PowerOutageHistory
D

Onslow County Power Outage History

20142025 · North Carolina

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

Total events
710
Avg duration
2.2 hrs
Longest outage
178 hrs
National percentile
40th

Outages by year

Outages by month (seasonality)

Worst outage events on record

DateDurationCustomers affectedCause
Sep 15, 2018178 hrs71,864 (39%)Hurricane Florence
Sep 13, 201826 hrs61,372 (33%)Unnamed event
Aug 4, 202041 hrs50,789 (27%)Hurricane Isaias
Oct 8, 201664 hrs30,149 (16%)Hurricane Matthew
Jan 16, 20254 hrs22,805 (12%)Unnamed event

Over the 12 years from 2014 to 2025, Onslow County recorded 710 distinct power outage events, averaging 2.2 hours per event.

The single worst outage on record in Onslow County started September 15, 2018 (Hurricane Florence), lasting 178 hours and leaving up to 71,864 customers without power (39% of the county) at its peak.

July has historically been the worst month for outages in Onslow County, with 84 events recorded during that month across the dataset.

Based on this history, Onslow County earns a Reliability Grade of D, placing it in the 40th percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).

Sized for Onslow 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 Onslow County.

CountyGradeNational percentile
Lenoir CountyD40th
Person CountyD39th
Carteret CountyC40th
Caldwell CountyD39th
Durham CountyD38th

FAQ

How often does power go out in Onslow County?

Between 2014 and 2025, Onslow County recorded 710 outage events, averaging 2.2 hours each.

What is Onslow County's reliability grade?

Onslow County has a Reliability Grade of D, in the 40th national percentile.

What was the worst power outage in Onslow County?

The worst outage on record started September 15, 2018 (Hurricane Florence), lasting 178 hours and affecting up to 71,864 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.