Chapel Hill, NC (ZIP 27516) has experienced 79 recorded natural disaster events based on federal and state agency records. These include 39 hailstorms, 30 floods, and 6 tornadoes. Total documented property damage amounts to $114M. These events have resulted in 1 recorded death and 1 injury.
Hailstorms represent the most common natural hazard in this area, accounting for 49% of all recorded events (39 total). Hail-related events have caused a combined $3K in documented property damage. The most recent recorded hailstorm occurred on Apr 22, 2025.
There have been 30 recorded floods in this area, representing 38% of all disaster events. Of these, 10 (33%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for flood-related events here is 5/5 (extreme). Flood-related events have caused a combined $82.6M in documented property damage. 1 fatality has been attributed to floods in this area. The most recent recorded flood occurred on Jul 15, 2025.
Chapel Hill has experienced 6 tornadoes on record. Tornado-related events have caused a combined $27.6M in documented property damage. The most recent recorded tornado occurred on May 10, 2021.
Chapel Hill has experienced 3 blizzards on record. Of these, 3 (100%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for winter storm events here is 5/5 (extreme). Winter storm events have caused a combined $3.7M in documented property damage. The most recent recorded blizzard occurred on Feb 25, 2015.
Chapel Hill has experienced 1 severe wind event on record. The most recent recorded severe wind event occurred on Apr 26, 1986.
The most significant disaster event on record for Chapel Hill was Flood on Sep 17, 2018, which caused $31.4M in property damage. Another major event was Flash Flood (Jul 6, 2025), causing $30M in damages. EF2 Tornado on May 5, 1989 also caused significant damage ($25M).
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Based on federal and state records, ZIP code 27516 has experienced 79 natural disaster events. The hazard types affecting this area include hailstorms (39 events), floods (30 events), tornadoes (6 events), blizzards (3 events), and severe wind event (1 event). The primary hazard is hailstorms, which account for 49% of all recorded events.
Hailstorms are the most frequently recorded hazard in Chapel Hill, NC, with 39 events documented. These events have caused a combined $3K in property damage.
Yes, Chapel Hill (ZIP 27516) has 30 recorded flood events. These floods have caused $82.6M in total property damage. The most recent flood on record occurred on Jul 15, 2025.
Chapel Hill has 6 recorded tornado events in the historical record. The strongest tornado recorded reached severity level 3/5 on the normalized scale. Total property damage from tornadoes in this area is $27.6M. The most recent tornado was recorded on May 10, 2021.
The most damaging natural disaster on record for ZIP code 27516 was Flood, which occurred on Sep 17, 2018. This event caused $31.4M in documented property damage. It was rated at severity level 5/5.
Natural disasters have caused a documented total of $114M in property damage in the Chapel Hill, NC area (ZIP 27516). This figure is based on historical records from FEMA, NOAA Storm Events Database, and USGS, and covers events from the 1950s through the present. Actual damages may be higher, as not all events have complete damage assessments.
Data sourced from FEMA (disaster declarations, NFIP flood claims), NOAA Storm Events Database, USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, and NIFC wildfire records. Historical coverage varies by source, with most records beginning in the 1950s–1970s. Full methodology →