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Winter in Columbus County, North Carolina
18 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.
Columbus County, North Carolina, has 18 winter events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 11 different years.
January is the busiest month, with 11 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 10 events against 8 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.2% of the 8,965 winter events recorded in North Carolina; its 1.9 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 | Columbus County | North Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter events since 1950 | 18 | 8,965 | 287,339 |
| Per 100 square miles | 1.9 | 18.4 | 8.1 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 3.6 | 8.5 | 8.7 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 58 | 2,509 |
| Busiest month | January | January | January |
By year
Seasonality
11Feb
5Mar
0Apr
0May
0Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
0Nov
0Dec
2
Recorded events
All 18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Feb 2026 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Jan 2026 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jan 2025 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jan 2022 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Feb 2015 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Feb 2014 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jan 2014 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jan 2011 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Dec 2010 | Heavy Snow | — | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Feb 2010 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Dec 2004 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Feb 2004 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Jan 2004 | Ice Storm | — | $6.0M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Jan 2003 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Jan 2002 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Jan 2000 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jan 2000 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Jan 2000 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
Questions and answers
How many winter events has Columbus County had?
18 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 Columbus County?
1 Feb 2026 (Winter Storm). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging winter event recorded in Columbus County?
The ice storm of 26 Jan 2004, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $6.0M.
How does Columbus County compare with North Carolina for winter?
1.9 events per 100 square miles against 18.4 statewide; the county holds 18 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.