PlainHazard

Bertie County, North Carolina

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 37015 · population 17,933 · 699 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 295 records for Bertie County, North Carolina from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 235 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (93 records). The deadliest single record is the April 16, 2011 tornado: 12 deaths, 55 injuries and $3.0 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 28 declarations naming the county since 1968, 26 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
295on 235 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
21111 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$173Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
32strongest EF3
FEMA declarations
28latest 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 Bertie County most?

The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 93 since 1959. 45% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1959 fell in May and June. 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.

Bertie County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Severe thunderstorm wind 93 77 1959-2025 0 3 $594K 99 of 100
Winter storms 45 45 1996-2026 0 0 $44K 84 of 100
Hail 38 32 1962-2025 0 0 $418K 98 of 100
Floods 32 25 1999-2025 1 0 $14M 92 of 100
Tornadoes 32 29 1952-2023 20 108 $95M 22 of 100
Heavy rain 25 23 1998-2023 0 0 – 13 of 100
Hurricanes and tropical storms 15 15 1996-2023 0 0 $63M 35 of 100
Extreme cold 5 5 1996-2016 0 0 – 50 of 100
Heat 5 5 1996-2025 0 0 – 50 of 100
High wind and dust storms 4 4 1997-2016 0 0 $79K 98 of 100
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds 1 1 1997-1997 0 0 – 59 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 Bertie County had?

NOAA records 32 tornadoes in Bertie County from 1952 to 2023, the strongest rated EF3, with 20 deaths and 108 injuries recorded in the county. That is 22nd of 100 North Carolina counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. 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 30 tornadoes whose track touched Bertie County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 32: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 20 people.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Bertie County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
2011-04-16 16:55, as SPC files itAskewvilleEF317.88 mi12
1984-03-28 19:55, as SPC files itLewiston WoodvilleF36 mi6
2020-08-03 23:15, as SPC files itWindsorEF310 mi2
1957-11-08 17:30, as SPC files itMacclesfield to ConetoeF346.9 mi0

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in North Carolina.

Every tornado record filed for Bertie County (32)
Every tornado recorded in Bertie County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2023-07-03 Woodard, Bertie County EF0 0.56 mi x 60 yd 0 0 $73K
2020-08-04 Woodard, Bertie County EF3 10 mi x 600 yd 2 14 $1.1M
2018-09-14 San Souci, Bertie County EF0 0.57 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $2K
2017-05-05 Mt Gould, Bertie County EF0 3.7 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $6K
2017-03-31 Cremo, Bertie County EF1 4.8 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $301K
2016-02-24 Colerain, Bertie County EF0 0.48 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $31K
2014-04-25 Edenhouse, Bertie County EF2 2 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $6K
2011-04-16 Colerain, Bertie County EF2 2.49 mi x 500 yd 0 8 $328K
2011-04-16 Askewville, Bertie County EF3 14.31 mi x 1,300 yd 12 55 $3.0M
2008-09-26 Aulander, Bertie County EF0 0.6 mi x 75 yd 0 0 $103K
2008-05-11 Lewiston, Bertie County EF2 15 mi x 200 yd 0 2 $1.4M
2008-05-09 Trap, Bertie County EF2 4.33 mi x 300 yd 0 0 $69K
2008-04-20 Cahaba, Bertie County EF0 0.2 mi x 25 yd 0 0 $4K
2003-05-09 Colerain, Bertie County F0 1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $8K
2001-09-24 Aulander, Bertie County F0 1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $33K
1999-09-15 Windsor, Bertie County F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $4K
1995-05-11 Askewville, Bertie County F1 0.1 mi x 10 yd 0 0 $242K
1993-09-01 Windsor, Bertie County F1 1.2 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $102K
1992-11-23 Bertie County F3 9 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
1992-11-23 Bertie County F3 31 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $250K step
1991-03-29 Bertie County F1 0.5 mi x 70 yd 0 1 $25K step
1986-08-20 Bertie County F0 0.1 mi x 13 yd 0 0 –
1984-03-28 Bertie County F2 3 mi x 527 yd 0 2 $25M step
1984-03-28 Bertie County F3 6 mi x 880 yd 6 19 $2.5M step
1983-08-09 Bertie County F1 2.5 mi x 80 yd 0 0 $250K step
1979-04-03 Bertie County F1 0.5 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $25K step
1978-06-03 Bertie County F2 0.8 mi x 83 yd 0 0 $250K step
1973-05-29 Bertie County F0 0 0 $25K step
1969-10-02 Bertie County F1 20.2 mi x 7 yd 0 0 $250K step
1964-03-15 Bertie County F1 0.3 mi x 27 yd 0 0 $250K step
1957-11-08 Bertie County F3 19.7 mi x 150 yd 0 1 $250K step
1952-05-10 Bertie County F2 0 6 –

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 Bertie County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 5, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

The 12 most recent records kept for Bertie County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-02-01 Heavy SnowBertie County · forecast zone Bertie 0 0 –
2025-07-27 Excessive HeatBertie County · forecast zone Bertie 0 0 –
2025-07-02 Flash FloodEllis Store, Bertie County 0 0 –
2025-06-23 Excessive HeatBertie County · forecast zone Bertie 0 0 –
2025-05-15 HailBertie County 1.50 in hail 0 0 –
2025-03-05 Thunderstorm WindWoodville, Bertie County 50 kt wind 0 0 $1K
2025-02-19 Heavy SnowBertie County · forecast zone Bertie 0 0 $1K
2025-01-21 Heavy SnowBertie County · forecast zone Bertie 0 0 –
2023-07-03 TornadoWoodard, Bertie County EF0 0.56 mi x 60 yd 0 0 $73K
2022-04-07 Thunderstorm WindCremo, Bertie County 50 kt wind 0 1 $30K
2021-04-14 HailAskewville, Bertie County 2.75 in hail 0 0 $5K
2020-08-04 Tropical StormBertie County · forecast zone Bertie 0 0 $570K

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 Bertie County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2011-04-16 TornadoAskewville, Bertie County 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 ... EF3 14.31 mi x 1,300 yd 12 55 $3.0M
1984-03-28 TornadoBertie County F3 6 mi x 880 yd 6 19 $2.5M step
2020-08-04 TornadoWoodard, Bertie County 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 ... EF3 10 mi x 600 yd 2 14 $1.1M
1999-09-15 Flash FloodCountywide, Bertie County Very heavy rain from Hurricane Floyd, falling on soils saturated by heavy rain of the previous 3 weeks, produced widespread flooding and flash flooding across northeast North Carolina, from the Roanoke River eastward. Rainfall amounts ranged from near 6 inches in southeast Gates county, to as much as 18 inches in ... 1 0 –
2011-04-16 TornadoColerain, Bertie County A distinct separation in the damage paths northwest of Colerain suggested that a second tornado formed just northwest of Colerain and tracked northeast nearly parallel to the original tornado. North of Colerain, the tornado tracked parallel to Route 45 for about 1 mile then continued northeast into southeast Hertford ... EF2 2.49 mi x 500 yd 0 8 $328K
1952-05-10 TornadoBertie County F2 0 6 –
2008-05-11 TornadoLewiston, Bertie County 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 ... EF2 15 mi x 200 yd 0 2 $1.4M
1995-11-11 Thunderstorm WindKelford, Bertie County Several mobile homes damaged, one destroyed. Trees were downed. Other structural damage to homes. Scattered trees down other parts of county. 0 2 $242K

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 Bertie County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1999-09-15 Hurricane (Typhoon)Bertie County · forecast zone Bertie 0 0 $45M
2011-08-27 Tropical StormBertie County · forecast zone Bertie 0 0 $7.6M
1998-08-26 Hurricane (Typhoon)Bertie County · forecast zone Bertie 0 0 $6.2M
2016-09-21 FloodDrew, Bertie County 0 0 $6.1M
2016-10-08 FloodWindsor, Bertie County 0 0 $6.1M
2003-09-18 Hurricane (Typhoon)Bertie County · forecast zone Bertie 0 0 $4.0M
2011-04-16 TornadoAskewville, Bertie County EF3 14.31 mi x 1,300 yd 12 55 $3.0M
2008-05-11 TornadoLewiston, Bertie County EF2 15 mi x 200 yd 0 2 $1.4M

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 $25M, in the dollars of the day) holds: March 28, 1984 (tornado, Bertie 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 Bertie 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).

