Alamance County, North Carolina

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 37001 · population 171,316 · 423 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 532 records for Alamance County, North Carolina from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 383 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (253 records). The deadliest single record is the July 6, 2025 flash flood: 2 deaths. FEMA has issued 27 declarations naming the county since 1977, 25 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm” on January 24, 2026.

The record, 1950 to 2026

Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).

  • recorded, no damage figure
  • under $100,000
  • $100,000 or more
  • $1 million or more
  • $10 million or more, or a death
  • $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
  • a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
  • a year with a death
  • 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
  • 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
Storm records
532on 383 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
48 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$6.2Bas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
10strongest EF1
FEMA declarations
27latest 2026

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.

What hazards hit Alamance County most?

The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 253 since 1957. 45% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1957 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among North Carolina's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.

Alamance County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Severe thunderstorm wind 253 177 1957-2026 0 3 $2.0M 23 of 100
Hail 92 61 1970-2026 0 0 $181K 42 of 100
Winter storms 82 81 1996-2026 0 0 $651K 34 of 100
Floods 53 42 1996-2025 2 0 $10M 28 of 100
High wind and dust storms 19 18 1998-2020 0 0 $1.7M 43 of 100
Tornadoes 10 10 1975-2025 0 1 $3.7M 55 of 100
Lightning 7 6 2002-2011 1 4 $335K 42 of 100
Hurricanes and tropical storms 6 6 1996-2022 1 0 $6.2B 49 of 100
Heat 4 4 1998-2025 0 0 – 35 of 100
Heavy rain 4 4 1998-2020 0 0 – 44 of 100
Extreme cold 2 2 1996-2025 0 0 – 64 of 100

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.

How many tornadoes has Alamance County had?

NOAA records 10 tornadoes in Alamance County from 1975 to 2025, the strongest rated EF1, with 0 deaths and 1 injury recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.

Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 11 tornadoes whose track touched Alamance County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 10: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in North Carolina.

Every tornado record filed for Alamance County (10)
Every tornado recorded in Alamance County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2025-07-06 Alamance County EF1 0.6 mi x 175 yd 0 0 $50K
2024-09-26 Just Xrds, Alamance County EF0 0.26 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $21K
2021-05-10 Sutphin, Alamance County EF1 1.23 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $109K
2021-03-18 Elon College, Alamance County EF1 1.84 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $545K
2020-04-13 Sutphin, Alamance County EF1 4.53 mi x 440 yd 0 0 $570K
2011-04-16 Altamahaw, Alamance County EF1 7.33 mi x 66 yd 0 0 $761K
2008-03-04 Union Ridge, Alamance County EF0 2.3 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $206K
1983-05-26 Alamance County F1 0.1 mi x 17 yd 0 0 $25K step
1977-07-21 Alamance County F1 0 0 $250K step
1975-03-19 Alamance County F1 2 mi x 67 yd 0 1 $25K step

A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.

When was the last damaging storm in Alamance County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 22, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($5,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

The 12 most recent records kept for Alamance County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-22 Thunderstorm WindMebane, Alamance County 50 kt wind 0 0 $5K
2026-04-29 HailMebane Hurdle Field Ar, Alamance County 0.75 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-29 HailMebane Hurdle Field Ar, Alamance County 1.25 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-29 HailMebane, Alamance County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-01-31 Winter StormAlamance County · forecast zone Alamance 0 0 –
2026-01-24 Winter StormAlamance County · forecast zone Alamance 0 0 –
2025-12-19 Thunderstorm WindSaxapahaw, Alamance County 50 kt wind 0 0 $20K
2025-12-19 Thunderstorm WindHopedale, Alamance County 50 kt wind 0 0 $1K
2025-12-19 Thunderstorm WindElon College, Alamance County 50 kt wind 0 0 $1K
2025-11-11 Frost/FreezeAlamance County · forecast zone Alamance 0 0 –
2025-08-01 Thunderstorm WindPleasant Grove, Alamance County 50 kt wind 0 0 $5K
2025-07-28 Excessive HeatAlamance County · forecast zone Alamance 0 0 –

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.

The deadliest and costliest records

Records with deaths or injuries in Alamance County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2025-07-06 Flash FloodMebane Hurdle Field Ar, Alamance County Deputies responded to a report of a missing period last seen driving near Jones Drive and Calloway Drive. The body of a man was later recovered in a creek downstream. Another man was found dead also due to flooding. Both fatalities were the result of swift high water across the roadway. 2 0 –
2010-06-15 LightningGraham, Alamance County A 19 year old male was struck by lightning and killed while taking shelter under a tree. It was not raining at the time. 1 1 –
1996-09-05 Hurricane (Typhoon)Alamance County · forecast zone Alamance Hurricane FRAN was the worst natural economic disaster to occur in North Carolina history. In the RAH county warning area along, the damage exceeded 2 billion dollars. Damage to crops, livestock, farm equipment/buildings was over 400 million. The agricultural damage was the greatest in Sampson, Johnston, and Wayne ... 1 0 –
2002-07-04 LightningBurlington, Alamance County Three people suffered minor injuries when lightning struck nearby at a campground. 0 3 –
1987-09-10 Thunderstorm WindAlamance County 0 2 –
2010-07-17 Thunderstorm WindSnow Camp, Alamance County A person was injured at an outdoor pottery festival when thunderstorm winds lifted a tent and a potter. The injured person was treated for minor lacerations in the back and on her head. Two tents were also damaged and several pieces of pottery were destroyed. A tree was also blown down one block from the festival. 50 kt wind 0 1 $3K
1975-03-19 TornadoAlamance County F1 2 mi x 67 yd 0 1 $25K step

A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.

The costliest records in Alamance County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1999-09-15 Hurricane (Typhoon)Alamance County · forecast zone Alamance 0 0 $6.2B
2018-09-17 FloodSnow Camp, Alamance County 0 0 $7.1M
1999-09-04 Hurricane (Typhoon)Alamance County · forecast zone Alamance 0 0 $5.3M
2003-07-13 Flash FloodMebane, Alamance County 0 0 $2.2M
2011-04-16 TornadoAltamahaw, Alamance County EF1 7.33 mi x 66 yd 0 0 $761K
2008-09-06 Flash FloodJust Xrds, Alamance County 0 0 $685K
2015-02-25 Winter StormAlamance County · forecast zone Alamance 0 0 $623K
2020-04-13 TornadoSutphin, Alamance County EF1 4.53 mi x 440 yd 0 0 $570K

Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: July 21, 1977 (tornado, Alamance County).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.

Is it getting more frequent?

Records per decade for Alamance County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).

Alamance County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Severe thunderstorm wind2142516489166
Hail001101434276
Winter storms––––7283413
Floods––––7161713
High wind and dust storms––––1792
Tornadoes00210115

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).

What time of year?

45% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1957 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 48 · Feb 36 · Mar 30 · Apr 38 · May 86 · Jun 74 · Jul 90 · Aug 56 · Sep 35 · Oct 7 · Nov 8 · Dec 24 (records).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.

Federal disaster declarations for Alamance County

FEMA's register lists 27 declarations that include Alamance County: 13 major disasters, 14 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (12) and severe ice storm (3).

Declarations including Alamance County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2026-01-24EM-3637Winter StormSevere Winter Storm
2025-09-11DR-4889Tropical DepressionTropical Depression Chantal
2024-09-26EM-3617Tropical StormHurricane Helene
2024-08-06EM-3608Tropical StormTropical Storm Debby
2022-10-01EM-3586HurricaneHurricane Ian
2020-08-02EM-3534HurricaneHurricane Isaias
2020-03-25DR-4487BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3471BiologicalCovid-19
2019-09-03EM-3423HurricaneHurricane Dorian
2019-01-31DR-4412HurricaneTropical Storm Michael
2018-09-14DR-4393HurricaneHurricane Florence
2018-09-10EM-3401HurricaneHurricane Florence
2016-10-07EM-3380HurricaneHurricane Matthew
2014-03-31DR-4167Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Storm
2011-04-19DR-1969Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2005-09-05EM-3222HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
2004-09-18DR-1553HurricaneHurricane Ivan
2003-03-27DR-1457Severe Ice StormIce Storm
2002-12-12DR-1448Severe Ice StormSevere Ice Storm
2000-01-31DR-1312Severe StormSevere Winter Storm
1999-09-16DR-1292HurricaneHurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations
1999-09-15EM-3146HurricaneHurricane Floyd Emergency Declarations
1996-09-06DR-1134HurricaneHurricane Fran
1996-01-13DR-1087SnowstormBlizzard of 96
1993-03-17EM-3110SnowstormSevere Snowfall & Winter Storm
1977-08-11EM-3049DroughtDrought
1977-03-02EM-3033SnowstormDrought & Freezing

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.

How many floods has Alamance County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 53 flood or flash flood records for Alamance County from 1996 to 2025, on 42 days, with 2 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Alamance County ranks 1036th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

Named storms on Alamance County's flood and tropical record
StormBeganRecordsDeaths in the county
Tropical Depression Chantal2025-07-0622
Hurricane Fran1996-09-0511
Hurricane Ian2022-09-3010
Tropical Storm Michael2018-10-1110
Hurricane Florence2018-09-1710
Tropical Storm Hanna2008-09-0610
Hurricane Floyd1999-09-1510

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $5.1 million on 168 claims filed in Alamance County; the most in one year was 53 in 2025. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1978: 1 · 1979: 3 · 1982: 2 · 1984: 2 · 1987: 7 · 1990: 1 · 1992: 1 · 1995: 14 · 1996: 26 · 1997: 1 · 1998: 1 · 2003: 10 · 2004: 1 · 2006: 1 · 2008: 5 · 2011: 2 · 2012: 3 · 2013: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2015: 4 · 2016: 7 · 2018: 11 · 2019: 1 · 2020: 4 · 2021: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 53; the other years: 0.

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.

FEMA's modeled risk for Alamance County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Alamance County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $41.4 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.

National Risk Index ratings for Alamance County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
Winter WeatherRelatively High$401K7.9 a year (modeled)
Ice StormRelatively High$627K1.8 a year (modeled)
LightningRelatively High$911K47 a year (modeled)
Riverine FloodingRelatively Moderate$27M1.3 a year (modeled)
TornadoRelatively Moderate$4.9Monce in about 6 years (modeled)
HurricaneRelatively Moderate$2.7Monce in about 9 years (modeled)
HailRelatively Moderate$867K4.5 a year (modeled)
Strong WindRelatively Moderate$729K1.7 a year (modeled)

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.

Counties that share a border with Alamance County

  1. Guilford County 924
  2. Rockingham County 867
  3. Randolph County 728
  4. Orange County 584
  5. Chatham County 548
  6. Alamance County 532
  7. Caswell County 480

Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.

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