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Winter in Cherokee County, North Carolina
47 winter storms and snow events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Winter Storm, Winter Weather, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Ice Storm, Lake-Effect Snow, Sleet.
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.
Cherokee County, North Carolina, has 47 winter events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 22 different years.
January is the busiest month, with 16 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 32 events against 15 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.5% of the 8,965 winter events recorded in North Carolina; its 10.3 per 100 square miles compares with 18.4 statewide.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter events since 1950 | 47 | 8,965 | 287,339 |
| Per 100 square miles | 10.3 | 18.4 | 8.1 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 16.1 | 8.5 | 8.7 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 58 | 2,509 |
| Busiest month | January | January | January |
By year
Seasonality
16Feb
10Mar
5Apr
0May
0Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
0Nov
1Dec
15
Recorded events
All 47 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Jan 2026 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Nov 2025 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Feb 2025 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jan 2025 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jan 2022 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Feb 2020 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Feb 2020 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Feb 2020 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Dec 2017 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Dec 2017 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Dec 2017 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Dec 2017 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Dec 2017 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Dec 2017 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Dec 2017 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Dec 2017 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Jan 2017 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Jan 2017 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Feb 2016 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Feb 2016 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Feb 2015 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Feb 2014 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Mar 2013 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Mar 2013 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Mar 2013 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jan 2011 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jan 2011 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Dec 2010 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Dec 2010 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Dec 2010 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jan 2010 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Feb 2007 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Feb 2006 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jan 2005 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Jan 2004 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2003 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jan 2003 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jan 2002 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Mar 2001 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jan 2001 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Jan 2001 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2000 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Dec 2000 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Dec 1998 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Dec 1997 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jan 1997 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Mar 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
Questions and answers
How many winter events has Cherokee County had?
47 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of winter storms and snow became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded winter event in Cherokee County?
30 Jan 2026 (Heavy Snow). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging winter event recorded in Cherokee County?
The heavy snow of 19 Mar 1996, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $1K.
How does Cherokee County compare with North Carolina for winter?
10.3 events per 100 square miles against 18.4 statewide; the county holds 47 of the state's 8,965 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 Winter hub and the county page.