Pamlico County, North Carolina
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 37137 · population 12,213 · 337 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 209 records for Pamlico County, North Carolina from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 172 days; the most frequent are hail reports (48 records). The deadliest single record is the March 17, 1965 tornado: 1 death and 40 injuries. FEMA has issued 30 declarations naming the county since 1988, 28 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
- 209on 172 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 148 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $285Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 20strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 30latest 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 Pamlico County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 48 since 1969. 60% of its hail reports since 1969 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.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 48 | 38 | 1969-2024 | 0 | 0 | $218K | 65 of 100 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 48 | 41 | 1974-2026 | 0 | 1 | $115K | 96 of 100 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 28 | 26 | 1996-2023 | 0 | 0 | $245M | 7 of 100 |
| Winter storms | 26 | 26 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 2 | $28K | 76 of 100 |
| Tornadoes | 20 | 14 | 1963-2026 | 1 | 45 | $31M | 21 of 100 |
| Floods | 16 | 16 | 1998-2025 | 0 | 0 | $14K | 77 of 100 |
| Drought | 9 | 9 | 2011-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 43 of 100 |
| Heat | 5 | 5 | 2020-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 14 of 100 |
| High wind and dust storms | 3 | 3 | 2004-2022 | 0 | 0 | $677 | 91 of 100 |
| Extreme cold | 2 | 2 | 1998-2004 | 0 | 0 | – | 53 of 100 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 1999-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 24 of 100 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2010-2010 | 0 | 0 | – | 84 of 100 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2010-2010 | 0 | 0 | $8.1M | 81 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 Pamlico County had?
NOAA records 20 tornadoes in Pamlico County from 1963 to 2026, the strongest rated F3, with 1 death and 45 injuries recorded in the county. That is 21st 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 17 tornadoes whose track touched Pamlico County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 20: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 2 people, 1 of them in Pamlico County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965-03-17 20:50, as SPC files it | New Bern | F3 | 41.3 mi | 2 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in North Carolina.
Every tornado record filed for Pamlico County (20)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-12 | Whortonville, Pamlico County | EF1 0.32 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-12 | Lees Lndg, Pamlico County | EF1 0.6 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-12 | Florence, Pamlico County | EF1 1.57 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-09-18 | Hobucken, Pamlico County | EF0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-08-03 | Kennel Beach, Pamlico County | EF1 2.33 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2018-09-13 | Lowland, Pamlico County | EF1 1.27 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-04-16 | Kennel Beach, Pamlico County | EF0 0.12 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-10-13 | Merritt, Pamlico County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2004-10-13 | Grantsboro, Pamlico County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-06-23 | Bayboro, Pamlico County | F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-09-15 | Bayboro, Pamlico County | F0 2 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-09-15 | Hobucken, Pamlico County | F2 10 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.2M |
| 1999-09-15 | Bayboro, Pamlico County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-09-15 | Grantsboro, Pamlico County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-08-26 | Oriental, Pamlico County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1988-11-28 | Pamlico County | F1 30 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 5 | $2.5M step |
| 1988-04-19 | Pamlico County | F1 0.6 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1983-03-21 | Pamlico County | F0 0.1 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1965-03-17 | Pamlico County | F3 24 mi x 100 yd | 1 | 40 | $2.5M step |
| 1963-09-29 | Pamlico County | F2 6.6 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 Pamlico County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 5, 2026 thunderstorm wind (1 injury).
In coordination with Pamlico County Emergency Management, a survey of damage along HWY 55 in Stonewall found damage consistent with straight line winds of 80 to 90 mph. In this area, a mobile home strapped down with hurricane ties was moved 3 to 4 feet off its foundation. The ties were ripped out of the ground. The home sustained damage to siding and windows. An occupant inside the home during the storm sustained injuries. The home was blown off the foundation towards the east. A nearby home on Spain Farm Road sustained minor damage to a patio and outdoor light fixtures. The time was estimated based on observer report and radar.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1329882)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-23 | Thunderstorm WindFlorence, Pamlico County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtPamlico County · forecast zone Pamlico | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtPamlico County · forecast zone Pamlico | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-05 | Thunderstorm WindStonewall, Pamlico County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtPamlico County · forecast zone Pamlico | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-31 | DroughtPamlico County · forecast zone Pamlico | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-12 | TornadoWhortonville, Pamlico County | EF1 0.32 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-12 | TornadoLees Lndg, Pamlico County | EF1 0.6 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-12 | TornadoFlorence, Pamlico County | EF1 1.57 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-12 | Thunderstorm WindLowland, Pamlico County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-01 | Winter StormPamlico County · forecast zone Pamlico | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-31 | Winter StormPamlico County · forecast zone Pamlico | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965-03-17 | TornadoPamlico County | F3 24 mi x 100 yd | 1 | 40 | $2.5M step |