Bertie County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Severe thunderstorm wind1251119202312
Winter storms––––514206
Hail010681436
Floods––––311108
Tornadoes22346672
Heavy rain––––24136

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 1959 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 27 · Feb 18 · Mar 18 · Apr 18 · May 42 · Jun 43 · Jul 37 · Aug 25 · Sep 31 · Oct 14 · Nov 13 · Dec 9 (records).

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

Federal disaster declarations for Bertie County

FEMA's register lists 28 declarations that include Bertie County: 14 major disasters, 14 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (18) and tropical storm (2).

Declarations including Bertie County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2026-01-24EM-3637Winter StormSevere Winter Storm
2024-09-26EM-3617Tropical StormHurricane Helene
2024-08-06EM-3608Tropical StormTropical Storm Debby
2022-10-01EM-3586HurricaneHurricane Ian
2020-10-14DR-4568HurricaneHurricane Isaias
2020-08-02EM-3534HurricaneHurricane Isaias
2020-03-25DR-4487BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3471BiologicalCovid-19
2019-09-03EM-3423HurricaneHurricane Dorian
2018-09-14DR-4393HurricaneHurricane Florence
2018-09-10EM-3401HurricaneHurricane Florence
2016-10-10DR-4285HurricaneHurricane Matthew
2016-10-07EM-3380HurricaneHurricane Matthew
2011-08-31DR-4019HurricaneHurricane Irene
2011-08-25EM-3327HurricaneHurricane Irene
2011-04-19DR-1969Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2010-10-14DR-1942Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, and Straight-Line Winds
2010-09-01EM-3314HurricaneHurricane Earl
2005-09-14EM-3254HurricaneHurricane Ophelia
2005-09-05EM-3222HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
2003-09-18DR-1490HurricaneHurricane Isabel
1999-09-16DR-1292HurricaneHurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations
1999-09-15EM-3146HurricaneHurricane Floyd Emergency Declarations
1998-08-27DR-1240HurricaneHurricane Bonnie
1996-09-06DR-1134HurricaneHurricane Fran
1996-01-13DR-1087SnowstormBlizzard of 96
1984-03-30DR-699TornadoSevere Storms & Tornadoes
1968-02-10DR-234Severe Ice StormSevere Ice Storm

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 Bertie County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 32 flood or flash flood records for Bertie County from 1999 to 2025, on 25 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Bertie County ranks 578th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

Named storms on Bertie County's flood and tropical record
StormBeganRecordsDeaths in the county
Hurricane Floyd1999-09-1521
Hurricane Isaias2020-08-0410
Hurricane Matthew2016-10-0820
Hurricane Irene2011-08-2710
Hurricane Isabel2003-09-1810
Hurricane Bonnie1998-08-2610

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $13.1 million on 423 claims filed in Bertie County; the most in one year was 172 in 2016. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1980: 1 · 1989: 1 · 1990: 2 · 1991: 2 · 1993: 1 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 2 · 1998: 4 · 1999: 54 · 2001: 4 · 2003: 30 · 2005: 1 · 2006: 1 · 2010: 122 · 2011: 20 · 2013: 2 · 2016: 172 · 2018: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2024: 1; 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 Bertie County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Bertie County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $17.2 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 Bertie County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
HurricaneRelatively High$9.7Monce in about 4 years (modeled)
DroughtRelatively Moderate$607K5.3 modeled event-days a year
Winter WeatherRelatively Moderate$123K3.1 a year (modeled)
TornadoRelatively Low$1.3Monce in about 2 years (modeled)
Heat WaveRelatively Low$391K6.8 modeled event-days a year
HailRelatively Low$174K2.5 a year (modeled)
Riverine FloodingRelatively Low$4.0Mabout once a year (modeled)
Coastal FloodingRelatively Low$28K2.7 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 Bertie County

  1. Halifax County 462
  2. Martin County 322
  3. Northampton County 308
  4. Bertie County 295
  5. Hertford County 257
  6. Chowan County 225
  7. Washington County 219

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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