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Wind in Ashe County, North Carolina

231 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.

231 events · 2 deaths recorded · peak month January · county share of state 1.0%

Wind event locations in and around Ashe County. Dots: Wind event locations in the kept record. Boundaries: US Census Bureau.

NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.

Ashe County, North Carolina, has 231 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 33 different years.

January is the busiest month, with 33 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 163 events against 66 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.

The county holds 1% of the 22,958 wind events recorded in North Carolina; its 54.2 per 100 square miles compares with 47.2 statewide.

NCEI attributes 2 deaths in the county to damaging wind.

127 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 11 reached hurricane force (74 mph).

Some winter weather and high wind events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county; zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county are included and marked "Forecast zone" in the table.

Compared with North Carolina

Measure	Ashe County	North Carolina	US
Wind events since 1950	231	22,958	701,953
Per 100 square miles	54.2	47.2	19.9
Per 10,000 residents	86.5	21.8	21.1
Deaths recorded	2	87	2,166
Busiest month	January	July	June

By year

195019882026

Wind events recorded in Ashe County per year, 1950 to 2026 (2026 is partial).

Seasonality

Jan
33Feb
33Mar
20Apr
15May
11Jun
24Jul
23Aug
19Sep
5Oct
9Nov
11Dec
28

Wind events in Ashe County by month of occurrence, all years.

Magnitude distribution

under 58 mph76

58–73 mph116

74–95 mph10

96 mph and over1

NWS wind thresholds

under 58 mph: below severe threshold
58–73 mph: severe
74–95 mph: hurricane-force
96 mph and over: extreme

Wind speed converted from the knots NCEI records; estimated and measured gusts are combined. Events without a speed are not binned.

Recorded events

The 153 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 231. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.