| 1988-11-28 | TornadoPamlico County | F1 30 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 5 | $2.5M step |
| 1996-02-03 | Winter StormPamlico County · forecast zone Pamlico An unusual winter storm began with freezing rain on Friday morning, February 2 across Greene, Lenoir, Pitt, Martin, Washington and Beaufort counties. Snow began falling across all of the region Saturday morning with snowfall accumulations of from 2-3 inches except around an inch along immediate coastal areas by Sunday ... | 0 | 2 | $28K | |
| 2026-04-05 | Thunderstorm WindStonewall, Pamlico County In coordination with Pamlico County Emergency Management, a survey of damage along HWY 55 in Stonewall found damage consistent with straight line winds of 80 to 90 mph. In this area, a mobile home strapped down with hurricane ties was moved 3 to 4 feet off its foundation. The ties were ripped out of the ground. The ... | 70 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-09-17 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Pamlico County · forecast zone Pamlico | 0 | 0 | $88M | |
| 2011-08-26 | Storm Surge/TidePamlico County · forecast zone Pamlico | 0 | 0 | $66M | |
| 2018-09-13 | Tropical StormPamlico County · forecast zone Pamlico | 0 | 0 | $35M | |
| 2011-08-26 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Pamlico County · forecast zone Pamlico | 0 | 0 | $26M | |
| 1996-07-12 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Pamlico County · forecast zone Pamlico | 0 | 0 | $9.6M | |
| 2010-07-21 | LightningOriental, Pamlico County | 0 | 0 | $8.1M | |
| 1999-09-01 | Tropical StormPamlico County · forecast zone Pamlico | 0 | 0 | $8.0M | |
| 1996-09-04 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Pamlico County · forecast zone Pamlico | 0 | 0 | $5.6M |
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: March 17, 1965 (tornado, Pamlico County, 1 killed); November 28, 1988 (tornado, Pamlico 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 Pamlico 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 27 | 5 | 2 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 13 | 18 | 8 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | – | – | – | – | 10 | 8 | 8 | 2 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 6 | 7 | 8 | 5 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
60% of its hail reports since 1969 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 18 · Feb 12 · Mar 16 · Apr 13 · May 25 · Jun 36 · Jul 23 · Aug 26 · Sep 22 · Oct 12 · Nov 3 · Dec 3 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Pamlico County
FEMA's register lists 30 declarations that include Pamlico County: 14 major disasters, 16 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (23) and tropical storm (2).
| 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 |
| 2020-10-14 | DR-4568 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isaias |
| 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 |
| 2019-10-04 | DR-4465 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
| 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 |
| 2011-08-31 | DR-4019 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2011-08-25 | EM-3327 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2010-09-01 | EM-3314 | Hurricane | Hurricane Earl |
| 2005-10-07 | DR-1608 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ophelia |
| 2005-09-14 | EM-3254 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ophelia |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3222 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-09-18 | DR-1490 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isabel |
| 1999-09-16 | DR-1292 | Hurricane | Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations |
| 1999-09-15 | EM-3146 | Hurricane | Hurricane Floyd Emergency Declarations |
| 1999-09-09 | DR-1291 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dennis |
| 1999-09-01 | EM-3141 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dennis |
| 1998-08-27 | DR-1240 | Hurricane | Hurricane Bonnie |
| 1996-09-06 | DR-1134 | Hurricane | Hurricane Fran |
| 1996-07-18 | DR-1127 | Hurricane | Hurricane Bertha |
| 1993-03-17 | EM-3110 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
| 1988-12-02 | DR-818 | Tornado | Severe Storms & Tornadoes |
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 Pamlico County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 16 flood or flash flood records for Pamlico County from 1998 to 2025, on 16 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Pamlico County ranks 106th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Florence | 2018-09-13 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Irene | 2011-08-26 | 2 | 0 |
| Hurricane Ophelia | 2005-09-13 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Isabel | 2003-09-17 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Floyd | 1999-09-14 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Dennis | 1999-09-01 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Fran | 1996-09-04 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Bertha | 1996-07-12 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $103 million on 4,330 claims filed in Pamlico County; the most in one year was 1,332 in 2011. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1982: 8 · 1983: 14 · 1984: 1 · 1985: 3 · 1988: 3 · 1991: 1 · 1992: 1 · 1993: 1 · 1996: 90 · 1998: 26 · 1999: 471 · 2000: 1 · 2001: 1 · 2002: 3 · 2003: 922 · 2004: 17 · 2005: 92 · 2006: 8 · 2007: 2 · 2009: 3 · 2010: 3 · 2011: 1,332 · 2012: 2 · 2014: 2 · 2015: 14 · 2016: 2 · 2018: 1,291 · 2019: 11 · 2021: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 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 Pamlico County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Pamlico County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $22.6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | Relatively High | $19M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $425K | 53 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $116K | 2.6 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $242K | once in about 544 years (modeled) |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Low | $287K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $193K | 8.5 modeled event-days a year |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $36K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $535K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Pamlico 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
- Hail in North CarolinaThe state's hail reports, 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 Pamlico CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Pamlico County's FEMA declarations (CSV)30 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis