<P> The strongest hurricane to hit the state during the time period was Hurricane Fran in 1996, which struck near Wilmington as a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir--Simpson Hurricane Scale; Hurricane Emily in 1993 brushed the Outer Banks also as a Category 3 hurricane . The deadliest hurricane during the period was Hurricane Floyd in 1999, which caused 35 fatalities and record--breaking flooding in the eastern portion of the state . Hurricane Irene hit the Outer Banks on August 27th 2011 as a Category 1, making it the first of its kind to make landfall since Hurricane Ike in 2008 . </P> <P> The following major hurricanes either made landfall on the state or brought winds of Category 3 status to the state . Storms are listed since 1851, which is the official start of the Atlantic hurricane database . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Storm </Th> <Th> Saffir--Simpson </Th> <Th> Date of landfall </Th> <Th> Year </Th> <Th> Landfall intensity (in knots) </Th> <Th> Landfall location </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Unnamed </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> August 19 </Td> <Td> 1879 </Td> <Td> 100 </Td> <Td> Cape Lookout </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> San Ciriaco </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> August 18 </Td> <Td> 1899 </Td> <Td> 105 </Td> <Td> Hatteras </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Unnamed </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> September 16 </Td> <Td> 1933 </Td> <Td> 100 </Td> <Td> Ocracoke </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Great Atlantic Hurricane </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> September 14 </Td> <Td> 1944 </Td> <Td> 100 </Td> <Td> Cape Hatteras </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hurricane Hazel </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> October 15 </Td> <Td> 1954 </Td> <Td> 115 </Td> <Td> Near South Carolina / North Carolina state line </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hurricane Connie </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> August 12 </Td> <Td> 1955 </Td> <Td> 100 </Td> <Td> Portsmouth </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hurricane Ione </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> September 19 </Td> <Td> 1955 </Td> <Td> 100 </Td> <Td> Morehead City </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hurricane Helene </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> September 27 </Td> <Td> 1958 </Td> <Td> 100 </Td> <Td> Offshore Outer Banks </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hurricane Donna </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> September 12 </Td> <Td> 1960 </Td> <Td> 100 </Td> <Td> Emerald Isle </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hurricane Diana </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> September 13 </Td> <Td> 1984 </Td> <Td> 100 </Td> <Td> Cape Fear </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hurricane Emily </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> August 31 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 100 </Td> <Td> Offshore Hatteras Island </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hurricane Fran </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> September 5 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 100 </Td> <Td> Cape Fear </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Storm </Th> <Th> Saffir--Simpson </Th> <Th> Date of landfall </Th> <Th> Year </Th> <Th> Landfall intensity (in knots) </Th> <Th> Landfall location </Th> </Tr>

When is the last time the carolinas had a hurricane