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 Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed
- 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
DetailsTornadoes since 1950
16
42nd of 100 in North Carolina
About as many as the typical North Carolina county
DetailsStrongest tornado
F3
November 23, 1992, 160.0 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
Cat. 2
Hurricane (unnamed), 1878, 21.3 miles away
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.
Every recorded tornado
| May 13, 2025 | EF1 | 2.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 13, 2025 | EF1 | 1.7 | 0 | 0 |
| May 12, 2025 | EF1 | 2.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 8, 2024 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 19, 2023 | EF3 | 13.5 | 16 | 0 |
| Apr 19, 2019 | EF1 | 10.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 29, 2014 | EF0 | 4.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 11, 2002 | F1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 11, 1995 | F1 | 1.0 | 3 | 0 |
| Jun 4, 1993 | F1 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 23, 1992 | F3 | 160.0 | 44 | 0 |
| May 5, 1977 | F1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 28, 1973 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 22, 1971 | F3 | 85.7 | 60 | 2 |
| Nov 8, 1957 | F3 | 46.9 | 5 | 0 |
| Mar 15, 1953 | F3 | 30.1 | 1 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Edgecombe County: 0.
- 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.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Ophelia | 2023 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Elsa | 2021 | 19.7 | Tropical storm |
| Claudette | 2021 | 10.1 | Tropical storm |
| Isaias | 2020 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Nestor | 2019 | 13.2 | Post-tropical |
| Michael | 2018 | 24.0 | Post-tropical |
| Hermine | 2016 | 58.5 | Tropical storm |
| Arthur | 2014 | 81.6 | Category 2 |
| Andrea | 2013 | 4.8 | Post-tropical |
| Beryl | 2012 | 87.1 | Remnant low |
| Irene | 2011 | 63.0 | Category 1 |
| Hanna | 2008 | 11.8 | Tropical storm |
| Gabrielle | 2007 | 72.0 | Tropical storm |
| Barry | 2007 | 76.2 | Post-tropical |
| Alberto | 2006 | 15.2 | Post-tropical |
| Charley | 2004 | 21.3 | Tropical storm |
| Isabel | 2003 | 13.5 | Category 1 |
| Kyle | 2002 | 70.6 | Tropical storm |
| Helene | 2000 | 6.0 | Tropical storm |
| Floyd | 1999 | 31.9 | Category 1 |
| Dennis | 1999 | 12.2 | Tropical storm |
| Earl | 1998 | 8.0 | Post-tropical |
| Bonnie | 1998 | 51.1 | Tropical storm |
| Danny | 1997 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Josephine | 1996 | 38.9 | Post-tropical |
| Fran | 1996 | 55.7 | Tropical storm |
| Bertha | 1996 | 3.5 | Tropical storm |
| Arthur | 1996 | 92.8 | Tropical storm |
| Allison | 1995 | 56.7 | Post-tropical |
| Charley | 1986 | 70.2 | Category 1 |
| Kate | 1985 | 94.1 | Tropical storm |
| Diana | 1984 | 36.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1982 | 78.7 | Subtropical storm |
| Dennis | 1981 | 77.1 | Tropical storm |
| Agnes | 1972 | 32.5 | Tropical storm |
| Doria | 1971 | 35.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1970 | 80.7 | Tropical storm |
| Alma | 1970 | 7.9 | Tropical storm |
| Doria | 1967 | 66.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1965 | 12.1 | Post-tropical |
| Isbell | 1964 | 12.2 | Post-tropical |
| Dora | 1964 | 75.5 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1963 | 83.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1962 | 81.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1961 | 33.3 | Tropical storm |
| Donna | 1960 | 59.5 | Category 2 |
| Brenda | 1960 | 8.5 | Tropical storm |
| Cindy | 1959 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1956 | 41.7 | Post-tropical |
| Flossy | 1956 | 35.0 | Post-tropical |
| Ione | 1955 | 46.4 | Category 1 |
| Diane | 1955 | 40.7 | Tropical storm |
| Connie | 1955 | 57.3 | Category 1 |
| Hazel | 1954 | 27.9 | Post-tropical |
| Barbara | 1953 | 76.0 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1947 | 27.7 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1946 | 53.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1945 | 60.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1945 | 81.8 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1944 | 15.6 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1944 | 19.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1935 | 15.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1933 | 81.2 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1932 | 94.7 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1929 | 37.0 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1928 | 0.0 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1928 | 75.7 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1925 | 67.7 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1924 | 11.8 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1924 | 76.3 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1920 | 95.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1918 | 68.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1913 | 43.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1912 | 34.1 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1910 | 93.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1910 | 94.9 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1908 | 81.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1908 | 77.1 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1907 | 39.8 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1904 | 12.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1902 | 94.9 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1902 | 37.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1901 | 64.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1900 | 86.0 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1899 | 33.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1899 | 76.2 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1897 | 86.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1897 | 95.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1896 | 77.1 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1894 | 20.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1894 | 72.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 41.4 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 36.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 26.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1889 | 26.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 51.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 34.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1887 | 14.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1886 | 11.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1885 | 68.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1885 | 62.0 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1883 | 16.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1882 | 36.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1882 | 50.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1881 | 11.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1880 | 59.8 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1879 | 63.0 | Category 3 |
| Unnamed | 1878 | 21.3 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1877 | 20.3 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1876 | 5.7 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1874 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1872 | 11.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1867 | 60.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1863 | 41.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1861 | 72.9 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1861 | 32.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1859 | 44.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1857 | 51.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1856 | 59.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1856 | 56.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1854 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1852 | 59.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1851 | 13.7 | 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
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.
- 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.
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
| 27801 | 411 | $11.5 million |
| 27886 | 302 | $14.2 million |
| 27864 | 47 | $1.5 million |
| 27809 | 12 | $230,000 |
| 27852 | 5 | $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.
| Sep 19, 1999 | Tar River at Tarboro | 41.51 | +22.51 |
| Oct 13, 2016 | Tar River at Tarboro | 36.29 | +17.29 |
| Jul 27, 1919 | Tar River at Tarboro | 34.00 | +15.00 |
| Sep 17, 1999 | Tar River at NC97 In Rocky Mount | 31.66 | +10.66 |
| Oct 10, 2016 | Tar River at NC97 In Rocky Mount | 28.73 | +7.73 |
| Jun 18, 2020 | Tar River at NC97 In Rocky Mount | 27.25 | +6.25 |
| Apr 19, 1910 | Fishing Creek near Enfield | 22.10 | +6.10 |
| Sep 18, 1999 | Fishing Creek near Enfield | 21.65 | +5.65 |
| Jul 24, 1916 | Fishing Creek near Enfield | 21.60 | +5.60 |
| Sep 12, 1996 | Tar River at NC97 In Rocky Mount | 25.88 | +4.88 |
| Apr 26, 2017 | Tar River at NC97 In Rocky Mount | 25.76 | +4.76 |
| Aug 20, 1940 | Tar River at Tarboro | 31.77 | +12.77 |
| May 12, 1958 | Tar River at Tarboro | 29.17 | +10.17 |
| Apr 22, 1987 | Tar River at Tarboro | 28.37 | +9.37 |
| Sep 23, 1945 | Tar River at Tarboro | 28.13 | +9.13 |
| Jun 19, 2006 | Tar River at Tarboro | 28.03 | +9.03 |
| May 1, 2017 | Tar River at Tarboro | 27.70 | +8.70 |
| Feb 21, 2021 | Tar River at Tarboro | 27.47 | +8.47 |
| Jan 27, 1954 | Tar River at Tarboro | 27.43 | +8.43 |
| Dec 6, 1934 | Tar River at Tarboro | 27.38 | +8.38 |
| Sep 3, 1939 | Tar River at Tarboro | 27.00 | +8.00 |
| Sep 15, 1996 | Tar River at Tarboro | 26.57 | +7.57 |
| Jun 4, 1984 | Tar River at Tarboro | 26.44 | +7.44 |
| Apr 15, 2003 | Tar River at Tarboro | 26.27 | +7.27 |
| Feb 2, 1937 | Tar River at Tarboro | 26.18 | +7.18 |
River gauges
| Deep Creek at Dickens Rd | 18.0 | — | 0 |
| Fishing Creek near Enfield | 16.0 | 22.10 ft | 3 |
| Tar River at NC97 In Rocky Mount | 21.0 | 31.66 ft | 5 |
| Tar River at Tarboro | 19.0 | 41.51 ft | 3 |
- 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
- 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
| Lightning | 1 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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…
- 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
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.
| 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 |
| Sep 3, 2019 | Hurricane | EM-3423-NC |
| Sep 10, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3401-NC |
| Oct 10, 2016 | Hurricane | DR-4285-NC |
| Oct 7, 2016 | Hurricane | EM-3380-NC |
| Aug 31, 2011 | Hurricane | DR-4019-NC |
| Aug 25, 2011 | Hurricane | EM-3327-NC |
| Sep 1, 2010 | Hurricane | EM-3314-NC |
| Sep 14, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3254-NC |
| Sep 5, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3222-NC |
| Sep 18, 2003 | Hurricane | DR-1490-NC |
| Dec 12, 2002 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1448-NC |
| Jan 31, 2000 | Severe Storm | DR-1312-NC |
| Sep 16, 1999 | Hurricane | DR-1292-NC |
| Sep 15, 1999 | Hurricane | EM-3146-NC |
| Mar 22, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1211-NC |
| Sep 6, 1996 | Hurricane | DR-1134-NC |
| Jan 13, 1996 | Snowstorm | DR-1087-NC |
| Aug 11, 1977 | Drought | EM-3049-NC |
| Feb 10, 1968 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-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.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 16 | 42 / 100 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 5 | 2 / 100 |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 46 | 33 / 100 |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 6 | 34 / 100 |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 0 | — |
| Flood insurance claims | 795 | 20 / 100 |
| Flood insurance paid | $28.2 million | 23 / 100 |
| Disaster declarations | 27 | 21 / 100 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 49 | 50 / 100 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 216 | 62 / 100 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 51 | 55 / 100 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $76.1 million | 35 / 100 |
| River crests at major flood stage | 11 | 10 / 100 |
| High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years | 0.0 | — |
| Months in severe drought since 1895 | 99 | 49 / 100 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 8.9 | 71 / 100 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 0 | — |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 0 | — |
Neighbouring counties
| Halifax County | 16 | 44 |
| Martin County | 22 | 62 |
| Nash County | 19 | 42 |
| Pitt County | 34 | 64 |
| Wilson County | 20 | 45 |
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.