Modern meteorologists believe early storms were tropical cyclones, though due to the time period confirmation is impossible. Historical data prior to 1700 is sparse due to lack of significant European settlements along the coastline the few storms listed are largely records from Roanoke Colony and later the Province of Carolina. From the beginning of the official Atlantic hurricane record in 1851 to 1899, there were 12 years without a known tropical cyclone affecting the state. Seven cyclones affected the state in the 1893 season, which was the year with the most tropical cyclones devastating the state during the time period. Collectively, cyclones in North Carolina during the time period resulted in over 775 direct fatalities during the period. The list of North Carolina hurricanes before 1900 encompasses 139 tropical cyclones that affected the U.S. Main article: List of North Carolina hurricanes (pre-1900) The strongest storm to strike the state was Hurricane Hazel on October 15, 1954, which made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale. Florence made landfall at Wrightsville Beach on September 13, 2018.

The most recent storm to affect the state was Hurricane Florence. Tropical cyclones have affected North Carolina in every month between May and December about 35 percent of the storms struck the state in September, and 80 percent affected the state between August and October, which coincides with the peak of the hurricane season. Additionally, the remnants of inland tropical cyclones have produced flooding and landslides in the state's western region. As the Outer Banks are a narrow strip of low-lying land, hurricanes occasionally leave portions of the land partially or fully submerged. After Southern Florida, Cape Hatteras has the lowest return period, or the frequency at which a certain intensity or category of hurricane can be expected within 86 mi (139 km) of a given location, in the country. Cape Hatteras is most affected by storms within the state, though Cape Lookout and Cape Fear are also regularly affected the increased activity in three areas is because it protrudes from elsewhere along the Atlantic coastline. Additionally, the remnants of a few Pacific tropical cyclones struck the state. An estimated 17.5 percent of all North Atlantic tropical cyclones have affected the state. As to statistical hurricane research between 18 by the North Carolina State Climatology Office, a tropical cyclone makes landfall along the coastline about once every four years.

Outbank hurricanes