Northampton County, NC Environment & Hazard Risk
Relatively Low natural hazard risk, led by drought. 278 storm events since 1996.
- Expected yearly loss
- $8.34M
- Very Low nationally
- Storm events since 1996
- 278
- Most often thunderstorm wind
- Flood insurance policies
- 27
- 0.3% of homes
- Hurricanes nearby
- 6
- 23 tropical storms or stronger since 1874
Natural hazard risk
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Overall risk
Relatively Low
Score 44.2 of 100
Social vulnerability
Very High
Score 97.2 of 100
Community resilience
Relatively Low
Score 22.4 of 100
Community resilience runs the other way: a higher rating means a community can recover faster.
Building value exposed: $4.2B · Agriculture value exposed: $147M · Risk-adjusted yearly loss: $14.61M
Risk by hazard
- DroughtRelatively Moderate$881K/yr expected annual loss, about 7.2 events a year
- HurricaneRelatively Moderate$2.09M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 5 years
- Winter weatherRelatively Moderate$95.67K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.3 events a year
- TornadoRelatively Low$871K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years
- EarthquakeVery Low$159K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 935 years
- Heat waveRelatively Low$212K/yr expected annual loss, about 6.3 events a year
- HailRelatively Low$130K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.6 events a year
- Ice stormRelatively Low$31.86K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
- Strong windRelatively Low$188K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
- Cold waveRelatively Low$243K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
- LightningRelatively Low$62.54K/yr expected annual loss, about 47 events a year
- WildfireVery Low$6,291/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4,396 years
- LandslideVery Low$102/yr expected annual loss, about once every 11 years
- Coastal floodingVery Low$42/yr expected annual loss, about once every 100 years
Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.
Flood risk and insurance
National Flood Insurance Program and FEMA flood maps
Check the flood zone for an address
- Homes with flood insurance
- 27 of 10,957 (0.3%)
- Homes in high-risk flood zones
- 77
- Insured in high-risk zones
- 6 (8%)
- Flood claims since 1978
- 34
- Claims paid since 1978
- $283K
Flood claims paid per year
- Hurricane Irene$47.91K · 5 claims
- Hurricane Floyd$43.77K · 8 claims
- Hurricane Matthew$39.02K · 4 claims
- Hurricane Fran$36K · 2 claims
- Hurricane Isabel$30.06K · 4 claims
- Hurricane Bertha$23.56K · 1 claim
Storm history
Since 1996: 278 events, 0 deaths, $37.35M in damage
- Thunderstorm Wind104
- Hail44
- Winter Storm29
- Heavy Rain27
- Flash Flood17
- Winter Weather17
- Tornado7
- Flood6
- Excessive Heat4
- Tropical Storm4
Events per year
17 tornadoes on record (EF0 3, EF1 1, F0 7, F1 2, F2 3, F4 1).
Most damaging storms
Since 1996, ranked by deaths, injuries and damage
- Flash Flood09/16/1999
Countywide, Northampton County
$21.5M damage
What happened
Very heavy rain from Hurricane Floyd, falling on soils saturated by heavy rain of the previous 3 weeks, produced widespread flooding and flash flooding across northeast North Carolina, from the Roanoke River eastward. Rainfall amounts ranged from near 6 inches in southeast Gates county, to as much as 18 inches in southwest Bertie county. Numerous roads were washed out due to flooding, and a number of high water rescues had to be conducted. Fortunately, only one person perished due to the flash flooding. Also, there were enormous structural/housing and agricultural/crop losses due to the flooding.
- Tropical Storm08/27/2011
Northampton
$12.2M damage
What happened
Tropical storm force winds knocked down several trees and power lines, with heavy rains also causing significant crop damage. Storm total rainfall generally ranged from five to thirteen inches.
