Tropical storms and hurricanes pose a dangerous threat to the United States each year, with some states under a higher risk of a landfalling tropical cyclone than others.

North Carolina, one of the states threatened by Hurricane Florence , is second only to Florida for the number of tropical storms and hurricanes that have tracked through, according to data compiled by FEMA strategic planner Michael Lowry and the National Hurricane Center.

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The map below shows the number of tropical storms and hurricanes that have struck each state in records dating to 1851 in the Atlantic Basin and 1949 in the Eastern Pacific Basin. The center of a tropical storm or hurricane had to track directly over a state's geographic boundaries in order to be included in the tally.

Thirty-four of the 50 states have been struck by a tropical storm or hurricane at least once in historical records, with the Southeast and Gulf Coast experiencing the highest frequency of tropical cyclone centers tracking over the states in those regions.

"In some instances, especially the islands, storms moving nearby but not over (a state) weren't counted, so impacts in smaller states are likely higher than what's shown," Lowry told weather.com.

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But one state clearly stands out on the map: Florida.

The Sunshine State has seen 229 tropical storms and hurricanes track directly over it since 1851.

"Florida gets hit by more hurricanes and tropical storms than any other state because it has not only the longest coastline of any state in the Lower 48, but it also sticks out into the tropics like a sore thumb," said weather.com meteorologist Jonathan Belles .

The Sunshine State also has the longest tropical and wet seasons relative to many other states due to its location. Florida can get hit by storms moving both northeastward from the Gulf of Mexico and westward from the Atlantic Ocean, Belles added.

While roughly half the number of Florida, North Carolina is second place among U.S. states.

Part of the reason for this is simple geography. Eastern North Carolina and the Outer Banks juts east, often intercepting tropical storms and hurricanes that would otherwise curl offshore other states.

Early in the hurricane season, the best chance for tropical development is typically in the Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean Sea. These storms tend to track toward the north or northeast, which places Florida at risk, along with much of the Gulf Coast and southeastern U.S.

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During the peak of hurricane season from August through October, tropical storms and hurricanes often form in the central or eastern Atlantic Ocean from disturbances moving off the northwestern coast of Africa, in addition to forming in the Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean Sea.

Depending on the upper-level steering winds, these could reach Florida, the Gulf Coast or East Coast.

You might be wondering about California and the Desert Southwest.

Those states can be struck by tropical storms or hurricanes that originate in the Eastern Pacific Basin and race north or northeastward through Mexico, then into the southwestern U.S.

The United States averages one to two hurricane landfalls each season , according to NOAA's Hurricane Research Division.

Brian Donegan is a meteorologist at weather.com. Follow him on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .