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

6

Hail, 2 inches or larger

52

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

45

Winter weather events since 1996

6

Heat events since 1996

5

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

May 9, 2003

4.25 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

March 5, 2008

90 mph

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Sep 15, 1999Hurricane (Typhoon), Bertie$8.8 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Floyd was a Category 1 hurricane as it crossed the Wakefield WFO county warning area. Sustained tropical storm force winds with gusts to near hurricane force occurred over the northwest quadrant of the storm over interior portions of northeast North Carolina and along the coastal waters of the Wakefield marine area. The center of the storm crossed the county warning area along an Elizabeth City to Currituck county to Sandbridge Virginia Beach axis. The highest sustained wind speed recorded at the Elizabeth City Coast Guard Station (ECG) was 39 mph with gusts to 64 mph. Two confirmed tornadoes occurred in association with Floyd, both in northeast North Carolina. There…

  2. Oct 8, 2016Flood$5.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Numerous homes and businesses were flooded and damaged in and around Windsor, due to heavy rain from Post Tropical Cyclone Matthew causing the Cashie River to exceed major flood stage. Numerous roads were flooded and closed.

  3. Sep 21, 2016Flood$4.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Numerous homes and businesses were flooded and damaged in and around Windsor, due to heavy rain over several days causing the Cashie River to exceed major flood stage. Numerous roads were flooded and closed.

  4. Aug 26, 1998Hurricane (Typhoon), Bertie$3.4 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Bonnie moved along the coast of northeast North Carolina on August 27th. Very strong winds and heavy rains associated with Bonnie's spiral bands hammered northeast North Carolina Thursday afternoon into early Friday morning. The highest sustained wind speed recorded at the Elizabeth City Coast Guard Station (ECG) was 59 mph with gusts to 73 mph. The Currituck county EOC reported a gust to 93 mph. Numerous trees and power lines blown down resulted in scattered property damage and widespread power outages. A 12 year old girl was killed when a large tree fell on her home. Coastal Pasquotank and Camden counties in North Carolina experienced approximately a 6 foot surge in…

  5. Sep 18, 2003Hurricane (Typhoon), Bertie$2.5 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Isabel was a Category 1 hurricane as it crossed the Wakefield WFO county warning area. Sustained tropical storm force winds with frequent gusts to hurricane force occurred over coastal northeast North Carolina. Isabel made landfall near Ocracoke Inlet in North Carolina, tracked northwest into central Virginia just west of Richmond, then continued northward into western Pennsylvania. The highest sustained wind speed recorded was 73 mph at Duck (DUCN7). Other sustained wind speed was 59 mph at Elizabeth City (ECG). The highest gusts recorded were 97 mph at Elizabeth City (from Clemson University observation site in Elizabeth City), 92 mph at Duck (DUCN7), and 74 mph at…

  6. Apr 16, 2011Tornado$2.3 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Tornado first touched down about one mile south of Askewville (east of U.S. Rt. 13), producing minor tree and building damage. The tornado began producing significant damage on the east side of Askewville, where numerous structures and several mobile homes sustained major damage or were destroyed. The tornado then tracked continuously for nearly 19 miles finally lifting east of Harrellsville. For much of the tornado's life, the path width was one half to nearly three quarters of a mile wide. EF2 and EF3 damage was widespread from just east of Askewville northeast to about 3 miles west of Colerain, then gradually decreased as the tornado crossed into Hertford county. Numerous homes…

  7. May 11, 2008Tornado$1.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Tornado first touched down about two miles north-northwest of Lewiston Woodville. The tornado path then continued east-northeast across the county producing EF0 to EF2 damage. The tornado path ended as EF0 damage about one mile south of Powellsville. Confirmed EF1 tornado damage about two miles north-northwest of Lewiston Woodville consisted of numerous trees downed on Route 308, and several trailer and brick homes damaged with some mobile homes destroyed near Piney Woods Road. Confirmed EF2 tornado damage about three miles north-northeast of Lewiston Woodville and five miles southwest of Connaritsa consisted of several mobile homes destroyed and a church demolished on Connaritsa…

  8. Oct 8, 2016Flood$1.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Heavy rain caused an extended period of significant flooding across much of the county. Numerous roads were impassable or closed for several days, and many homes and businesses were impacted.

