Storms near Polk County
The record holds 11 tropical cyclones whose tracks passed within 50 km of Polk County, North Carolina between 1886 and 2018. The busiest month is September, with 5 of them. The strongest, measured where each came closest to the place, reached tropical storm strength.
- 11storms within 50 km
- 0major (category 3 to 5) near here
- 0at category 1 strength or more
A storm counts once, however many times it came close. The category is the storm's strongest point within 50 km, which can be weaker than its peak elsewhere.
How strong were the storms near Polk County?
| Category near here | Storms | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical depression | 6 | 55% |
| Tropical storm | 5 | 45% |
| Category 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Category 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Category 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Category 4 | 0 | 0% |
| Category 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Unknown intensity | 0 | 0% |
The agency behind most of the intensity figures here is the NOAA National Hurricane Center (HURDAT2, Atlantic).
Polk County storms over time
The 2010s only run to 2018, so that bar is for a shorter period. This place's record starts in 1886, and records before the satellite era (about the 1960s) are far less complete.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 1 |
| 1900s | 1 |
| 1910s | 2 |
| 1940s | 1 |
| 1950s | 1 |
| 1960s | 1 |
| 1970s | 1 |
| 1980s | 1 |
| 1990s | 1 |
| 2010s | 1 |
Earlier decades hold fewer storms partly because they were harder to see. Before weather satellites (about the 1960s) many storms that stayed at sea went unrecorded, so compare decades with care.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 0 |
| Feb | 0 |
| Mar | 0 |
| Apr | 0 |
| May | 0 |
| Jun | 2 |
| Jul | 1 |
| Aug | 3 |
| Sep | 5 |
| Oct | 0 |
| Nov | 0 |
| Dec | 0 |
Strongest storms near Polk County
- Unnamed storm of August 1949 (North Atlantic)23 August 1949 to 1 September 1949, Tropical storm (50 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 954 hPa
- Unnamed storm of July 1916 (North Atlantic)11 July 1916 to 15 July 1916, Tropical storm (45 kt) near here, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 960 hPa
- Gracie (1959)20 September 1959 to 2 October 1959, Tropical storm (45 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 951 hPa
- Unnamed storm of June 1886 (North Atlantic)17 June 1886 to 24 June 1886, Tropical storm (40 kt) near here, peak Category 2 (85 kt)
- Unnamed storm of September 1906 (North Atlantic)3 September 1906 to 18 September 1906, Tropical storm (40 kt) near here, peak Category 1 (80 kt), 977 hPa
Most recent storms near Polk County
- Florence (2018)30 August 2018 to 18 September 2018, Tropical depression (30 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 937 hPa
- Beryl (1994)14 August 1994 to 19 August 1994, Tropical depression (15 kt) near here, peak Tropical storm (50 kt), 1,000 hPa
- Danny (1985)12 August 1985 to 20 August 1985, Tropical depression (25 kt) near here, peak Category 1 (80 kt), 988 hPa
Many of these storms killed people and destroyed homes. The figures are the official record's, and this page says nothing about their human cost.
A storm that came near several counties counts in each one, so county counts add up to more than the state's.
Notable storms near Polk County
- Gracie (1959)20 September 1959 to 2 October 1959, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 951 hPa