Hurricane Season in the Outer Banks: Storm Odds by Month
Quick answer: the Outer Banks’ hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, and the islands are among the most storm-exposed places on the US coast: in the last 50 seasons a tropical storm or hurricane passed within 100 miles in 27 of 50 seasons, 14 of 50 seasons in September alone. A hurricane came within 50 miles in 9 of 50 seasons.
Pick where you are going and when. See in how many of the last 50 hurricane seasons a tropical storm or hurricane came within 100 miles on those dates, and which nearby weeks were calmer.
Key West · Sep 10–16
2 of 50 seasonsA tropical storm or hurricane passed within 100 miles of Key West on these dates in 2 of the 50 seasons 1976–2025: 4%.
- Within 50 miles
- 1 of 50
- A hurricane within 50 miles
- 1 of 50
- A hurricane within 100 miles
- 1 of 50
- Safest dates within 4 weeks: Oct 1–7 (0 of 50 seasons), 3 weeks later.
- Storms on these dates: Sally 2020, Irma 2017.
- In 1976–2025, storms came within 100 miles of Key West between Jul 6 and Nov 19.
Historical frequency from NOAA’s best tracks for 1976–2025, not a forecast. For storms this season, see the National Hurricane Center.
The tool above opens on Outer Banks (Nags Head) for September 10–16: change the dates to yours. Below, the Outer Banks’s whole record, 1976–2025.
Hurricane season in the Outer Banks, month by month
In how many of the 50 seasons a tropical storm or hurricane passed within 100 miles at some point in that month.
| Month | Storm within 100 mi | Within 50 mi | Hurricane within 50 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| May | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| June | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| July | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| August | 9 | 7 | 6 |
| September | 14 | 7 | 3 |
| October | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| November | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Isabel (2003) came near on September 18 and Dorian (2019) on September 6; Arthur (2014) passed as a hurricane within 50 miles as early as July 4.
The busiest week
Outer Banks (Nags Head): Sep 10–16, when a storm came within 100 miles in 5 of 50 seasons. The chart in the tool shows all 52 weeks.
Every storm within 100 miles since 1976 (38)
| Storm | Within 100 miles | Closest |
|---|---|---|
| Ophelia (2023) | Sep 23 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Claudette (2021) | Jun 21 | a tropical storm within 50 miles |
| Arthur (2020) | May 18 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Fay (2020) | Jul 9–10 | a tropical storm within 50 miles |
| Kyle (2020) | Aug 14 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Dorian (2019) | Sep 6 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Hermine (2016) | Sep 3 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Matthew (2016) | Oct 9 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Arthur (2014) | Jul 4 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Irene (2011) | Aug 27–28 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Cristobal (2008) | Jul 20–21 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Gabrielle (2007) | Sep 9–10 | a tropical storm within 50 miles |
| Ophelia (2005) | Sep 15–16 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Alex (2004) | Aug 3 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Isabel (2003) | Sep 18 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Arthur (2002) | Jul 15 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Gustav (2002) | Sep 10–11 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Kyle (2002) | Oct 12 | a tropical storm within 50 miles |
| Helene (2000) | Sep 23–24 | a tropical storm within 50 miles |
| Dennis (1999) | Sep 4–5 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Floyd (1999) | Sep 16 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Irene (1999) | Oct 18 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Bonnie (1998) | Aug 27–28 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Danny (1997) | Jul 24 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Arthur (1996) | Jun 20 | a tropical storm within 50 miles |
| Bertha (1996) | Jul 13 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Emily (1993) | Aug 31 – Sep 1 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Danielle (1992) | Sep 25 | a tropical storm within 50 miles |
| Bob (1991) | Aug 19 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Charley (1986) | Aug 17–18 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Henri (1985) | Sep 23 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Gloria (1985) | Sep 27 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Kate (1985) | Nov 23 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Diana (1984) | Sep 14–15 | a tropical storm within 50 miles |
| Dean (1983) | Sep 30 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Bret (1981) | Jun 30 – Jul 1 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Dennis (1981) | Aug 20 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Belle (1976) | Aug 9 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
When the season runs
the Outer Banks is in the Atlantic basin, whose hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 (source). The season is when storms are likely, not the only time they can form: the table above counts every storm, whenever it came.
Plan it
- Wrightsville or Carolina Beach?
- What state has the safest weather?
- Hurricane risk for your exact dates in Outer Banks (Nags Head)
- Outer Banks (Nags Head)’s weather, month by month
FAQ
When is hurricane season in the Outer Banks?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, peaking around September 10. In 50 seasons (1976–2025), the storms that came within 100 miles of the Outer Banks did so between May 18 and November 23, most often in September.
Does the Outer Banks get hurricanes?
Yes. In 50 seasons, a tropical storm or hurricane passed within 100 miles of the Outer Banks in 27, and a hurricane came within 50 miles in 9: Dorian (2019), Arthur (2014), Irene (2011), Alex (2004) and 5 more.
What is the worst month for hurricanes in the Outer Banks?
September: a storm came within 100 miles in 14 of the 50 seasons, then August with 9.
What is the safest time to visit the Outer Banks in hurricane season?
Within the season, November: a storm came within 100 miles in 1 of the 50 seasons. Outside June 1 to November 30, storms were rarer still.
How these numbers are made
From NOAA’s best tracks (HURDAT2), every storm’s centre is followed hour by hour and measured against each place; a season counts once it had a tropical storm or hurricane within 100 miles (or 50) on at least one day. It is history, not a forecast: for a storm that exists today, read the National Hurricane Center.