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Wind in Cherokee County, North Carolina
181 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.
NCEI records 181 wind events in Cherokee County, North Carolina, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 44 years.
June is the busiest month, with 49 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 97 events against 73 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.8% of the 22,958 wind events recorded in North Carolina; its 39.7 per 100 square miles compares with 47.2 statewide.
88 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 9 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 | Cherokee County | North Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 181 | 22,958 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 39.7 | 47.2 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 62.1 | 21.8 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 87 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
3Feb
8Mar
8Apr
12May
24Jun
49Jul
43Aug
17Sep
3Oct
4Nov
5Dec
5
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
All 181 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Mar 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Mar 2023 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Jan 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 2022 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Oct 2020 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Mar 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jan 2013 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Dec 2012 | High Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Mar 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Feb 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Nov 2010 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Oct 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Dec 2009 | High Wind | 69 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jan 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Feb 2007 | High Wind | 69 mph | $15K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Dec 2006 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Oct 2006 | High Wind | 75 mph | $25K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Sep 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Sep 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $18K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $12K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $12K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Feb 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Dec 2004 | High Wind | 52 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Nov 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $18K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Nov 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | $5K | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Nov 2001 | High Wind | — | $20K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Oct 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | $25K | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | $2K | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | $12K | — | — | County |
| 9 Nov 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | $26K | — | — | County |
| 19 Mar 2000 | High Wind | — | — | $9K | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Feb 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Feb 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | $19K | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $15K | $7K | — | — | County |
| 6 Sep 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | $10K | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | $17K | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $20K | $17K | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | $5K | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Feb 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Feb 1976 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Feb 1976 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 1966 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 1965 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Cherokee County had?
181 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 Cherokee County?
14 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 60 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Cherokee County?
The thunderstorm wind of 4 Jul 1997, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $20K and crop damage at $17K.
How does Cherokee County compare with North Carolina for wind?
39.7 events per 100 square miles against 47.2 statewide; the county holds 181 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.