  9. Aug 4, 2020Tornado$1.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    A damage survey conducted by the NWS Wakefield office found a path of storm damage consistent with an EF3 tornado. The tornado touched down near the intersection of Knowles Lane and Middle Track Road. It then tracked to the north northwest and reached its strongest point just south of the town of Woodard as it crossed Morning Road, where its width increased to just over one third of a mile and it reached EF3 intensity. The tornado completely destroyed several mobile homes and stick built houses in this area. It flattened seven single-wide and double-wide mobile homes, leaving unrecognizable bits of debris. The fatalities and injuries occurred in the vicinity of Morning Road. The…

  10. Aug 27, 2011Tropical Storm, Bertie$800,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Tropical storm force winds knocked down several trees and power lines, with heavy rains also causing significant crop damage. Storm total rainfall generally ranged from eight to thirteen inches.

  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 Lewiston, 12.1 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1954.

All-time high
107°FAug 9, 2007
All-time low
−5°FJan 21, 1985
Warmest night
83°FJun 10, 1981
Coldest day
16°FJan 21, 1985
Wettest day
8.98 inAug 27, 2011
Snowiest day
11.5 inFeb 6, 1980
Hottest year
1990mean 64.8°F
Coldest year
1969mean 57.0°F
Wettest year
199972.70 in
Driest year
198132.65 in
Snowiest season
35.3 in1979-80
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Lewiston 32°F 52° 31° 3.5 Jan 56° 34° 3.3 Feb 64° 40° 3.8 Mar 73° 49° 3.5 Apr 80° 58° 3.6 May 87° 66° 4.4 Jun 90° 69° 5.5 Jul 88° 68° 4.8 Aug 83° 63° 6.4 Sep 74° 51° 2.7 Oct 63° 40° 3.0 Nov 55° 35° 3.4 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: 16 1978: 3 1979: 6 1980: 36 1981: 14 1990: 34 1991: 33 1992: 6 1993: 31 1994: 11 1995: 6 1996: 6 1997: 15 1998: 11 1999: 18 2000: 5 2001: 4 2002: 44 44 2003: 4 2004: 4 2005: 8 2006: 9 2007: 30 2008: 17 2009: 7 2010: 42 2011: 30 2012: 16 2013: 3 2014: 2 2016: 7 2017: 3 2018: 3 2019: 19 2020: 6 2021: 0 2025: 8 1976199420042014
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 12.3.
Snowfall by winter 1976: 4.1 in 1977: 12.0 in 1978: 12.8 in 1979: 35.3 in 35.3 1980: 1.5 in 1981: 0.0 in 1982: 9.0 in 1983: 3.5 in 1984: 3.2 in 1985: 0.0 in 1987: 1.9 in 1989: 0.0 in 1990: 0.0 in 1991: 0.0 in 1992: 0.0 in 1993: 0.0 in 1994: 2.1 in 1995: 1.5 in 1996: 0.0 in 1997: 0.0 in 1998: 0.0 in 1999: 0.0 in 2000: 0.0 in 2001: 11.6 in 2002: 3.0 in 2003: 0.0 in 2004: 1.5 in 2005: 0.0 in 2006: 0.0 in 2007: 0.0 in 2008: 0.0 in 2009: 0.0 in 2019: 4.5 in 2021: 0.0 in 2022: 0.0 in 2023: 0.0 in 2024: 8.5 in 2025: 4.9 in 1976198719982008
Total snowfall each winter (July to June), last 50 winters.

Median first snow

January 20

Earliest: December 6, 1954

Median last snow

February 7

Latest: March 27, 1971

24 of 58 winters had no measurable snow.

Station Lewiston (USC00314962), 50 ft elevation, 12.1 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1954 to October 15, 2026; 95.0% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.

NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.

Federal disaster declarations

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

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
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
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.

How this compares

Where Bertie County stands among 100 counties in North Carolina and 3,143 in the United States.

Ranks
Tornadoes since 19503114 / 100949 / 3,143
Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger52 / 100242 / 3,143
Tropical cyclones within 50 mi6619 / 10084 / 3,143
Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi1624 / 100128 / 3,143
Wildfire acres since 19840——
Flood insurance claims42334 / 100568 / 3,143
Flood insurance paid$13.1 million30 / 100397 / 3,143
Disaster declarations2815 / 100491 / 3,143
Flood events since 19965740 / 1001,251 / 3,143
Hail and wind events since 19969895 / 1002,791 / 3,143
Winter storm events since 19964565 / 1002,085 / 3,143
Reported damage since 1996$31.5 million55 / 1001,126 / 3,143
River crests at major flood stage819 / 100612 / 3,143
High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years0.0——
Months in severe drought since 18958773 / 1002,707 / 3,143
Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years9.260 / 1002,760 / 3,143
Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 19000——
Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 19730——

Neighbouring counties

Neighbouring counties
Halifax County16442,86754
Hertford County18530159
Martin County2262042
Northampton County1844034
Washington County137018,144157

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 USC00314962.
  • 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.