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Wind in Buncombe County, North Carolina
270 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.
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.
Buncombe County, North Carolina, has 270 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 45 different years.
July is the busiest month, with 66 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 131 events against 132 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.2% of the 22,958 wind events recorded in North Carolina; its 41.1 per 100 square miles compares with 47.2 statewide.
NCEI attributes 3 deaths in the county to damaging wind.
66 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 8 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 | Buncombe County | North Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 270 | 22,958 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 41.1 | 47.2 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 9.9 | 21.8 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 3 | 87 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | July | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
15Feb
5Mar
20Apr
13May
36Jun
54Jul
66Aug
29Sep
9Oct
4Nov
10Dec
9
Magnitude distribution
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 179 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 270. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Mar 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Mar 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Feb 2026 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Mar 2025 | High Wind | 69 mph | $100K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $60K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2023 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | — | — | 1 | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Mar 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Mar 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $5K | — | 1 | — | County |
| 19 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jan 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jan 2019 | High Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Jan 2019 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $20K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Mar 2018 | High Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Sep 2017 | High Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2016 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Aug 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Sep 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Mar 2014 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jan 2013 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Dec 2012 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Oct 2012 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | 2 | County |
| 4 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Dec 2010 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $20K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2010 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Dec 2009 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 86 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Dec 2008 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 May 2008 | High Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Apr 2007 | High Wind | 75 mph | $1.0M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 May 2006 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Apr 2005 | High Wind | 69 mph | $15K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Sep 2004 | High Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Sep 2004 | High Wind | 63 mph | $200K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jul 2004 | High Wind | 63 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Jun 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Mar 2004 | High Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Nov 2003 | High Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Nov 2003 | High Wind | 58 mph | $20K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Oct 2003 | High Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Aug 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jan 2003 | High Wind | 69 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 13 Jun 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Mar 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Mar 1999 | High Wind | 69 mph | $100K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Jan 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 78 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Feb 1998 | High Wind | — | $14K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | 3 | County |
| 4 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 24 Jun 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jan 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jan 1996 | High Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Aug 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 8 Jun 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Mar 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | 1 | 1 | County |
| 10 Jun 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1966 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 1964 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 1959 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Buncombe County had?
270 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 Buncombe County?
30 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 58 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Buncombe County?
The high wind of 16 Apr 2007, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $1.0M.
How does Buncombe County compare with North Carolina for wind?
41.1 events per 100 square miles against 47.2 statewide; the county holds 270 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.