- Hurricane (Typhoon)09/18/2003
Northampton
$1.6M damage
What happened
Hurricane Isabel was a Category 1 hurricane as it crossed the Wakefield WFO county warning area. Sustained tropical storm force winds with gusts to hurricane force occurred over the piedmont of northeast North Carolina. Isabel made landfall near Ocracoke Inlet in North Carolina, tracked northwest into central Virginia just west of Richmond, then continued northward into western Pennsylvania. The highest sustained wind speed recorded was 37 mph at Roanoke Rapids (RZZ). The highest gust recorded was 63 mph at Roanoke Rapids (RZZ). Approximately several thousand persons were evacuated and housed in numerous shelters across the piedmont of northeast North Carolina. The unusually large wind field uprooted many thousands of trees, downed many power lines, damaged hundreds of houses, and snapped thousands of telephone poles and cross arms. Hundreds of roads, including major highways, were blocked by fallen trees. Local power companies reported many thousands of customers were without power. The lowest sea level pressure recorded was 984 mb at Duck (DUCN7) and Duck (Army Coe Field Research Facility). Isabel will be remembered for the greatest wind and storm surge in the region since...
- Ice Storm12/23/1998
Northampton
$500K damage
What happened
A major ice storm affected portions of northeast North Carolina from Wednesday, December 23rd into Friday, December 25th. A prolonged period of freezing rain and sleet resulted in ice accumulations of one quarter inch /0.25/ to one half inch / 0.50/ in some locations. Northampton County was affected the most by this storm. The ice accumulations on trees and power lines caused power outages across portions of the region. Some accidents occurred due to slippery road conditions, especially bridges and overpasses.
- Flood10/08/2016
Severn, Northampton County
$500K damage
What happened
Heavy rain caused an extended period of significant flooding across much of the county. Numerous roads were impassable or closed for several days, and many homes and businesses were impacted.
- Thunderstorm Wind07/03/1996
Conway, Northampton County
$250K damage
What happened
Estimated straight line winds of 75-90 mph swept through the town of Conway inflicting significant tree and structural damage. Approximately 15-20 tree limbs of 10-15" in diameter were blown down with several dozen more limbs of 4-8" in diameter downed. Several trees were snapped off 15-20' AGL. The most significant damage occurred between 0.5 mile south of Conway to 2 miles east-southeast of Conway. A home about 0.5 mile south of Conway sustained significant awning damage with the back door blown in. A tree was snapped off 15' AGL. Another 30' pine tree was uprooted. Eight tree limbs of 8-12" diameter were scattered about the yard with one limb lodged in telephone lines 30 feet away. A peanut warehouse, the Conway Bonded Warehouse (approximately 200'x 120') located 2 miles east-southeast of Conway was completely flattened carrying with it a portion of the adjacent grain elevator and utility pole.
Latest storm reports
Newest first
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/10/2026
Vultare, Northampton County
$3,000 damage
- Excessive Heat07/02/2026
Northampton
- Heavy Snow02/01/2026
Northampton
- Excessive Heat07/27/2025
Northampton
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/19/2025
Gaston, Northampton County
$1,000 damage
- Flash Flood07/15/2025
Gaston, Northampton County
- Flash Flood07/15/2025
Gaston, Northampton County
- Excessive Heat06/23/2025
Northampton
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Storms whose track crossed Northampton County, with the wind when it passed
- Tropical Storm Ophelia (2023)09/21/2023 · Landfall: NC · 981 mbTropical storm46 mph nearby
- Hurricane Elsa (2021)07/01/2021 · Landfall: FL, NY, RI · 991 mbTropical storm52 mph nearby
- Hurricane Isaias (2020)07/28/2020 · Landfall: NC · 986 mbTropical storm69 mph nearby
- Tropical Storm Nestor (2019)10/17/2019 · 996 mbTropical storm46 mph nearby
- Hurricane Michael (2018)10/07/2018 · Landfall: FL · 919 mbTropical storm69 mph nearby
- Tropical Storm Andrea (2013)06/06/2013 · Landfall: FL · 992 mbTropical storm46 mph nearby
- Hurricane Hanna (2008)08/28/2008 · Landfall: SC · 977 mbTropical storm52 mph nearby
- Hurricane Ernesto (2006)08/25/2006 · Landfall: FL, NC · 985 mbTropical storm46 mph nearby
- Hurricane Gaston (2004)08/27/2004 · Landfall: SC · 985 mbTropical storm40 mph nearby
- Hurricane Isabel (2003)09/06/2003 · Landfall: NC · 915 mbCategory 298 mph nearby
Drinking water
14 community water systems serve about 17,976 people. Violations since 2021.
