Edgecombe County

Population 49,121 (2025) 505 sq mi

46 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Edgecombe County since 1851, 6 of them at hurricane strength; the strongest was an unnamed storm in 1878 (Category 2).

Hazard fingerprint for Edgecombe County Tornado: 41th percentile. Tropical: 85th percentile. Wildfire: 0th percentile. Flood: 62th percentile. Hail & wind: 50th percentile. Heat: 50th percentile. Cold: 3th percentile. Winter: 37th 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 195016
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger91
  • Major flood years since 19783

At a glance

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

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

46

33rd of 100 in North Carolina

6 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Flood insurance claims

795

20th of 100 in North Carolina

$28.2 million paid since 1978

Details

Tornadoes since 1950

16

42nd of 100 in North Carolina

About as many as the typical North Carolina county

Details

Strongest tornado

F3

November 23, 1992, 160.0 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 2

Hurricane (unnamed), 1878, 21.3 miles away

Federal disaster declarations

27

Most recent: Severe Winter Storm, 2026

Details

Record high

107°F

July 18, 1942

Details

Record low

−5°F

January 21, 1985

Details

Tornadoes

About one every 4.8 years since 1950, 5 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest

November 23, 1992

F3, 160.0 mile path

100 yards wide.

Deadliest

February 22, 1971

2 killed, F3

60 injured along the whole path.

Most recent

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

EF1, 2.2 mile path

Within the past year.

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

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes in Edgecombe County since 1950
May 13, 2025EF12.212000
May 13, 2025EF11.711500
May 12, 2025EF12.110000
Aug 8, 2024EF00.25000
Jul 19, 2023EF313.5600160
Apr 19, 2019EF110.67500
Apr 29, 2014EF04.210000
Oct 11, 2002F12.05000
Nov 11, 1995F11.010030
Jun 4, 1993F15.03000
Nov 23, 1992F3160.0100440
May 5, 1977F11.52300
May 28, 1973F01.01000
Feb 22, 1971F385.7500602
Nov 8, 1957F346.915050
Mar 15, 1953F330.12710
  1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Edgecombe County: 0.
  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

46 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 6 at hurricane strength.

Strongest within 50 miles

October 23, 1878

Unnamed storm, Category 2

21.3 miles at closest approach, winds near 104 mph.

Most recent

September 23, 2023

Ophelia, Tropical storm

0.0 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 3 60s: 2 70s: 4 80s: 6 6 90s: 5 00s: 2 10s: 2 20s: 0 30s: 1 40s: 1 50s: 3 60s: 2 70s: 3 80s: 1 90s: 3 00s: 4 10s: 0 20s: 4 50s60s70s80s90s00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s00s10s20s
Storms within 50 miles, by decade. Records before about 1900 miss storms that never reached land or ships.

