Tropical Cyclone Tracks and Deaths in North Carolina—Not Just a Coastal Event

A large number of tropical cyclones have directly impacted North Carolina over the years, including many of note since 1989. Typically during these events, the media/public attention and awareness is focused on the coastline of the state. However, recent findings indicate that most deaths in North Carolina occur inland as opposed to the coast. Track data were collected from numerous sources dating back to the sailing of Columbus in 1492. This research shows that no tropical storm or hurricane that has made landfall on the North Carolina coast has moved west of a line from Durham to Fayetteville. The area west of this line has been affected by tropical systems that made landfall from the mouth of the Mississippi River eastward through the Gulf of Mexico and from South Carolina southward through the Atlantic. Since 1970 deaths have been attributed to being either a direct or indirect result of the effects of a tropical cyclone. This paper will show where the lives were lost due to direct effects from tropical systems in North Carolina since 1970, and where those deadly systems tracked.