PowerOutageHistory
D

Dare County Power Outage History

20152025 · North Carolina

Worse than average — more frequent or longer outages than most counties. How grades are calculated

Total events
516
Avg duration
2.4 hrs
Longest outage
106 hrs
National percentile
34th

Outages by year

Outages by month (seasonality)

Worst outage events on record

DateDurationCustomers affectedCause
Sep 6, 201965 hrs31,918 (80%)Hurricane Dorian
Oct 9, 2016106 hrs20,894 (53%)Hurricane Matthew
Sep 3, 201628 hrs15,648 (39%)Hurricane Hermine
Nov 18, 20194 hrs9,511 (24%)Unnamed event
Aug 19, 20191 hrs9,273 (23%)Unnamed event

Over the 11 years from 2015 to 2025, Dare County recorded 516 distinct power outage events, averaging 2.4 hours per event.

The single worst outage on record in Dare County started September 6, 2019 (Hurricane Dorian), lasting 65 hours and leaving up to 31,918 customers without power (80% of the county) at its peak.

July has historically been the worst month for outages in Dare County, with 56 events recorded during that month across the dataset.

Based on this history, Dare County earns a Reliability Grade of D, placing it in the 34th percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).

Sized for Dare County's outage profile

See more picks in our Best Dual-Fuel Portable Generators for Power Outages roundup.

Outage-prep kit

See our outage-prep guides or the North Carolina storm prep checklist.

Similar counties in North Carolina

Counties with the closest reliability grade and national percentile to Dare County.

CountyGradeNational percentile
Alexander CountyD34th
Beaufort CountyD34th
Johnston CountyD34th
Montgomery CountyD33rd
Yadkin CountyD36th

FAQ

How often does power go out in Dare County?

Between 2015 and 2025, Dare County recorded 516 outage events, averaging 2.4 hours each.

What is Dare County's reliability grade?

Dare County has a Reliability Grade of D, in the 34th national percentile.

What was the worst power outage in Dare County?

The worst outage on record started September 6, 2019 (Hurricane Dorian), lasting 65 hours and affecting up to 31,918 customers.

Data: ORNL EAGLE-I Recorded Electricity Outages (2014–2025), CC BY 4.0. Storm names: NOAA Storm Events Database. Last data refresh: 2025. See methodology.