Date	Event type	Magnitude	Property damage	Crop damage	Deaths	Injuries	Geography
29 Dec 2025	High Wind	64 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
19 Dec 2025	High Wind	69 mph	$15K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
15 Apr 2025	High Wind	58 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
6 Mar 2025	High Wind	63 mph	$100K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
16 Feb 2025	High Wind	69 mph	$15K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
29 Jan 2025	High Wind	71 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
28 Jan 2025	High Wind	62 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Jan 2025	High Wind	59 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
31 Dec 2024	High Wind	67 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
5 Dec 2024	High Wind	79 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
27 Sep 2024	High Wind	85 mph	$10M	—	—	—	Forecast zone
29 Aug 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$500	—	—	—	County
29 Aug 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$500	—	—	—	County
29 Aug 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$500	—	—	—	County
16 Aug 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$500	—	—	—	County
16 Aug 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$500	—	—	—	County
2 Aug 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$500	—	—	—	County
26 May 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	63 mph	$5K	—	—	—	County
26 May 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	63 mph	$5K	—	—	—	County
16 Apr 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$1K	—	—	—	County
12 Apr 2024	High Wind	62 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
10 Mar 2024	High Wind	69 mph	$20K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
13 Feb 2024	High Wind	58 mph	$1K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
10 Jan 2024	High Wind	64 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
15 Jul 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$500	—	—	—	County
15 Jul 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$500	—	—	—	County
1 May 2023	High Wind	68 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Apr 2023	High Wind	76 mph	$60K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
3 Mar 2023	High Wind	62 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
27 Feb 2023	High Wind	72 mph	$50K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
26 Jan 2023	High Wind	63 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
20 Jan 2023	High Wind	60 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
23 Dec 2022	High Wind	58 mph	$15K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
23 Jul 2022	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$1K	—	—	—	County
18 Jul 2022	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$500	—	—	—	County
14 Jun 2022	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$500	—	—	—	County
14 Jun 2022	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$500	—	—	—	County
6 May 2022	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	—	$1K	—	—	County
27 Mar 2022	High Wind	60 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
19 Feb 2022	High Wind	64 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
17 Jan 2022	High Wind	71 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
10 Jul 2021	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$1K	—	—	—	County
20 Jan 2021	High Wind	58 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
22 Dec 2020	High Wind	62 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
6 Aug 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	69 mph	$15K	—	—	—	County
6 Aug 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$2K	—	—	—	County
27 Feb 2020	High Wind	60 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
8 Jan 2020	High Wind	64 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Jan 2020	High Wind	62 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
4 Dec 2019	High Wind	64 mph	$1K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
27 Nov 2019	High Wind	71 mph	$5K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
31 Oct 2019	High Wind	58 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
31 Oct 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$2K	—	—	—	County
13 Aug 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$2K	—	—	—	County
31 Jul 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$1K	—	—	—	County
26 Apr 2019	High Wind	64 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
24 Feb 2019	High Wind	71 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
13 Feb 2019	High Wind	61 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
20 Jan 2019	High Wind	58 mph	$8K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
9 Jan 2019	High Wind	60 mph	$3K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
5 Jan 2019	High Wind	63 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
20 Oct 2018	High Wind	63 mph	$30K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
11 Oct 2018	Strong Wind	46 mph	$75K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Mar 2018	High Wind	60 mph	$30K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
13 Dec 2017	High Wind	72 mph	$20K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
12 Sep 2017	Strong Wind	35 mph	$5K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
6 Apr 2017	High Wind	63 mph	$8K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
10 Mar 2017	High Wind	60 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
13 Feb 2017	High Wind	58 mph	$5K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
9 Feb 2017	High Wind	58 mph	$5K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
19 Nov 2016	High Wind	60 mph	$1K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
8 Jul 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	69 mph	$150K	—	—	—	County
16 Jun 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$500	—	—	—	County
16 Jun 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$500	—	—	—	County
9 Apr 2016	High Wind	64 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
2 Apr 2016	High Wind	75 mph	$5K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
25 Feb 2016	High Wind	69 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
13 Feb 2016	High Wind	68 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
10 Feb 2016	High Wind	59 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
3 Oct 2015	Strong Wind	35 mph	$1K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
13 Jul 2015	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$500	—	—	—	County
13 Jul 2015	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$500	—	—	—	County
26 Jun 2015	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$1K	—	—	—	County
14 Feb 2015	High Wind	62 mph	$5K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
2 Feb 2015	High Wind	58 mph	$1K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
30 Jan 2015	High Wind	58 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
14 Oct 2014	High Wind	63 mph	$5K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
22 May 2014	High Wind	59 mph	$3K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
30 Mar 2014	High Wind	58 mph	$600	—	—	—	Forecast zone
12 Mar 2014	High Wind	60 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
25 Jan 2014	High Wind	60 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
3 Jan 2014	High Wind	60 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
4 Jul 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$500	—	—	—	County
13 Jun 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$1K	—	—	—	County
7 Feb 2013	High Wind	58 mph	$1K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
3 Feb 2013	High Wind	61 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Feb 2013	High Wind	63 mph	$3K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
29 Jan 2013	High Wind	60 mph	$5K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
24 Jan 2013	High Wind	66 mph	$3K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
27 Dec 2012	High Wind	78 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
21 Dec 2012	High Wind	77 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
29 Oct 2012	High Wind	70 mph	$300K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
25 Jul 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$300	—	—	—	County
25 Jul 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$5K	—	—	—	County
24 Jul 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$5K	—	—	—	County
1 Jul 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$100	—	—	—	County
1 Jul 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$300	—	—	—	County
1 Jul 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$300	—	—	—	County
25 Feb 2012	High Wind	58 mph	$2K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
24 Feb 2012	High Wind	75 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
11 Feb 2012	High Wind	63 mph	$50K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
12 Jan 2012	High Wind	58 mph	$2K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
7 Dec 2011	High Wind	58 mph	$3K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
28 Nov 2011	Strong Wind	35 mph	$1K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
23 Nov 2011	High Wind	64 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
2 Sep 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$500	—	—	—	County
8 Aug 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$300	—	—	—	County
8 Aug 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$300	—	—	—	County
18 Jun 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$4K	—	—	—	County
18 Jun 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$900	—	—	—	County
18 Jun 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$5K	—	—	—	County
11 Jun 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	63 mph	$20K	—	—	—	County
10 Jun 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$2K	—	—	—	County
27 Nov 2009	High Wind	58 mph	$2K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
5 Aug 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	63 mph	$1K	—	—	—	County
2 Aug 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	63 mph	$2K	—	—	—	County
22 Jul 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$1K	—	—	—	County
22 Jun 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$1K	—	—	—	County
14 Jun 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$1K	—	—	—	County
11 May 2008	High Wind	60 mph	$5K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
10 Feb 2008	High Wind	81 mph	$10K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
16 Dec 2007	High Wind	58 mph	$25K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
3 Dec 2007	High Wind	60 mph	$5K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
28 Jun 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	60 mph	$3K	—	—	—	County
22 Feb 2007	High Wind	63 mph	$12K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
18 Feb 2007	High Wind	60 mph	$3K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
14 Feb 2007	High Wind	62 mph	$1K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Dec 2006	High Wind	60 mph	$2K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
19 Jul 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$1K	—	—	—	County
24 Jan 2004	Strong Wind	47 mph	$5K	—	1	1	Forecast zone
10 Apr 2003	Strong Wind	100 mph	$1K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
25 Dec 2002	High Wind	—	—	—	1	—	Forecast zone
6 Nov 2002	High Wind	—	$10K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
2 Jul 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	—	$10K	—	—	—	County
10 Mar 2002	High Wind	—	$5K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
13 Jan 2000	High Wind	62 mph	$4K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
11 Jan 2000	High Wind	—	$5K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
30 Jul 1999	Thunderstorm Wind	—	$5K	—	—	—	County
16 Apr 1999	High Wind	—	$2K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
3 Mar 1999	High Wind	—	$25K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
3 Jun 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	—	$15K	—	—	—	County
24 Feb 1998	High Wind	—	$10K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
16 Jul 1995	Thunderstorm Wind	0 mph	$3K	—	—	—	County

Questions and answers

How many wind events has Ashe County had?

231 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of damaging wind became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.

When was the last recorded wind event in Ashe County?

29 Dec 2025 (High Wind, 64 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.

What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Ashe County?

The high wind of 27 Sep 2024, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $10M.

How does Ashe County compare with North Carolina for wind?

54.2 events per 100 square miles against 47.2 statewide; the county holds 231 of the state's 22,958 recorded events.

Provenance

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Wind hub and the county page.