(br)=brush (ts)=Tropical
Storm (bd)=Back Door,meaning coming from over land from opposite coast.Not all
names are noted,also storms before 1950 were not named.Not every stat on every
storm description is given(since 1871).
Years within 60
miles 1871bdts,1872ts,1874ts,1876br,1878br,1879,1881br,1883,1888,1893bd 1894bd,1897ts,1899br,1907bdts,1910ts,1916ts,1920ts,1928bdts,1944,1946ts 1954,1955,1958,1960bdts,1960,1961ts,1964bdts,1981tsbr,1984,1985bdts,1996,1996br,1998,1999br,1999,2002tsbr,2004,2005,2006ts 38
times in 137yrs end of 2007
Names
from list
above Hazel,Diane,Dora,Brenda,Helene,Donna,Esther,Dennis,kate,Ginger,Diana,Arther,Bertha ,Fran,Bonnie,Dennis,Floyd ,Kyle,Charley,Ophelia,Ernesto,
How often this area gets
affected? brushed or hit every 3.60 years
Average years between direct hurricane hits.(usually within 40 miles to include small hurricanes) (16h)once every 8.56 years
Statistically when this area should be affected
next before the end of the 2010 season
This is just a statistical average &
does not mean the area will be affected by that year
Last affected by 2006 Sept 1st Tropical storm Ernesto passes over while moving NNE with 70mph winds.
This areas hurricane
past 1879 aug 18th a hurricane hits from the south 1883 sept 11th nearly 100 killed 1888 oct 11th from the SSW 1920 sept 22nd a hurricane hits from the ESE 1944 aug 1st a minimal hurricane hits from the south 1954 hurricane Hazel oct 15th gusts to 100mph 8.2ft storm
surge,even well inland up in Baltimore a 6 ft tide was reported ,Washington D.C 100mph.The winds & tides caused great destruction.The weather bureau at Wilmington N.C recorded a sustained 5 minute wind of 61mph with the fastest at 82mph & a gust to 98mph. The lowest pressure was 28.68 inches.The loss of homes in the carolinas was 1,635 homes destroyed and 16,655 damaged.Newspaper headlines | Hurricane Hazel page 1955 aug 17th hurricane Diane hits just north coming in from the SE winds 75mph at wilmington airport tides around 7 ft 1958 hurricane Helene gusts to 135mph NNE mostly stayed offshore passing 30 miles to the SE while moving NE. Heavy damage reported at beach resorts.North winds of 85mph on the 27th at 1:01PM. Rainfall 8.29 inch tides 9ft.NHC notes | newspaper clip 1960 hurricane donna just offshore sept 11th with 110mph winds causing moderate damage here as peak winds were 97mph. more here
1984 sept 13th Hurricane Diana comes ashore 38 miles to the south of wilmington with 90mph winds at it's closest approach to Wilmington.,Diana had 115mph sustained winds before landfall.wind map | Newspaper article #1 | Newspaper article #2 | Newspaper article #3
1996
hurricane Bertha 105mph area had gusts to 100 press 28.85 july 12th . Newspaper article | Radar 1996
hurricane Fran hits to north of area sept 5th press 28.23 area had gusts to
105mph heavy damage to north in topsail bch area & surf city over 1 billion
dollars damage 23 killed storm surge approx 16ft. Newspaper headline | #2 | satelite image 1998 hurricane Bonnie august
26th 105mph gusts to 115mph press 28.48 moderate damage
1999 sept 16th Hurricane Floyd hit just east with 110mph winds,dumps nearly 20 inches of rain here & causes heavy damage to north on oak island.New Hanover county reported 10 ft storm surge on sound side of Masonboro.A record 13.38 invhes fell in 24 hrs.
2004 August 14th Hurricane Charley hits with 75mph winds from the SW after hitting Florida. Minor structural damage.
2005 Sept 14th Hurricane Ophelia passes just east with 85mph winds western eyewall over wilmington for a couple of hours. Widespread power outages & some minor roof damage & trees down.Ophelia Satellite image
