Hurricane Joaquin (2015)

Basin

North Atlantic

Dates

September 26, 2015 to October 15, 2015

Peak strength

Category 4, 135 kt (155 mph)

Lowest pressure

931 mb (27.49 inHg)

Landfall

Yes

Accumulated cyclone energy

29.2

Tropical-storm-force wind reached

290 nmi (537 km, 334 mi) from the center at its widest

Hurricane-force wind reached

55 nmi (102 km, 63 mi) from the center at its widest

Eyewall radius at its peak

15 nmi (28 km, 17 mi)

Overall size

430 nmi (796 km, 495 mi) to the outermost closed isobar

Peak gust in the best track

160 kt (184 mph)

Fastest the center moved

32 kt (37 mph)

Identifier

AL112015

The sources count different things and are not added together.

Landfall points the US agencies flagged in the best track. The nearest town is named from the site’s gazetteer, not from the report.

NOAA’s Storm Events database, the record National Weather Service offices compile months after a storm, as compiled March 2026.

Deaths

1 (1 direct, 0 indirect)

Injuries

0

Property damage

$72 million

Crop damage

none recorded

Events recorded

252 in 17 reports from 9 states and marine areas

State by state

What was recorded

107 flash flood, 55 coastal flood, 48 flood, 22 strong wind, 8 marine thunderstorm wind, 7 heavy rain, 3 high wind, 1 waterspout, 1 thunderstorm wind.

1 waterspout recorded in the United States.

The strongest winds National Weather Service offices recorded with this storm. An estimated figure is a forecaster’s judgment from the damage, not an instrument reading.

From the Storm Events narratives, unedited.

A tidal departure of 3 to 4 feet resulted in moderate flooding along the York River and Chesapeake Bay. Waves caused damage to some piers and docks, with a few buildings sustaining minor flood damage.

Mathews, Virginia · Coastal Flood · Oct 2, 06:30 UTC

A tidal departure of 2 to 3 feet resulted in moderate flooding along the Rappahannock River and Chesapeake Bay. Several roads were closed, and a number of homes and other buildings sustained flood related damage.

Lancaster, Virginia · Coastal Flood · Oct 2, 17:30 UTC

An earthen dam at Sunset Beach was overtopped. Another earthen dam on Heather Lake, near the state line, was overtopped as well. Flooding was characterized by officials on the ground as widespread as up to a foot of rain fell across the area during the afternoon and evening. Multiple homes were reportedly flooded up to knee deep in the Spring Mill Plantation and Carolina Shores communities in Calabash. Numerous families were evacuated from their homes and many were taken to area shelters. Twenty vehicles were stranded in flood waters. The occupants of these vehicles had to be rescued and brought to safety due to the rapidity of the water rise.

Brunswick, North Carolina · Flash Flood · Oct 2, 22:00 UTC

Law enforcement and media reported several roads closed due to flooding in North Charleston and Hanahan. Roads and intersections closed included Rivers Avenue between Reynolds Avenue and Success Street, Rivers Avenue at the intersection of Eagle Drive and the intersection of Otranto Road, Spruill Avenue at the intersection with Buist Avenue, Remount Road at the intersection with Blackwell Street and Dorchester Road at the intersection with Transfer Street. Water in excess of 3 feet depth was also entering at least one home in the 2000 block of Little Avenue with residents being escorted from their property by law enforcement. Macon Avenue at the intersection with Meeting Street was also closed due to a portion of the road collapsing.

Charleston, South Carolina · Flash Flood · Oct 3, 13:10 UTC

Persistent onshore flow led to significant coastal flooding for the waterfront areas of Morehead City and Beaufort, and areas adjacent to Pamlico Sound. Water levels rose 4.5 to 5.5 feet above normal at times adjacent to the Pamlico Sound flooding many roads and making them impassable. Waterfront roads were also flooded and closed at times in Beaufort and Morehead City. High water at times entered a few residences and businesses, however no significant damage was reported.

Carteret, North Carolina · Coastal Flood · Oct 3, 18:00 UTC

Law enforcement and social media indicated several roads and bridges closed due to flooding from St Stephen to Moncks Corner. Ongoing rescues were also being reported from homes along Whitesville Road with many surrounding roads closed due to flooding during the early morning hours of October 4th. Additional roads closed included Highway 17A near Wadboo Creek where water was overflowing the road and Highway 45 near St Stephen where the road was washed out. A bridge on Spring Grove Road was damaged due to flooding near the intersection of Potato Hill Lane. A bridge was also damaged on Gravel Hill Road due to flooding. Another bridge on Betsy Hole Road was flooded and possibly damaged. Water was also entering a home on East Church Street near Bonneau.

Berkeley, South Carolina · Flash Flood · Oct 4, 04:19 UTC

Public reported multiple trees down in the Carnesville area due to a combination of saturated soil and gusty winds. One tree fell on a home on Highway 59.

Franklin, Georgia · Heavy Rain · Oct 4, 11:15 UTC

• Tropical Storm AnaNorth Atlantic · 2015Tropical Storm50 kt · 998 mb
• Tropical Storm BillNorth Atlantic · 2015Tropical Storm50 kt · 997 mb
• Tropical Storm ClaudetteNorth Atlantic · 2015Tropical Storm45 kt · 1003 mb
• Hurricane DannyNorth Atlantic · 2015Cat 3110 kt · 960 mb
• Tropical Storm ErikaNorth Atlantic · 2015 · 25 deathsTropical Storm45 kt · 1001 mb
• Hurricane FredNorth Atlantic · 2015Cat 175 kt · 986 mb
• Tropical Storm GraceNorth Atlantic · 2015Tropical Storm50 kt · 1000 mb
• Tropical Storm HenriNorth Atlantic · 2015Tropical Storm45 kt · 1003 mb
• Unnamed tropical depressionNorth Atlantic · 2015Tropical Depression30 kt · 1006 mb
• Tropical Storm IdaNorth Atlantic · 2015Tropical Storm45 kt · 1001 mb
• Hurricane KateNorth Atlantic · 2015Cat 175 kt · 980 mb

A best track is the record a warning agency settles on after the storm, not what it said at the time: position, maximum sustained wind and central pressure every six hours, revised against every observation that came in later. Category is the Saffir-Simpson scale, which runs from Category 1 at 64 kt to Category 5 at 137 kt and reads wind only, so it says nothing about surge or rain. Accumulated cyclone energy adds up the square of the wind through the storm's life, so it counts strength and duration together.

Storm history from NOAA NCEI’s International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS), which merges the official best track of every warning agency. Live storms, cones, watches and warnings from the National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Archived radar from NOAA’s Level II archive.

• Tropical cyclone report, National Hurricane Center
• Every advisory and discussion NHC issued while it was live
• Best track as KMZ, National Hurricane Center
• Best track as a shapefile, National Hurricane Center
• Wikipedia article: Hurricane Joaquin