Moore County, North Carolina
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 37125 · population 99,632 · 698 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 627 records for Moore County, North Carolina from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 399 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (341 records). The deadliest single record is the January 3, 2018 winter storm, filed for the forecast zone Moore, which covers the county: 2 deaths and $12,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 23 declarations naming the county since 1968, 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
- 627on 399 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 69 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $62Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 16strongest F2
- 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 Moore County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 341 since 1959. 48% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1959 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 | 341 | 212 | 1959-2026 | 0 | 5 | $2.3M | 48 of 100 |
| Hail | 115 | 82 | 1970-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 62 of 100 |
| Floods | 55 | 38 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $44M | 66 of 100 |
| Winter storms | 48 | 47 | 1996-2026 | 3 | 0 | $12K | 83 of 100 |
| High wind and dust storms | 20 | 16 | 1998-2020 | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | 74 of 100 |
| Tornadoes | 16 | 14 | 1973-2019 | 0 | 3 | $12M | 67 of 100 |
| Lightning | 14 | 12 | 2000-2022 | 2 | 1 | $958K | 37 of 100 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 8 | 8 | 1996-2022 | 1 | 0 | $2.1M | 57 of 100 |
| Heat | 4 | 4 | 1998-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 52 of 100 |
| Heavy rain | 4 | 4 | 1998-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 66 of 100 |
| Extreme cold | 2 | 2 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 86 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 Moore County had?
NOAA records 16 tornadoes in Moore County from 1973 to 2019, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 3 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 16 tornadoes whose track touched Moore County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 16, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 6 people, 0 of them in Moore 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 Moore County (16)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-04-19 | Howard Mill, Moore County | EF1 1.6 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $231K |
| 2011-09-06 | Midtown, Moore County | EF0 1.28 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $13K |
| 2011-04-16 | Cameron, Moore County | EF0 2.94 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-09-27 | Parkwood, Moore County | F0 0.5 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-09-27 | Southern Pines, Moore County | F1 8 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-09-17 | Vass, Moore County | F0 0.5 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-09-08 | Vass, Moore County | F0 0.5 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-07-02 | Aberdeen, Moore County | F0 10 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1991-03-29 | Moore County | F1 1 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 1982-06-16 | Moore County | F1 6 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1982-06-10 | Moore County | F1 0.5 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1981-02-11 | Moore County | F2 7.6 mi x 800 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1981-02-11 | Moore County | F2 5.2 mi x 700 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1978-08-05 | Moore County | F1 0.2 mi x 67 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1977-03-04 | Moore County | F1 2 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1973-05-24 | Moore County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $250K 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 Moore 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 WindSpies, Moore County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindMidtown, Moore County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $12K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindHoward Mill, Moore County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindMt Pleasant, Moore County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindSpies, Moore County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindPinebluff, Moore County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindVass, Moore County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindVass, Moore County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindGlendon, Moore County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindGlendon, Moore County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindMidtown, Moore County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindAddor, Moore 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-01-03 | Winter StormMoore County · forecast zone Moore Average snowfall totals across the county ranged from 4 to 6 inches. Broadcast media reported two men were killed when their pick-up truck slid off a bridge and into a creek on Dowd Road near Mount Carmel Road. | 2 | 0 | $12K | |
| 2022-09-30 | Tropical StormMoore County · forecast zone Moore Frequent wind gusts of 40 to 60 mph resulted in scattered to numerous trees and power lines down across Moore County, including some on homes. Numerous customers lost power in Moore County as a result of the tropical storm force wind gusts. A 24 year old male died when he car hydroplaned and ran off the road and ... | 1 | 0 | $756K | |
| 2010-12-16 | Winter WeatherMoore County · forecast zone Moore A prolonged period of light snow and freezing rain in the morning resulted a half inch of snow with a tenth of an inch of freezing rain. This combination created hazardous driving conditions during the morning commute. A 63 year old man was killed when his Jeep slid off the road and rolled. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2006-08-08 | LightningSouthern Pines, Moore County Lightning struck 17 year old as he was removing clothes from a clothesline outside his home. He died several days later at UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2002-05-23 | LightningRobbins, Moore County A 7-year-old boy was struck by lightning under a tree in his backyard, and died in a hospital three days later. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1991-03-29 | TornadoMoore County | F1 1 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 1989-02-21 | Thunderstorm WindMoore County | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 2015-07-08 | Thunderstorm WindLakeview, Moore County A very large tree was blown down and was blocking both lanes of traffic at Youngs Road and Lakebay Road. A vehicle struck the tree in the road and resulted in minor injuries to the driver. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $6K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-09-17 | FloodAddor, Moore County | 0 | 0 | $33M | |
| 2025-07-06 | Flash FloodAberdeen, Moore County | 0 | 0 | $5.0M | |
| 2016-10-08 | Flash FloodRobbins, Moore County | 0 | 0 | $4.8M | |
| 1995-01-07 | Thunderstorm WindPinebluff & Pinehurst, Moore County | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 2022-09-30 | Tropical StormMoore County · forecast zone Moore | 1 | 0 | $756K | |
| 2010-08-19 | LightningCarthage, Moore County | 0 | 0 | $541K | |
| 2008-09-06 | Flash FloodManly, Moore County | 0 | 0 | $274K | |
| 2019-04-19 | TornadoHoward Mill, Moore County | EF1 1.6 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $231K |
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 $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: February 11, 1981 (tornado, Moore 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 Moore 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 | 2 | 6 | 29 | 22 | 65 | 114 | 102 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 22 | 43 | 17 | 14 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 8 | 13 | 14 | 20 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 18 | 18 | 7 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 8 | 8 | 2 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
48% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1959 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 37 · Feb 31 · Mar 40 · Apr 51 · May 82 · Jun 117 · Jul 119 · Aug 76 · Sep 33 · Oct 16 · Nov 12 · Dec 13 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Moore County
FEMA's register lists 23 declarations that include Moore County: 10 major disasters, 13 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (11) 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 |
| 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 |
| 1977-03-02 | EM-3033 | Snowstorm | Drought & Freezing |
| 1968-02-10 | DR-234 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe 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 Moore County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 55 flood or flash flood records for Moore County from 1996 to 2025, on 38 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Moore County ranks 1073rd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ian | 2022-09-30 | 1 | 1 |
| Tropical Depression Chantal | 2025-07-06 | 5 | 0 |
| Hurricane Florence | 2018-09-13 | 2 | 0 |
| Hurricane Matthew | 2016-10-08 | 1 | 0 |
| Tropical Storm Hanna | 2008-09-06 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2.9 million on 154 claims filed in Moore County; the most in one year was 54 in 2016. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1996: 4 · 1998: 4 · 2002: 1 · 2003: 6 · 2004: 2 · 2008: 3 · 2011: 1 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 7 · 2014: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2016: 54 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 39 · 2019: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 25; 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 Moore County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Moore County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $34.6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | $772K | 1.8 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively High | $1.1M | 51 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | $5.7M | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $5.4M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $17M | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $99K | 4.9 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $479K | once in about 754 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $1.3M | 6.3 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 Moore 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 Moore CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Moore County's FEMA declarations (CSV)23 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis