PowerOutageHistory
D

Johnston County Power Outage History

20142025 · North Carolina

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

Total events
2,128
Avg duration
2.8 hrs
Longest outage
141 hrs
National percentile
34th

Outages by year

Outages by month (seasonality)

Worst outage events on record

DateDurationCustomers affectedCause
Oct 8, 2016141 hrs39,337 (34%)Hurricane Matthew
Jan 22, 201671 hrs30,913 (27%)Winter Storm
Sep 15, 201830 hrs28,356 (25%)Hurricane Florence
Sep 13, 201824 hrs20,248 (18%)Hurricane Florence
Dec 19, 20190 hrs18,184 (16%)Unnamed event

Over the 12 years from 2014 to 2025, Johnston County recorded 2,128 distinct power outage events, averaging 2.8 hours per event.

The single worst outage on record in Johnston County started October 8, 2016 (Hurricane Matthew), lasting 141 hours and leaving up to 39,337 customers without power (34% of the county) at its peak.

July has historically been the worst month for outages in Johnston County, with 286 events recorded during that month across the dataset.

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

Sized for Johnston 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 Johnston County.

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

FAQ

How often does power go out in Johnston County?

Between 2014 and 2025, Johnston County recorded 2,128 outage events, averaging 2.8 hours each.

What is Johnston County's reliability grade?

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

What was the worst power outage in Johnston County?

The worst outage on record started October 8, 2016 (Hurricane Matthew), lasting 141 hours and affecting up to 39,337 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.