Chatham County, North Carolina
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 37037 · population 76,189 · 681 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 548 records for Chatham County, North Carolina from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 370 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (317 records). The deadliest day on its record was July 6, 2025: flash flood records filed for Chatham County that day count 3 deaths across 2 records. FEMA has issued 22 declarations naming the county since 1977, 20 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
- 548on 370 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 45 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $40Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 12strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 22latest 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 Chatham County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 317 since 1957. 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.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 317 | 194 | 1957-2026 | 0 | 3 | $1.5M | 49 of 100 |
| Hail | 82 | 64 | 1975-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 81 of 100 |
| Winter storms | 58 | 56 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 2 | $651K | 74 of 100 |
| Floods | 41 | 33 | 1996-2025 | 3 | 0 | $33M | 76 of 100 |
| High wind and dust storms | 14 | 14 | 1998-2020 | 0 | 0 | $918K | 76 of 100 |
| Tornadoes | 12 | 12 | 1965-2025 | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | 74 of 100 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 8 | 8 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $2.5M | 55 of 100 |
| Heavy rain | 7 | 4 | 1998-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 65 of 100 |
| Heat | 6 | 6 | 1998-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 39 of 100 |
| Extreme cold | 2 | 2 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 85 of 100 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2012-2012 | 0 | 0 | $64K | 89 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 Chatham County had?
NOAA records 12 tornadoes in Chatham County from 1965 to 2025, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries 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 12 tornadoes whose track touched Chatham County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 12, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 6 people, 0 of them in Chatham County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-04-16 12:53, as SPC files it | Raleigh | EF3 | 65.23 mi | 6 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in North Carolina.
Every tornado record filed for Chatham County (12)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-07-06 | Moncure, Chatham County | EF1 1.4 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $20K |
| 2019-04-19 | Siler City, Chatham County | EF1 1.92 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $115K |
| 2011-04-16 | Brickhaven, Chatham County | EF0 5.17 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $98K |
| 2008-08-27 | Crutchfield Xrds, Chatham County | EF0 2.63 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $27K |
| 2004-09-17 | Pittsboro, Chatham County | F0 0.5 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-05-31 | Silk Hope, Chatham County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1991-03-29 | Chatham County | F2 25 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1989-06-28 | Chatham County | F1 0.1 mi x 23 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1985-08-17 | Chatham County | F0 4 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1977-07-27 | Chatham County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1975-05-15 | Chatham County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1965-10-07 | Chatham County | F2 6.1 mi x 27 yd | 0 | 0 | $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 Chatham County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 26, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($5,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-26 | Thunderstorm WindSilk Hope, Chatham County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindGulf, Chatham County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindBear Creek, Chatham County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindGulf, Chatham County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindHarpers Xrds, Chatham County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-04-29 | Thunderstorm WindFarrington, Chatham County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-04-29 | Thunderstorm WindFarrington, Chatham County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindSeaforth, Chatham County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindTerrells, Chatham County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindTerrells, Chatham County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindSilk Hope, Chatham County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindSiler City, Chatham County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
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
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-07-06 | Flash FloodFarrington, Chatham County Two boaters launched a canoe from Marthas Chapel Road in the early evening hours. One body was found the morning of the 8th, and another found the morning of the 9th of July. | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2010-12-04 | Winter WeatherChatham County · forecast zone Chatham Around a half inch of snow fell across the county. | 1 | 2 | – | |
| 2025-07-06 | Flash FloodFarrington, Chatham County One person died when their car traveling on Farrington Point Road entered floodwaters. The driver was swept away. | 1 | 0 | $20K | |
| 2005-03-08 | Thunderstorm WindHarpers Xrds, Chatham County A barn collapsed, injuring two people. | 60 kt wind | 0 | 2 | – |
| 1989-06-16 | Thunderstorm WindChatham County | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-09-17 | FloodBennett, Chatham County | 0 | 0 | $31M | |
| 2025-07-06 | Flash FloodSiler City, Chatham County | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | |
| 2019-04-19 | TornadoSiler City, Chatham County | EF1 1.92 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $115K |
| 2011-04-16 | TornadoBrickhaven, Chatham County | EF0 5.17 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $98K |
| 2025-07-06 | TornadoMoncure, Chatham County | EF1 1.4 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $20K |
| 2025-07-06 | Flash FloodBear Creek, Chatham County | 0 | 0 | $20K | |
| 2025-08-06 | Flash FloodCarbonton, Chatham County | 0 | 0 | $20K | |
| 2026-04-29 | Thunderstorm WindFarrington, Chatham County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $15K |
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: March 29, 1991 (tornado, Chatham 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 Chatham 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).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 17 | 65 | 102 | 108 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 21 | 30 | 11 | 6 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 21 | 21 | 11 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 8 | 10 | 9 | 14 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 7 | 3 | 2 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in Chatham County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 44 · Feb 36 · Mar 39 · Apr 56 · May 80 · Jun 87 · Jul 93 · Aug 60 · Sep 23 · Oct 7 · Nov 8 · Dec 15 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Chatham County
FEMA's register lists 22 declarations that include Chatham County: 10 major disasters, 12 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (12) and tropical storm (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3637 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025-09-11 | DR-4889 | Tropical Depression | Tropical Depression Chantal |
| 2024-09-26 | EM-3617 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| 2024-08-06 | EM-3608 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| 2022-10-01 | EM-3586 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ian |
| 2020-08-02 | EM-3534 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isaias |
| 2020-03-25 | DR-4487 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3471 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-09-03 | EM-3423 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
| 2019-01-31 | DR-4412 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Michael |
| 2018-09-14 | DR-4393 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2018-09-10 | EM-3401 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2016-10-10 | DR-4285 | Hurricane | Hurricane Matthew |
| 2016-10-07 | EM-3380 | Hurricane | Hurricane Matthew |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3222 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2002-12-12 | DR-1448 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Ice Storm |
| 2000-01-31 | DR-1312 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1999-09-16 | DR-1292 | Hurricane | Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations |
| 1999-09-15 | EM-3146 | Hurricane | Hurricane Floyd Emergency Declarations |
| 1996-09-06 | DR-1134 | Hurricane | Hurricane Fran |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1087 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 |
| 1977-08-11 | EM-3049 | Drought | Drought |
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 Chatham County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 41 flood or flash flood records for Chatham County from 1996 to 2025, on 33 days, with 3 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Chatham County ranks 1759th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Depression Chantal | 2025-07-06 | 6 | 3 |
| Hurricane Ian | 2022-09-30 | 1 | 0 |
| Tropical Storm Michael | 2018-10-11 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Florence | 2018-09-13 | 2 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2.1 million on 41 claims filed in Chatham County; the most in one year was 14 in 2025. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1980: 1 · 1989: 1 · 1996: 2 · 1999: 2 · 2008: 3 · 2014: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2018: 9 · 2020: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 14; 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 Chatham County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Chatham County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $24.8 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.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | $2.9M | once in about 7 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $3.0M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $15M | 1 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $261K | 1.8 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $298K | 50 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $961K | 5.7 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $468K | 4.4 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $458K | once in about 773 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Chatham County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in North CarolinaEvery North Carolina tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in North CarolinaThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The North Carolina recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Chatham CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Chatham County's FEMA declarations (CSV)22 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis