175
Recorded events
0
Direct deaths
5
Direct injuries
$2.0M
Property damage
Thunderstorm Wind in New Hanover County, North Carolina: 175 recorded events between 1956 and 2026. The strongest on record measured 87. That places the county #1,268 nationally and #52 statewide for this hazard.
Decade by decade
Thunderstorm Wind in New Hanover County, North Carolina: events per decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
The busiest decade for thunderstorm wind in New Hanover County is the 1990s, when 37 of the county's 175 recorded events were logged. Comparing decades is useful for spotting active periods, but the earliest years are thin because systematic reporting for this hazard began later.
Within the New Hanover County archive, thunderstorm wind makes up 28.9% of all recorded severe weather across 11 hazard types. Nationally the county sits at #1,268 for this hazard and #52 within North Carolina, putting it in the 59.7 percentile of all U.S. counties.
Seasonality
Events by month
Jun is the peak month for thunderstorm wind in New Hanover County with 42 recorded events, while Oct is the quietest. Seasonality here is a property of the archive as much as the climate: reports cluster where population and spotter networks are densest.
Significant events
Deadliest on record
| Date | Location | Scale | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 15, 1986 | 68 | 0 | 3 | $0 | |
| Mar 8, 2005 | WILMINGTON | 77 | 0 | 1 | $150K |
| Jun 7, 1995 | 0 | 0 | 1 | $150K |
Most recent
Latest recorded events
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 12, 2026 | SEAGATE | 50 | $0 |
| Jun 10, 2025 | WRIGHTSBORO | 53 | $0 |
| Jun 8, 2025 | BAYMEADE | 50 | $0 |
| Jun 8, 2025 | WILMINGTON | 50 | $0 |
| Sep 27, 2024 | SEAGATE | 50 | $2K |
| Sep 14, 2024 | JOHNNY MERCER PIER | 51 | $0 |
| Jun 24, 2024 | KIRKLAND | 50 | $0 |
| May 28, 2024 | MYRTLE GROVE | 50 | $0 |
| May 16, 2024 | WRIGHTSBORO | 50 | $0 |
| Jan 10, 2024 | WILMINGTON | 55 | $1K |
Other hazards here
More from New Hanover County
- Flash Flood 113
- Hail 112
- Flood 62
- Heavy Rain 44
- Lightning 41
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
A NWS storm survey concluded a microburst produced estimated 100 mph wind gusts, causing extensive damage to many homes in the Brittany Woods subdivision. Nearly 100 homes sustained at least some damage. The more serious damage occurred to half a dozen homes when their garage doors were blown in, allowing the wind to blow portions of walls and/or roofs away. One home sustained extensive damage when a fence was demolished, with the projectiles blown through the house's walls. A large travel trailer and an RV motor home were overturned, and an SUV and an attached trailer were turned around. The storm continued east southeast, with numerous trees and power lines reported down. The thunderstorm dropped penny to nickel size hail 3 miles northeast of Wilmington and 7 miles north of Wilmington, as well as 3 miles east of Murraysville. More penny size hail was reported in Wrightsville Beach, as the storm finally moved offshore.
National Weather Service storm survey concluded a microburst with estimated 80-90 mph winds caused widespread damage along a path approximately 1/2 mile long with a maximum width of 50 to 100 yards. Wrightsboro Elementary School sustained three broken windows. Portions of school's metal roof were peeled back or were torn off and blown 50 yards from the building. One trailer was blown off its concrete blocks. Seventeen houses sustained damage along Long Leaf Drive. Damage included shingles blown off roofs, siding torn off houses or significant damage to porches. An 18 inch diameter tree was snapped off about 20 feet above ground level, with numerous other trees uprooted. Fallen trees and limbs damaged power lines and at least 4 cars. No injuries were reported.
The Wilmington ASOS measured an 89 mph wind gust. A private hangar at the airport was damaged, and a man in Wilmington was injured. In downtown Wilmington, a section of the roof of city hall was damaged, and an historic home, built in 1738, was moderately damaged when a chimney collapsed. The Oceanic pier also measured a 69 mph wind gust.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many thunderstorm wind events are on record in New Hanover County, North Carolina?
175 thunderstorm wind events are recorded in New Hanover County between 1956 and 2026, causing 0 direct deaths.
What is the strongest thunderstorm wind recorded in New Hanover County?
The strongest thunderstorm wind on record in New Hanover County measured 87.
Where does the thunderstorm wind data for New Hanover County come from?
All events come from the NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, the federal public-domain archive of severe weather reports. Dates are UTC, damage is as reported and not inflation-adjusted, and the most recent entries may still be revised.
Cite this page
“Thunderstorm Wind in New Hanover County, North Carolina.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/north-carolina/new-hanover-county/thunderstorm-wind/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.