Hurricane Risk for Nags Head, NC
INVEST 93L is currently 364 mi from Nags Head.
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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.
Local note: As a low-lying Outer Banks barrier community with oceanfront exposure on both the Atlantic and the sound side, Nags Head's dominant hurricane hazard is storm surge — recent powerful storms such as Dorian (2019) and Idalia (2023) have produced major surge and beach erosion that define its risk.
By the numbers
Total storms
287
since 1851
Major (Cat 3+)
68
at closest approach
Hurricanes (Cat 1+)
172
all categories
County
Dare County
North Carolina
Most recent hurricane
Dexter (2025)
Passed within 148 miles of Nags Head on August 02, 2025. Peak intensity: Cat 1 (80 mph).
The full risk breakdown for Nags Head
See the strongest and closest hurricanes ever to pass nearby, the month-by-month climatology of when storms hit Nags Head, the notable storms of the last 20 years, and any active-storm threat — plus free storm alerts by email.
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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.