OBX Hurricanes

What are Hurricanes? 

Hurricanes are part of life on the Outer Banks. A hurricane is a storm that forms over tropical or subtropical waters, otherwise known as a tropical cyclone. Hurricanes are essentially low-pressure rotating weather systems consisting of thunderstorms that form in the North Atlantic Ocean in certain conditions. Hurricanes are widely known for severe weather, including high winds, storm surge, heavy rain, and potentially tornadoes. 

???? Fun Fact: The word hurricane was coined by Native Americans, who called the disastrous storms hurakons, after “a great spirit who commanded the east wind.” The word was picked up by Spanish explorers, who named hurricanes after patron saints if the storm occurred on their feast day. [Source: almanac.com]

What is the difference between hurricanes and tropical storms?

Hurricanes and tropical storms are both tropical cyclones. A tropical storm is a tropical cyclone with a maximum sustained wind speed between 39 mph and 73 mph. Once the maximum sustained wind speed reaches at least 74 mph, the storm becomes a hurricane. A tropical cyclone with a maximum sustained wind speed of 38 mph or less is a tropical depression. Both types of storms have been known to bring huge surf to Outer Banks beaches. 

How do hurricanes get their names? 

Hurricane names are chosen by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). There are six rotating lists of names, so there may be a storm with the same name as a storm in previous years. Storms that deliver a significant impact may have their names retired and replaced with a new name on the list. Tropical cyclones receive a name once they develop into a tropical storm, with wind speeds of at least 39 mph and a rotating circulation. 

The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active on record and the list of names ran out. Subsequent hurricanes were named from the Greek alphabet – Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and so on. In 2021, the WMO began providing a supplemental list of names for each year in case the season’s storms go through all of the names on the primary list. The list of 2024 Hurricane names for the season is below. 

🌀  Fun Fact: Hurricane name lists have been maintained since 1953. Hurricanes were given female names only until 1979 when male names were added to the lists. 

When is hurricane season in Outer Banks?

Hurricane season officially runs June 1st through November 30th. It is not unheard of for a hurricane to form outside of the official hurricane season. 

How often does the Outer Banks get hit by hurricanes? 

An average of 2.3 tropical cyclones, from hurricanes to unnamed systems, affect the state each year, according to North Carolina Climate Office statistics. An average of one every other year generally makes a direct hit. 

Why are hurricane evacuations ordered? 

Hurricane evacuations are ordered by local authorities when a storm appears to have the potential to threaten the health and safety of those in its path. Ordering an evacuation is not a decision taken lightly by local authorities. 

The Worst Hurricanes in OBX History

Countless storms have damaged the fragile Outer Banks landscape throughout the years. The storms mentioned below are just a few examples of powerful storms that have impacted the Outer Banks in recent years. 

Hurricane Dorian in 2019 devastated Ocracoke Island with a substantial storm surge from the Pamlico Sound, damaging a significant number of homes and businesses with floodwaters that reached up to 7 feet. The storm also caused heavy damage to Avalon Pier in Kill Devil Hills as well as Nags Head Pier. 

Though not a hurricane, the Ash Wednesday Storm is widely known as one of the worst storms in OBX history. The nor’easter storm blindsided the area in March of 1962, causing widespread flooding throughout the area and cutting off southern Hatteras Island with a new inlet. The duration of the storm was a major contributor to the damage caused, as well as astronomical conditions that caused the tides to be higher than normal. The storm battered the Outer Banks through five high tide cycles. 

In 1996, Hurricane Bertha made landfall south of the Outer Banks on Topsail Beach in mid-July. The Category 2 storm brought 104 mph winds and a 5-foot storm surge. 

Hurricane Irene came ashore at Cape Lookout and moved directly over the OBX in 2011, causing significant flooding throughout the area that damaged countless homes and washing roads out in several areas. The storm cut two new inlets on Hatteras Island, one of which was a massive inlet that is now the site of the Captain Richard Etheridge Bridge. 

In 2006, Tropical Storm Ernesto initially did not seem like it would have much of an impact on the OBX, but it ended up causing a great deal of damage to the northern Outer Banks. Over a foot of rain fell, flooding roads and homes. The sand roads on the 4×4 beaches were flooded for weeks after the storm. 

Hurricane Michael developed in the Caribbean Sea in 2018 and quickly became a very powerful storm, making landfall as a Category 5 on the Florida Panhandle. The storm weakened to a tropical storm as it traveled inland. It moved across the sound from the west, surprising the sound side of the OBX with its storm surge and middle-of-the-night flash flooding that damaged many homes. 

What should I do if a hurricane impacts my Outer Banks vacation? 

During hurricane season, there’s always the possibility of a storm affecting your Outer Banks vacation. Visit our weather page for current information about the weather on the OBX. The page includes links to major weather websites, local websites, Travel Insurance information, and hurricane FAQs. If a storm is imminent, weather bulletins and video updates will be posted. The same information will be posted to Twiddy’s social media channels, and guests will be contacted with relevant information via phone, text, and email.