Franklin County, North Carolina
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 37069 · population 68,431 · 492 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 490 records for Franklin County, North Carolina from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 350 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (252 records). The deadliest single record is the December 4, 2010 winter weather, filed for the forecast zone Franklin, which covers the county: 1 death and 2 injuries. FEMA has issued 23 declarations naming the county since 1977, 21 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
- 490on 350 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 630 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $95Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 13strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 23latest 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 Franklin County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 252 since 1966. 45% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1966 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.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 252 | 181 | 1966-2026 | 1 | 4 | $9.2M | 31 of 100 |
| Hail | 68 | 56 | 1984-2025 | 0 | 0 | $12M | 64 of 100 |
| Winter storms | 66 | 65 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 2 | $666K | 48 of 100 |
| Floods | 46 | 27 | 1996-2025 | 1 | 0 | $51K | 65 of 100 |
| High wind and dust storms | 17 | 16 | 1998-2020 | 1 | 0 | $1.8M | 58 of 100 |
| Tornadoes | 13 | 11 | 1951-2024 | 0 | 24 | $68M | 60 of 100 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 11 | 11 | 1996-2022 | 1 | 0 | $2.3M | 33 of 100 |
| Heavy rain | 7 | 5 | 1998-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 40 of 100 |
| Heat | 6 | 6 | 1998-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 21 of 100 |
| Extreme cold | 2 | 2 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 71 of 100 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 1996-2007 | 1 | 0 | $28K | 75 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 Franklin County had?
NOAA records 13 tornadoes in Franklin County from 1951 to 2024, the strongest rated F4, with 0 deaths and 24 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 13 tornadoes whose track touched Franklin County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 13, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 4 people, 0 of them in Franklin County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988-11-27 23:00, as SPC files it | Raleigh | F4 | 83 mi | 4 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in North Carolina.
Every tornado record filed for Franklin County (13)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-08-08 | Rocky Ford, Franklin County | EF1 0.69 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $56K |
| 2024-08-08 | Rocky Ford, Franklin County | EF0 1 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
| 2024-08-08 | Stallings Xrds, Franklin County | EF1 2.9 mi x 125 yd | 0 | 0 | $24K |
| 2013-06-18 | New Hope, Franklin County | EF0 1.25 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $190K |
| 2006-05-14 | Bunn, Franklin County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-03-20 | Louisburg, Franklin County | F1 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $91K |
| 1996-04-15 | Pilot, Franklin County | F2 2 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 5 | $1.9M |
| 1988-11-28 | Franklin County | F4 21 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 17 | $25M step |
| 1984-05-08 | Franklin County | F1 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1973-05-28 | Franklin County | F1 3.4 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 2 | $25K step |
| 1966-11-02 | Franklin County | F2 22.2 mi x 77 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1956-03-18 | Franklin County | F1 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1951-06-09 | Franklin County | F1 3.8 mi x 30 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 Franklin County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 27, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($15,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-27 | Thunderstorm WindSeven Paths, Franklin County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 2026-06-27 | Thunderstorm WindDaddysville, Franklin County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-27 | Thunderstorm WindSeven Paths, Franklin County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-27 | Thunderstorm WindMoulton, Franklin County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-23 | Thunderstorm WindDaddysville, Franklin County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindStallings Xrds, Franklin County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindLouisburg, Franklin County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindGupton, Franklin County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindLouisburg, Franklin County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindRaynor, Franklin County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindRiley, Franklin County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-01-31 | Winter StormFranklin County · forecast zone Franklin | 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
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-12-04 | Winter WeatherFranklin County · forecast zone Franklin Two to three inches of snow fell across the county. | 1 | 2 | – | |
| 2022-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindYoungsville, Franklin County A tree fell and killed a man outside of a mobile home along Cleghorns One Drive near Youngsville. | 50 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $1K |
| 2009-12-09 | Strong WindFranklin County · forecast zone Franklin Strong wind gusts between 45 and 55 mph resulted in numerous trees being blown down along resutling in power outages. | 40 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $1K |
| 2006-06-14 | Flash FloodLouisburg, Franklin County 13 year old boy fell into a swollen creek when he chased a ball into a culvert. The current pulled him through the drainpipe and under the street. The boy is believed to have been under water for approximately 25 minutes. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2003-09-18 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Franklin County · forecast zone Franklin 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 ... | 1 | 0 | $335K | |
| 1996-08-07 | LightningNew Hope, Franklin County A man and his dog were killed by lightning while walking along NC 98 West. The strike occurred from a thunderstorm moving away from the area. No heavy rain was occurring at the time. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1988-11-28 | TornadoFranklin County | F4 21 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 17 | $25M step |
| 1996-04-15 | TornadoPilot, Franklin County The storm moved into Franklin county and destroyed a cement block building 1 mile SW of the community of Pilot. The storm then crossed over Hwy 64 where numerous trees were twisted and downed. Several outbuildings were also destroyed. The storm then entered Pilot where the damage path reached 250 yards across.A frame ... | F2 2 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 5 | $1.9M |
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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-04-08 | HailSutton, Franklin County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $12M |
| 2009-07-26 | Thunderstorm WindStallings, Franklin County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $6.9M |
| 1996-04-15 | TornadoPilot, Franklin County | F2 2 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 5 | $1.9M |
| 2022-07-06 | Thunderstorm WindRaynor, Franklin County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 2003-09-18 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Franklin County · forecast zone Franklin | 1 | 0 | $335K | |
| 2008-02-10 | Strong WindFranklin County · forecast zone Franklin | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $274K |
| 2013-06-13 | Thunderstorm WindFranklinton, Franklin County | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $253K |
| 2013-06-18 | TornadoNew Hope, Franklin County | EF0 1.25 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $190K |
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: November 28, 1988 (tornado, Franklin 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 Franklin 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 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 36 | 41 | 83 | 70 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 23 | 24 | 2 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 22 | 27 | 12 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 5 | 12 | 8 | 21 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 8 | 6 | 2 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
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 1966 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 40 · Feb 39 · Mar 42 · Apr 35 · May 57 · Jun 87 · Jul 74 · Aug 68 · Sep 15 · Oct 7 · Nov 11 · Dec 15 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Franklin County
FEMA's register lists 23 declarations that include Franklin County: 9 major disasters, 14 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (11) and snowstorm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3637 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 2003-09-18 | DR-1490 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isabel |
| 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 |
| 1993-03-17 | EM-3110 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
| 1988-12-02 | DR-818 | Tornado | Severe Storms & Tornadoes |
| 1977-08-11 | EM-3049 | Drought | Drought |
| 1977-03-02 | EM-3033 | Snowstorm | Drought & 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 Franklin County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 46 flood or flash flood records for Franklin County from 1996 to 2025, on 27 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Franklin County ranks 2046th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Isabel | 2003-09-18 | 1 | 1 |
| Hurricane Ian | 2022-09-30 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Isaias | 2020-08-04 | 1 | 0 |
| Tropical Storm Michael | 2018-10-11 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Florence | 2018-09-13 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $279,000 on 23 claims filed in Franklin County; the most in one year was 6 in 1999. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 2 · 1992: 2 · 1998: 5 · 1999: 6 · 2003: 2 · 2006: 1 · 2008: 1 · 2009: 1 · 2010: 1 · 2023: 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 Franklin County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Franklin County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $16.8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | $358K | 6.4 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $833K | 13 modeled event-days a year |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $2.6M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $501K | 48 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $671K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $940K | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $567K | 3.8 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $814K | 6.5 modeled event-days a year |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Franklin 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 Franklin CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Franklin County's FEMA declarations (CSV)23 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis