<P> The list of North Carolina hurricanes includes 413 known tropical or subtropical cyclones that have affected the U.S. state of North Carolina . Due to its location, many hurricanes have hit the state directly, and numerous hurricanes have passed near or through North Carolina in its history; the state is ranked fourth, after Florida, Texas, and Louisiana, in the number of cyclones that produced hurricane - force winds in a U.S. state . Hurricanes in North Carolina history are responsible for over $11 billion in damage (2008 USD) and almost 1,000 total fatalities . </P> <P> As to statistical hurricane research between 1883 and 1996 by the North Carolina State Climatology Office, a tropical cyclone makes landfall along the coastline about once every four years . An estimated 17.5 percent of all North Atlantic tropical cyclones have affected the state . Additionally, the remnants of a few Pacific tropical cyclones struck the state . 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 . 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 . As the Outer Banks are a narrow strip of low - lying land, hurricanes occasionally leave portions of the land partially or fully submerged . Additionally, the remnants of inland tropical cyclones have produced flooding and landslides in the state's western region . </P> <P> 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 . The earliest storm to affect the state was Subtropical Storm Andrea on May 7, 2007, and the latest was a tropical storm that moved across the Outer Banks on December 2, 1925 . 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 . </P> <P> The list of North Carolina hurricanes before 1900 encompasses 139 tropical cyclones that affected the U.S. state of North Carolina . Collectively, cyclones in North Carolina during the time period resulted in over 775 direct fatalities during the period . 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 . 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 . </P>

What is the highest category hurricane to hit north carolina