Every storm within 100 miles

Tropical cyclones within 100 miles
Ophelia20230.0Tropical storm49Tropical storm
Elsa202119.7Tropical storm52Category 1
Claudette202110.1Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Isaias20200.0Tropical storm69Category 1
Nestor201913.2Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Michael201824.0Post-tropical58Category 5
Hermine201658.5Tropical storm64Category 1
Arthur201481.6Category 298Category 2
Andrea20134.8Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Beryl201287.1Remnant low47Tropical storm
Irene201163.0Category 175Category 3
Hanna200811.8Tropical storm52Category 1
Gabrielle200772.0Tropical storm51Tropical storm
Barry200776.2Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Alberto200615.2Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Charley200421.3Tropical storm58Category 4
Isabel200313.5Category 183Category 5
Kyle200270.6Tropical storm43Category 1
Helene20006.0Tropical storm43Tropical storm
Floyd199931.9Category 181Category 4
Dennis199912.2Tropical storm40Category 2
Earl19988.0Post-tropical58Category 2
Bonnie199851.1Tropical storm71Category 3
Danny19970.0Tropical storm43Category 1
Josephine199638.9Post-tropical52Tropical storm
Fran199655.7Tropical storm66Category 3
Bertha19963.5Tropical storm71Category 3
Arthur199692.8Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Allison199556.7Post-tropical46Category 1
Charley198670.2Category 176Category 1
Kate198594.1Tropical storm48Category 3
Diana198436.0Tropical storm49Category 4
Unnamed198278.7Subtropical storm69Tropical storm
Dennis198177.1Tropical storm63Category 1
Agnes197232.5Tropical storm48Category 1
Doria197135.6Tropical storm69Tropical storm
Unnamed197080.7Tropical storm59Category 1
Alma19707.9Tropical storm40Category 1
Doria196766.3Tropical storm46Category 2
Unnamed196512.1Post-tropical44Tropical storm
Isbell196412.2Post-tropical40Category 3
Dora196475.5Post-tropical69Category 4
Unnamed196383.1Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed196281.2Tropical storm63Tropical storm
Unnamed196133.3Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Donna196059.5Category 298Category 4
Brenda19608.5Tropical storm60Tropical storm
Cindy19590.0Tropical storm41Category 1
Unnamed195641.7Post-tropical52Tropical storm
Flossy195635.0Post-tropical58Category 1
Ione195546.4Category 181Category 4
Diane195540.7Tropical storm60Category 2
Connie195557.3Category 192Category 4
Hazel195427.9Post-tropical92Category 4
Barbara195376.0Category 186Category 1
Unnamed194727.7Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Unnamed194653.0Tropical storm52Category 1
Unnamed194560.5Tropical storm47Category 4
Unnamed194581.8Category 175Category 2
Unnamed194415.6Post-tropical48Category 4
Unnamed194419.1Tropical storm49Category 1
Unnamed193515.2Tropical storm60Category 5
Unnamed193381.2Category 183Category 4
Unnamed193294.7Post-tropical55Category 1
Unnamed192937.0Post-tropical58Category 4
Unnamed19280.0Post-tropical81Category 5
Unnamed192875.7Post-tropical39Category 2
Unnamed192567.7Post-tropical70Category 1
Unnamed192411.8Post-tropical71Category 1
Unnamed192476.3Post-tropical49Category 1
Unnamed192095.7Tropical storm39Category 1
Unnamed191868.5Tropical storm69Category 1
Unnamed19160.0Tropical storm43Tropical storm
Unnamed191343.8Tropical storm55Category 1
Unnamed191234.1Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Unnamed191093.4Tropical storm62Category 4
Unnamed191094.9Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Unnamed190881.9Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed190877.1Category 181Category 1
Unnamed190739.8Post-tropical54Tropical storm
Unnamed190412.4Tropical storm64Category 1
Unnamed190294.9Post-tropical40Category 2
Unnamed190237.0Tropical storm45Tropical storm
Unnamed190164.1Tropical storm61Category 1
Unnamed190086.0Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Unnamed189933.1Tropical storm67Category 2
Unnamed189976.2Category 2104Category 4
Unnamed189786.3Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed189795.7Tropical storm69Tropical storm
Unnamed189677.1Category 178Category 3
Unnamed189420.3Tropical storm70Category 3
Unnamed189472.9Tropical storm69Category 3
Unnamed189341.4Category 186Category 3
Unnamed189336.3Tropical storm40Category 4
Unnamed189326.2Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed188926.5Tropical storm46Category 2
Unnamed188851.7Tropical storm60Category 2
Unnamed188834.0Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed188714.3Tropical storm39Category 1
Unnamed188611.7Tropical storm40Category 2
Unnamed188568.6Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed188562.0Category 181Category 2
Unnamed188316.3Tropical storm48Category 3
Unnamed188236.2Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed188250.5Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed188111.8Tropical storm63Category 2
Unnamed188059.8Category 181Category 1
Unnamed187963.0Category 3112Category 3
Unnamed187821.3Category 2104Category 2
Unnamed187720.3Post-tropical58Category 3
Unnamed18765.7Category 181Category 3
Unnamed18740.0Tropical storm66Category 1
Unnamed187211.3Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed186760.1Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed186341.5Tropical storm60Tropical storm
Unnamed186172.9Category 181Category 1
Unnamed186132.6Tropical storm69Category 1
Unnamed185944.0Tropical storm54Category 1
Unnamed185751.1Tropical storm71Category 2
Unnamed185659.2Tropical storm58Category 3
Unnamed185656.2Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed18540.0Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed185259.8Tropical storm58Category 2
Unnamed185113.7Tropical 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: 41 days

Heavy smoke on 7 days in 2023, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

8.9 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

7 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 31 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 5 2012: 4 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 3 2016: 1 2017: 0 2018: 2 2019: 2 2020: 4 2021: 15 2022: 9 2023: 41 41 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

795 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $28.2 million paid.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1996: 21 1998: 10 1999: 317 2001: 6 2003: 13 2006: 9 2011: 8 2016: 333 333 2020: 32 19962006
Claims per year since 1978. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

2016: 333 claims

$16.3 million paid.

2nd most

1999: 317 claims

$11.3 million paid.

3rd most

2020: 32 claims

$298,000 paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
27801411$11.5 million
27886302$14.2 million
2786447$1.5 million
2780912$230,000
278525$71,000

Flood events since 1996

  • Flash Flood38
  • Heavy Rain7
  • Flood4

8 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

Most severe crest

September 19, 1999

Tar River at Tarboro, 41.51 ft

22.51 feet above the 19.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

August 15, 2024

Tar River at Tarboro, 25.42 ft

Moderate flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Sep 19, 1999Tar River at Tarboro41.51+22.51Major
Oct 13, 2016Tar River at Tarboro36.29+17.29Major
Jul 27, 1919Tar River at Tarboro34.00+15.00Major
Sep 17, 1999Tar River at NC97 In Rocky Mount31.66+10.66Major
Oct 10, 2016Tar River at NC97 In Rocky Mount28.73+7.73Major
Jun 18, 2020Tar River at NC97 In Rocky Mount27.25+6.25Major
Apr 19, 1910Fishing Creek near Enfield22.10+6.10Major
Sep 18, 1999Fishing Creek near Enfield21.65+5.65Major
Jul 24, 1916Fishing Creek near Enfield21.60+5.60Major
Sep 12, 1996Tar River at NC97 In Rocky Mount25.88+4.88Major
Apr 26, 2017Tar River at NC97 In Rocky Mount25.76+4.76Major
Aug 20, 1940Tar River at Tarboro31.77+12.77Moderate
May 12, 1958Tar River at Tarboro29.17+10.17Moderate
Apr 22, 1987Tar River at Tarboro28.37+9.37Moderate
Sep 23, 1945Tar River at Tarboro28.13+9.13Moderate
Jun 19, 2006Tar River at Tarboro28.03+9.03Moderate
May 1, 2017Tar River at Tarboro27.70+8.70Moderate
Feb 21, 2021Tar River at Tarboro27.47+8.47Moderate
Jan 27, 1954Tar River at Tarboro27.43+8.43Moderate
Dec 6, 1934Tar River at Tarboro27.38+8.38Moderate
Sep 3, 1939Tar River at Tarboro27.00+8.00Moderate
Sep 15, 1996Tar River at Tarboro26.57+7.57Moderate
Jun 4, 1984Tar River at Tarboro26.44+7.44Moderate
Apr 15, 2003Tar River at Tarboro26.27+7.27Moderate
Feb 2, 1937Tar River at Tarboro26.18+7.18Moderate

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Deep Creek at Dickens Rd18.0——0
Fishing Creek near Enfield16.022.10 ftApr 19, 19103
Tar River at NC97 In Rocky Mount21.031.66 ftSep 17, 19995
Tar River at Tarboro19.041.51 ftSep 19, 19993
  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 99 of 1,581 months since 1895 (6%); the longest spell lasted 10 months.

99

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

8

Months in extreme drought

6%

Share of all months, severe or worse

Lowest reading

January 1934

−5.19, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

10 months

June 2022 to March 2023.

Latest month

September 2026

−4.95, extreme drought

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 0 1896: 0 1897: 0 1898: 0 1899: 0 1900: 2 1901: 3 1902: 0 1903: 0 1904: 0 1905: 0 1906: 0 1907: 0 1908: 0 1909: 0 1910: 0 1911: 2 1912: 0 1913: 0 1914: 0 1915: 0 1916: 0 1917: 0 1918: 0 1919: 0 1920: 0 1921: 4 1922: 0 1923: 0 1924: 0 1925: 0 1926: 1 1927: 1 1928: 0 1929: 0 1930: 4 1931: 3 1932: 1 1933: 3 1934: 2 1935: 0 1936: 0 1937: 0 1938: 0 1939: 0 1940: 0 1941: 0 1942: 0 1943: 2 1944: 0 1945: 0 1946: 0 1947: 0 1948: 0 1949: 0 1950: 0 1951: 0 1952: 0 1953: 0 1954: 1 1955: 5 1956: 0 1957: 0 1958: 0 1959: 0 1960: 0 1961: 0 1962: 0 1963: 0 1964: 0 1965: 0 1966: 0 1967: 0 1968: 0 1969: 0 1970: 0 1971: 0 1972: 0 1973: 0 1974: 0 1975: 0 1976: 0 1977: 0 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 0 1981: 1 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 3 1986: 4 1987: 1 1988: 0 1989: 0 1990: 0 1991: 8 1992: 2 1993: 0 1994: 1 1995: 1 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 0 1999: 1 2000: 0 2001: 0 2002: 2 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 0 2007: 3 2008: 9 9 2009: 6 2010: 0 2011: 0 2012: 0 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 0 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 0 2022: 7 2023: 6 2024: 3 2025: 0 18951905191519251935194519551965197519851995200520152025
Months each year with a Palmer index of −3 or lower, 1895 to 2025. Twelve means the whole year.
  1. The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.

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

Earthquakes

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

Severe weather and other events

400 events in the National Weather Service record, 346 of them since 1996.

42

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

1

Hail, 2 inches or larger

143

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

51

Winter weather events since 1996

9

Heat events since 1996

1

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

May 31, 2019

2.50 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

May 21, 2000

92 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Lightning100Jul 2, 2002

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Oct 9, 2016Flood$69.1 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Torrential rainfall of 8 to 12 inches caused widespread flash flooding across the county. Additional heavy rainfall upstream caused major flooding along the Tar River Basin. Flooding damaged approximately 3,493 structures throughout the county, resulting in $69.1 million in property damage, and $20 million in crop damage. Numerous streets and roads were reported flooded, with several washouts reported on secondary roads.

  2. Aug 4, 2020Tropical Storm, Edgecombe$1.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

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

  3. Oct 29, 2020Strong Wind, Edgecombe$1.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

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

  4. Sep 18, 2003Hurricane (Typhoon), Edgecombe$919,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Isabel made landfall along the Outer Banks just north of Cape Lookout around 1 pm on September 18, 2003. The eye of the storm tracked northeast passing over eastern Halifax County. Winds gusts to near Hurricane force were recorded over Halifax county. Many locations across the Coastal Plain and even back into the Triangle received wind gusts between 50 to 70 mph late in the afternoon until early evening. Many trees were uprooted falling on vehicles and homes all across the area. One person was killed in Franklin county when their vehicle struck a downed tree. Up to 6 inches of rain fell across Edgecombe, Halifax and Wilson counties resulting in flooding of several roads.

