<P> On October 15, 1954, Hurricane Hazel struck North Carolina, at that time it was a category 4 hurricane within the Saffir - Simpson Hurricane Scale . Hazel caused significant damage due to its strong winds . A weather station at Oak Island reported maximum sustained winds of 140 miles per hour (230 km / h), while in Raleigh winds of 90 miles per hour (140 km / h) were measured . The hurricane caused 19 deaths and significant destruction . One person at Long Beach claimed that "of the 357 buildings that existed in the town, 352 were totally destroyed and the other five damaged". Hazel was described as "the most destructive storm in the history of North Carolina" in a 1989 report . </P> <P> In 1996, Hurricane Fran made landfall in North Carolina . As a category 3 hurricane, Fran caused a great deal of damage, mainly through winds . Fran's maximum sustained wind speeds were 115 miles per hour (185 km / h), while North Carolina's coast saw surges of 8 feet (2.4 m) to 12 feet (3.7 m) above sea level . The amount of damage caused by Fran ranged from $1.275 to $2 billion in North Carolina . </P> <P> Heavy rains accompany tropical cyclones and their remnants which move northeast from the Gulf of Mexico coastline, as well as inland from the western subtropical Atlantic ocean . Over the past 30 years, the wettest tropical cyclone to strike the coastal plain was Hurricane Floyd of September 1999, which dropped over 24 inches (610 mm) of rainfall north of Southport . Unlike Hazel and Fran, the main force of destruction was from precipitation . Before Hurricane Floyd reached North Carolina, the state had already received large amounts of rain from Hurricane Dennis less than two weeks before Floyd . This saturated much of the Eastern North Carolina soil and allowed heavy rains from Hurricane Floyd to turn into floods . Over 35 people died from Floyd . In the mountains, Hurricane Frances of September 2004 was nearly as wet, bringing over 23 inches (580 mm) of rainfall to Mount Mitchell . </P> <P> In most years, the greatest weather - related economic loss incurred in North Carolina is due to severe weather spawned by summer thunderstorms . These storms affect limited areas, with their hail and wind accounting for an average annual loss of over US $5 million . </P>

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