Hoke County, North Carolina

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 37093 · population 52,053 · 390 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 298 records for Hoke County, North Carolina from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 235 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (132 records). The deadliest single record is the February 11, 1981 tornado: 1 death. FEMA has issued 20 declarations naming the county since 1996, 18 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
298on 235 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
111 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$49Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
11strongest F2
FEMA declarations
20latest 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 Hoke County most?

The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 132 since 1965. 51% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1965 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.

Hoke County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Severe thunderstorm wind 132 105 1965-2026 0 4 $760K 56 of 100
Hail 58 46 1960-2019 0 0 – 61 of 100
Winter storms 37 36 1996-2026 0 0 – 64 of 100
Floods 27 24 1997-2025 0 0 $41M 57 of 100
High wind and dust storms 11 11 1998-2020 0 0 $1.8M 65 of 100
Tornadoes 11 11 1975-2020 1 6 $2.1M 48 of 100
Hurricanes and tropical storms 10 10 1996-2022 0 0 $2.6M 28 of 100
Heat 4 4 1998-2025 0 0 – 32 of 100
Lightning 4 4 1997-2016 0 1 $110K 51 of 100
Extreme cold 2 2 1996-2025 0 0 – 57 of 100
Heavy rain 2 2 1998-1998 0 0 – 73 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 Hoke County had?

NOAA records 11 tornadoes in Hoke County from 1975 to 2020, the strongest rated F2, with 1 death and 6 injuries recorded in the county. That is 48th 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 11 tornadoes whose track touched Hoke County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 11, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 3 people, 1 of them in Hoke County.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Hoke County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
2011-04-16 13:33, as SPC files itFayettevilleEF352.86 mi2
1981-02-11 02:30, as SPC files itFayettevilleF212.4 mi1

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in North Carolina.

Every tornado record filed for Hoke County (11)
Every tornado recorded in Hoke County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2020-05-21 Raeford Municipal Airport, Hoke County EF1 0.2 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $57K
2011-04-16 Raeford Municipal Airport, Hoke County EF0 2.88 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $131K
2004-09-08 Rockfish, Hoke County F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2004-09-07 Arabia, Hoke County F0 0.5 mi x 25 yd 0 0 –
2004-08-29 Raeford, Hoke County F0 1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
1995-05-19 Hoke County F1 6 mi x 50 yd 0 1 $387K
1990-10-23 Hoke County F0 0.5 mi x 73 yd 0 0 $3K step
1988-05-19 Hoke County F0 0.4 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $3K step
1986-05-19 Hoke County F2 13 mi x 100 yd 0 5 $250K step
1981-02-11 Hoke County F2 1.9 mi x 847 yd 1 0 $250K step
1975-03-24 Hoke County F1 11 mi x 33 yd 0 0 $250 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 Hoke County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 11, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($5,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

The 12 most recent records kept for Hoke County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-11 Thunderstorm WindSilver City, Hoke County 50 kt wind 0 0 $5K
2026-01-31 Winter StormHoke County · forecast zone Hoke 0 0 –
2026-01-24 Winter StormHoke County · forecast zone Hoke 0 0 –
2025-11-11 Frost/FreezeHoke County · forecast zone Hoke 0 0 –
2025-07-28 Excessive HeatHoke County · forecast zone Hoke 0 0 –
2025-07-27 Excessive HeatHoke County · forecast zone Hoke 0 0 –
2025-07-26 Excessive HeatHoke County · forecast zone Hoke 0 0 –
2025-07-06 Flash FloodTimberland, Hoke County 0 0 $10K
2025-06-27 Thunderstorm WindAshmont, Hoke County 50 kt wind 0 0 $2K
2025-06-25 Thunderstorm WindMc Cain, Hoke County 50 kt wind 0 0 $3K
2022-09-30 Tropical StormHoke County · forecast zone Hoke 0 0 $756K
2020-10-29 Strong WindHoke County · forecast zone Hoke 40 kt wind 0 0 $1.1M