  5. Sep 30, 2022Tropical Storm, Edgecombe$750,000
    National Weather Service narrative

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

  6. Sep 13, 2018Tropical Storm, Edgecombe$500,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Frequent wind gusts of 30 to 50 mph resulted in numerous trees down across Edgecombe County, including on homes, cars, power lines and damage to structures. Numerous customers lost power in Edgecombe County as a result of the tropical storm force winds.

  7. Sep 6, 2019Tropical Storm, Edgecombe$500,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Frequent wind gusts of 30 to 45 mph resulted in scattered trees and power lines down across Edgecombe County, including some on homes. Numerous customers lost power in Edgecombe County as a result of the tropical storm force winds.

  8. Aug 27, 2011High Wind, Edgecombe$350,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Trees and power-lines were blown down all throughout the county. Several homes were damaged from fallen trees and branches with numerous barns and outbuildings damaged as well.

  9. Jul 19, 2023Tornado$250,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    The tornado then weakened slightly as it crossed into Edgecombe County causing damage to a metal structure before lifting 9 miles east-northeast of Battleboro, NC.

  10. Jul 21, 2005Thunderstorm Wind$250,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Straight-line winds flattened a significant portion of a bean field in the Leggett area near the Sandy Acres Mobile Home Park. In the mobile home park, four mobile homes were destroyed and six others were damaged. Two of the destroyed mobile homes were flipped over, their anchors and tie down straps having been snapped or pulled completely out of the ground. The area of damage originated near the interesection of West Logsboro and Battleboro Roads just south of Highway 97, and extended east for about four miles to Highway 33. Snapped trees resulted in damage to roofs along West Logsboro Road and Highway 33 from East Logsboro Road to Fishing Creek Road. At its widest point the…

  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 Tarboro 1 S, 6.7 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1887.

All-time high
107°FJul 18, 1942
All-time low
−5°FJan 21, 1985
Warmest night
84°F3 times, most recently Aug 19, 1906
Coldest day
15°F2 times, most recently Jan 20, 1994
Wettest day
9.50 in2 times, most recently Oct 9, 2016
Snowiest day
15.0 inMar 3, 1927
Hottest year
1921mean 63.8°F
Coldest year
1976mean 58.6°F
Wettest year
198962.80 in
Driest year
198832.21 in
Snowiest season
32.3 in1979-80
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Tarboro 1 S 32°F 52° 30° 3.3 Jan 55° 33° 3.1 Feb 63° 39° 3.3 Mar 72° 48° 3.4 Apr 79° 57° 3.6 May 86° 66° 3.9 Jun 89° 70° 5.0 Jul 87° 69° 5.2 Aug 82° 63° 5.0 Sep 73° 51° 2.8 Oct 63° 40° 2.9 Nov 56° 34° 3.2 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 1975: 15 1976: 13 1977: 30 1981: 24 1983: 38 38 1984: 6 1985: 14 1986: 22 1987: 27 1988: 24 1989: 9 1990: 22 1991: 26 1992: 9 1993: 26 1994: 8 1995: 1 1996: 2 1997: 10 1998: 8 2000: 4 2001: 2 2002: 18 2003: 1 2004: 0 2005: 4 2006: 4 2007: 12 2008: 14 2009: 3 2010: 13 2011: 13 2012: 8 2013: 1 2014: 3 2015: 15 2016: 4 2017: 4 2018: 4 2019: 21 2020: 13 2021: 0 2022: 14 2023: 9 2024: 6 19751989200020102020
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 7.3.
Snowfall by winter 1960: 1.0 in 1961: 10.4 in 1962: 5.3 in 1963: 0.0 in 1964: 15.0 in 1965: 9.1 in 1966: 5.0 in 1967: 11.2 in 1968: 3.0 in 1969: 0.0 in 1970: 6.5 in 1971: 1.0 in 1972: 15.0 in 1973: 4.0 in 1974: 0.0 in 1975: 1.2 in 1976: 5.0 in 1977: 10.3 in 1978: 13.8 in 1979: 32.3 in 32.3 1980: 3.3 in 1981: 1.8 in 1982: 13.5 in 1983: 5.0 in 1984: 2.5 in 1985: 1.0 in 1987: 4.6 in 1988: 15.1 in 1989: 2.0 in 1990: 0.0 in 1991: 0.0 in 1992: 0.7 in 1993: 2.8 in 1994: 1.0 in 1995: 5.5 in 1996: 0.0 in 1997: 2.0 in 1998: 0.0 in 2000: 12.5 in 2001: 9.5 in 2002: 2.0 in 2003: 10.0 in 2004: 10.3 in 2005: 0.0 in 2006: 1.0 in 2007: 0.0 in 2008: 5.6 in 2009: 10.0 in 19601970198019912002
Total snowfall each winter (July to June), last 50 winters.

Median first snow

January 18

Earliest: November 12, 1987

Median last snow

February 11

Latest: March 27, 1971

17 of 84 winters had no measurable snow.

Station Tarboro 1 S (USC00318500), 35 ft elevation, 6.7 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1887 to October 27, 2026; 96.6% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.

NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.

Federal disaster declarations

27 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
Mar 3, 2021Severe StormTropical Storm EtaMajor disasterDR-4588-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 10, 2018HurricaneHurricane FlorenceEmergencyEM-3401-NC
Oct 10, 2016HurricaneHurricane MatthewMajor disasterDR-4285-NC
Oct 7, 2016HurricaneHurricane MatthewEmergencyEM-3380-NC
Aug 31, 2011HurricaneHurricane IreneMajor disasterDR-4019-NC
Aug 25, 2011HurricaneHurricane IreneEmergencyEM-3327-NC
Sep 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
Dec 12, 2002Severe Ice StormSevere Ice StormMajor disasterDR-1448-NC
Jan 31, 2000Severe StormSevere Winter StormMajor disasterDR-1312-NC
Sep 16, 1999HurricaneHurricane Floyd Major Disaster DeclarationsMajor disasterDR-1292-NC
Sep 15, 1999HurricaneHurricane Floyd Emergency DeclarationsEmergencyEM-3146-NC
Mar 22, 1998Severe StormSevere Storms Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1211-NC
Sep 6, 1996HurricaneHurricane FranMajor disasterDR-1134-NC
Jan 13, 1996SnowstormBlizzard of 96Major disasterDR-1087-NC
Aug 11, 1977DroughtDroughtEmergencyEM-3049-NC
Feb 10, 1968Severe Ice StormSevere Ice StormMajor disasterDR-234-NC

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

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

How this compares

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

Ranks
Tornadoes since 19501642 / 1001,804 / 3,143
Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger52 / 100242 / 3,143
Tropical cyclones within 50 mi4633 / 100200 / 3,143
Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi634 / 100293 / 3,143
Wildfire acres since 19840——
Flood insurance claims79520 / 100381 / 3,143
Flood insurance paid$28.2 million23 / 100245 / 3,143
Disaster declarations2721 / 100582 / 3,143
Flood events since 19964950 / 1001,438 / 3,143
Hail and wind events since 199621662 / 1001,833 / 3,143
Winter storm events since 19965155 / 1001,931 / 3,143
Reported damage since 1996$76.1 million35 / 100636 / 3,143
River crests at major flood stage1110 / 100472 / 3,143
High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years0.0——
Months in severe drought since 18959949 / 1002,392 / 3,143
Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years8.971 / 1002,807 / 3,143
Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 19000——
Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 19730——

Neighbouring counties

Neighbouring counties
Halifax County16442,86754
Martin County2262042
Nash County19420735
Pitt County346401,205
Wilson County20450498

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 USC00318500.
  • 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.