6 systems had health-based violations, such as a contaminant over the legal limit or a missed treatment step. 4 systems had a violation of any kind still open at last report.
- Northampton--MilwaukeeServes 5,715 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+65 monitoring or reporting
- Northampton--Lake GastonServes 3,984 · Purchased surface water · Local government1 health violation+8 monitoring or reporting
- Northampton--ProgressiveServes 2,228 · Purchased surface water · Local government1 health violation+10 monitoring or reporting
- Northampton--GastonServes 1,123 · Purchased surface water · Local government1 health violation+3 monitoring or reporting
- Rich Square, Town ofServes 1,067 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
- Conway, Town ofServes 887 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
- Seaboard, Town ofServes 881 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
- Woodland, Town ofServes 747 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
Largest systems by population served. Monitoring and reporting violations mean required tests or notices were late or missing, not that the water was unsafe.
Climate
1991-2020 normals at Jackson, 4.1 mi from the county center
Summer highs peak around 89°F in Jul and winter lows bottom out near 29°F in Jan. About 50.9 inches of rain falls in a typical year, with 5.0 inches of snow.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°F | 29°F | 3.74 in | 2.8 in |
| Feb | 54°F | 30°F | 2.89 in | 0.8 in |
| Mar | 61°F | 36°F | 4.39 in | 0.2 in |
| Apr | 71°F | 45°F | 3.64 in | - |
| May | 78°F | 55°F | 4.02 in | - |
| Jun | 86°F | 64°F | 4.74 in | - |
| Jul | 89°F | 68°F | 5.99 in | - |
| Aug | 87°F | 67°F | 5.16 in | - |
| Sep | 82°F | 61°F | 5.23 in | - |
| Oct | 72°F | 48°F | 3.82 in | - |
| Nov | 61°F | 38°F | 3.56 in | 0.1 in |
| Dec | 53°F | 32°F | 3.71 in | 1.1 in |
| Year | 59°F average | 50.9 in | 5.0 in | |
Pollution sites
0 Superfund sites and 2 toxic release facilities in Northampton County
Superfund sites
None in this county.
Toxic release facilities
- Georgia-Pacific Chemicals LLC110,942 lbs released, Conway
- Resinall Corp6,753 lbs released, Severn
Total: 117,695 lbs in 2024, 115,714 lbs to air.
Superfund sitesToxic release facilitiesEPA inspections and enforcementAir toxics cancer risk11 historic places
Frequently asked questions
- How risky is Northampton County for natural disasters?
- FEMA rates Northampton County relatively low for overall natural hazard risk, with expected losses of $8.34M a year. The highest-rated hazards are drought (relatively moderate), hurricane (relatively moderate), winter weather (relatively moderate).
- What storms are most common in Northampton County?
- Since 1996, NOAA recorded 278 storm events affecting Northampton County, most often thunderstorm wind (104), hail (44), winter storm (29).
- How many tornadoes have hit Northampton County?
- 17 tornadoes have been recorded in Northampton County since 1950, including 1 rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
- How many homes in Northampton County have flood insurance?
- 27 residential flood insurance policies are in force in Northampton County, covering about 0.3% of homes. The program has paid $283K on 34 claims here since 1978.
- What is the weather like in Northampton County?
- At Jackson, average highs reach 89°F in Jul and lows fall to 29°F in Jan, with 50.9 inches of rain a year (1991-2020 normals).
Source: FEMA (National Risk Index, NFIP), NOAA (Storm Events, HURDAT2, Climate Normals), EPA · Last updated 08/01/2026 · Storm counts include events in forecast zones that touch the county. This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.