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 Hoke County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1981-02-11 TornadoHoke County F2 1.9 mi x 847 yd 1 0 $250K step
1986-05-19 TornadoHoke County F2 13 mi x 100 yd 0 5 $250K step
1984-03-20 Thunderstorm WindHoke County 0 3 –
2016-05-29 LightningArabia, Hoke County A female was struck by lightning approximately 2 miles west-southwest of Rockfish. Lightning was also responsible for a house fire shortly after 6 PM on the 1100 block of Turnpike Road in Fayetteville. 0 1 $31K
2010-05-16 Thunderstorm WindRaeford Municipal Airport, Hoke County Microburst wind damage was observed as far south as Johnson Mill Road and Adcox Road, just south of Highway 401 and as far north as Plank Road near the Fort Bragg Military Reservation. The most significant structural damage occurred in the Willow Trace Mobile Home Park where 44 mobile home out of 50 suffered damage. ... 70 kt wind 0 1 $406K
1995-05-19 TornadoHoke County Tornado damage across the county from State Roads # 401 and # 1207 eastward to near State Road 211. Numerous trees down, some across houses. Damage to several mobile homes. Twelve roads impassable. F1 6 mi x 50 yd 0 1 $387K

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 Hoke County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2018-09-17 FloodEdenburg, Hoke County 0 0 $36M
2016-10-08 Flash FloodAshmont, Hoke County 0 0 $3.8M
2016-09-29 Flash FloodRockfish, Hoke County 0 0 $1.2M
2019-09-05 Tropical StormHoke County · forecast zone Hoke 0 0 $577K
2010-05-16 Thunderstorm WindRaeford Municipal Airport, Hoke County 70 kt wind 0 1 $406K
1995-05-19 TornadoHoke County F1 6 mi x 50 yd 0 1 $387K
2020-05-21 TornadoRaeford Municipal Airport, Hoke County EF1 0.2 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $57K
2016-05-29 LightningArabia, Hoke County 0 1 $31K

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: February 11, 1981 (tornado, Hoke County, 1 killed); May 19, 1986 (tornado, Hoke 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 Hoke 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).

Hoke County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Severe thunderstorm wind0231512294922
Hail04151418160
Winter storms––––513127
Floods––––77121
High wind and dust storms––––1532
Tornadoes00132311

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

What time of year?

51% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1965 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 28 · Feb 23 · Mar 13 · Apr 34 · May 35 · Jun 53 · Jul 49 · Aug 16 · Sep 24 · Oct 9 · Nov 8 · Dec 6 (records).

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

Federal disaster declarations for Hoke County

FEMA's register lists 20 declarations that include Hoke County: 9 major disasters, 11 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (13) and tropical storm (2).

Declarations including Hoke 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
2020-08-02EM-3534HurricaneHurricane Isaias
2020-03-25DR-4487BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3471BiologicalCovid-19
2019-10-04DR-4465HurricaneHurricane Dorian
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
2011-04-19DR-1969Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2005-09-05EM-3222HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
2004-09-10DR-1546HurricaneTropical Storm Frances
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

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 Hoke County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 27 flood or flash flood records for Hoke County from 1997 to 2025, on 24 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Hoke County ranks 1784th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

Named storms on Hoke County's flood and tropical record
StormBeganRecordsDeaths in the county
Tropical Depression Chantal2025-07-0610
Hurricane Ian2022-09-3010
Hurricane Dorian2019-09-0510
Hurricane Florence2018-09-1320
Hurricane Matthew2016-10-0810

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $616,000 on 39 claims filed in Hoke County; the most in one year was 12 in 2016. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1985: 1 · 1991: 1 · 1996: 1 · 1998: 1 · 1999: 2 · 2003: 1 · 2004: 1 · 2008: 1 · 2010: 1 · 2012: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2016: 12 · 2018: 12 · 2020: 1 · 2025: 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 Hoke County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Hoke County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $13.1 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 Hoke County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
HurricaneRelatively Moderate$2.6Monce in about 5 years (modeled)
TornadoRelatively Moderate$2.6Monce in about 5 years (modeled)
Winter WeatherRelatively Moderate$98K4.3 a year (modeled)
Ice StormRelatively Moderate$146K1.2 a year (modeled)
Strong WindRelatively Moderate$500K2.3 a year (modeled)
WildfireRelatively Low$333Konce in about 375 years (modeled)
Heat WaveRelatively Low$844K8.3 modeled event-days a year
EarthquakeRelatively Low$484Konce in about 546 years (modeled)

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

Counties that share a border with Hoke County

  1. Robeson County 722
  2. Cumberland County 679
  3. Moore County 627
  4. Scotland County 307
  5. Hoke County 298
  6. Richmond County 295

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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