Hurricane Risk for Nags Head, NC
No tropical storms currently threaten the Nags Head area. The next one could form quickly though — get alerts before they make the news.
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Since 1851, 287 hurricanes and tropical storms have passed within 150 miles of Nags Head. Here's what you should know.
By the numbers
Most recent hurricane
Dexter (2025)
Passed within 148 miles of Nags Head on August 02, 2025. Peak intensity: Cat 1 (80 mph).
Strongest hurricane ever to pass nearby
Dorian (2019)
Reached Cat 5 (184 mph) at its peak. Passed within 10 miles of Nags Head.
Closest approach ever
Unnamed (1912)
Passed just 4.1 miles from Nags Head on June 15, 1912.
When hurricanes hit Nags Head
Distribution across the calendar year, based on every storm in the 150-mile radius since 1851:
Peak months are August through October, when the Atlantic season is most active. June, July, and November are secondary risk months.
Prep your supplies before the storm is named
Our alerts can notify you of a storm long before it makes the news, giving you more time to get what you need — instead of joining the panic-buying public.
Sign Up FreeRecent notable storms (last 20 years)
Hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 200 miles in the last 20 years — these are the ones Nags Head residents likely remember:
| Storm | Year | Peak | Closest | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dexter | 2025 | Cat 1 | 148 mi | Aug 02, 2025 |
| Idalia | 2023 | Cat 4 | 133 mi | Aug 31, 2023 |
| Elsa | 2021 | Cat 1 | 143 mi | Jul 09, 2021 |
| Eta | 2020 | Cat 4 | 94 mi | Nov 13, 2020 |
| Isaias | 2020 | Cat 1 | 145 mi | Aug 04, 2020 |
| Dorian | 2019 | Cat 5 | 10 mi | Sep 06, 2019 |
| Florence | 2018 | Cat 4 | 107 mi | Sep 14, 2018 |
| Michael | 2018 | Cat 5 | 139 mi | Oct 12, 2018 |
| Chris | 2018 | Cat 2 | 156 mi | Jul 08, 2018 |
| Maria | 2017 | Cat 5 | 154 mi | Sep 27, 2017 |
| Hermine | 2016 | Cat 1 | 32 mi | Sep 03, 2016 |
| Matthew | 2016 | Cat 5 | 51 mi | Oct 09, 2016 |
| Arthur | 2014 | Cat 2 | 25 mi | Jul 04, 2014 |
| Bertha | 2014 | Cat 1 | 181 mi | Aug 05, 2014 |
| Irene | 2011 | Cat 3 | 43 mi | Aug 27, 2011 |
| Earl | 2010 | Cat 4 | 97 mi | Sep 03, 2010 |
| Hanna | 2008 | Cat 1 | 144 mi | Sep 06, 2008 |
| Andrea | 2007 | Cat 1 | 89 mi | May 06, 2007 |
| Ernesto | 2006 | Cat 1 | 118 mi | Sep 01, 2006 |
Preparedness
- Know your zone. Nags Head is in Dare County — look up your evacuation zone here.
- Get alerts early. Sign up below — we'll notify you when storms first form in the basin, not just when they're at your doorstep.
- Have 3+ days of supplies. Water (1 gal/person/day), non-perishable food, medications, flashlights, batteries, cash.
- Have an evacuation plan. Know where you'll go, how you'll get there, what you'll bring.
- Follow official orders. If your zone is told to evacuate, leave. Don't wait.