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Wind in Macon County, North Carolina

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

132 events · 0 deaths recorded · peak month July · county share of state 0.6%

2024-07-05: Wind2024-05-27: Wind2024-05-26: Wind2023-09-07: Wind2023-08-12: Wind2023-08-07: Wind2023-08-07: Wind2023-07-18: Wind2023-07-02: Wind2023-07-01: Wind2023-03-03: Wind2023-03-03: Wind2022-06-17: Wind2020-01-11: Wind2019-06-21: Wind2018-06-26: Wind2018-06-24: Wind2018-06-24: Wind2017-05-27: Wind2016-07-07: Wind2015-07-14: Wind2015-06-08: Wind2013-06-26: Wind2013-05-22: Wind2013-01-30: Wind2012-07-05: Wind2012-07-01: Wind2012-03-02: Wind2012-03-02: Wind2012-03-02: Wind2011-07-03: Wind2011-06-19: Wind2011-06-15: Wind2011-06-02: Wind2011-04-04: Wind2010-10-25: Wind2010-08-13: Wind2010-07-31: Wind2010-05-28: Wind2010-04-25: Wind2009-08-13: Wind2009-06-11: Wind2008-05-20: Wind2008-05-20: Wind2007-08-24: Wind2007-08-03: Wind2007-07-26: Wind2007-06-28: Wind2007-06-14: Wind2006-09-28: Wind2006-06-22: Wind2006-05-13: Wind2005-02-21: Wind2004-09-16: Wind2004-07-17: Wind2004-07-05: Wind2004-05-31: Wind2004-04-12: Wind2003-07-22: Wind2003-07-13: Wind2003-05-02: Wind2002-11-11: Wind2002-07-01: Wind2002-07-01: Wind2002-05-13: Wind2001-10-24: Wind2001-10-24: Wind2001-10-24: Wind2000-08-10: Wind2000-02-13: Wind2000-02-13: Wind1999-05-06: Wind1999-01-23: Wind1998-06-21: Wind1998-06-21: Wind1997-07-04: Wind1997-07-04: Wind1997-07-04: Wind1997-02-21: Wind1997-01-05: Wind1997-01-05: Wind1992-08-27: Wind1986-07-26: Wind1983-10-13: Wind1975-01-25: Wind1970-06-20: Wind
Wind event locations in and around Macon 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.

NCEI records 132 wind events in Macon County, North Carolina, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 34 years.

July is the busiest month, with 22 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 60 events against 68 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.

The county holds 0.6% of the 22,958 wind events recorded in North Carolina; its 25.6 per 100 square miles compares with 47.2 statewide.

41 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 3 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

MeasureMacon CountyNorth CarolinaUS
Wind events since 195013222,958701,953
Per 100 square miles25.647.219.9
Per 10,000 residents35.121.821.1
Deaths recorded0872,166
Busiest monthJulyJulyJune

By year

195019882026
Wind events recorded in Macon County per year, 1950 to 2026 (2026 is partial).

Seasonality

Jan
11
Feb
8
Mar
14
Apr
7
May
13
Jun
18
Jul
22
Aug
10
Sep
8
Oct
6
Nov
7
Dec
8
Wind events in Macon County by month of occurrence, all years.

Magnitude distribution

under 58 mph86
58–73 mph38
74–95 mph3
96 mph and over0
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 132 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.

DateEvent typeMagnitudeProperty damageCrop damageDeathsInjuriesGeography
16 Mar 2025High Wind58 mph$10K———Forecast zone
4 Mar 2025High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
5 Jul 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
27 May 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
26 May 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
7 Sep 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
12 Aug 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
7 Aug 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
7 Aug 2023Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
18 Jul 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
2 Jul 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
1 Jul 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
3 Mar 2023Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
3 Mar 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
17 Jun 2022Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
11 Jan 2020Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$10K———County
21 Jun 2019Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
26 Jun 2018Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
24 Jun 2018Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
24 Jun 2018Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
11 Sep 2017High Wind58 mph$10K———Forecast zone
27 May 2017Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
7 Jul 2016Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$10K———County
14 Jul 2015Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
8 Jun 2015Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
26 Jun 2013Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
22 May 2013Thunderstorm Wind59 mph————County
30 Jan 2013Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
26 Dec 2012High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
5 Jul 2012Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
1 Jul 2012Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
2 Mar 2012Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
2 Mar 2012Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
2 Mar 2012Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
26 Jan 2012Strong Wind46 mph$80K———Forecast zone
3 Jul 2011Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
19 Jun 2011Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
19 Jun 2011Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
15 Jun 2011Thunderstorm Wind69 mph————County
2 Jun 2011Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
4 Apr 2011Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
25 Oct 2010Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
13 Aug 2010Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
31 Jul 2010Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
28 May 2010Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
25 Apr 2010Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
25 Dec 2009High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
9 Dec 2009High Wind63 mph————Forecast zone
13 Aug 2009Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
11 Jun 2009Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
20 May 2008Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
20 May 2008Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
11 May 2008High Wind69 mph————Forecast zone
24 Aug 2007Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
3 Aug 2007Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
26 Jul 2007Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
28 Jun 2007Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
14 Jun 2007Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
16 Apr 2007High Wind69 mph$600K———Forecast zone
15 Apr 2007High Wind81 mph————Forecast zone
1 Dec 2006High Wind63 mph————Forecast zone
28 Sep 2006Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
22 Jun 2006Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
13 May 2006Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
14 Jan 2006High Wind69 mph————Forecast zone
21 Nov 2005High Wind63 mph————Forecast zone
30 Aug 2005High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
21 Feb 2005Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
22 Jan 2005High Wind69 mph————Forecast zone
16 Sep 2004Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$50K——1County
16 Sep 2004High Wind63 mph$100K——1Forecast zone
17 Jul 2004Thunderstorm Wind63 mph$20K———County
5 Jul 2004Thunderstorm Wind69 mph————County
5 Jul 2004High Wind63 mph$1K———Forecast zone
31 May 2004Thunderstorm Wind63 mph$3K———County
12 Apr 2004Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
7 Mar 2004High Wind58 mph$5K———Forecast zone
5 Mar 2004High Wind58 mph$1K———Forecast zone
18 Nov 2003High Wind58 mph$3K———Forecast zone
14 Oct 2003High Wind58 mph$1K———Forecast zone
22 Jul 2003Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
13 Jul 2003Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
2 May 2003Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
4 Feb 2003High Wind69 mph————Forecast zone
25 Dec 2002High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
13 Dec 2002High Wind75 mph————Forecast zone
11 Nov 2002Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
27 Sep 2002High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
26 Sep 2002Strong Wind—————Forecast zone
1 Jul 2002Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
1 Jul 2002Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
13 May 2002Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
4 Feb 2002High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
29 Nov 2001High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
24 Nov 2001High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
24 Oct 2001Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
24 Oct 2001Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$2K———County
24 Oct 2001Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
20 Mar 2001High Wind63 mph————Forecast zone
6 Mar 2001High Wind63 mph————Forecast zone
30 Jan 2001High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
16 Dec 2000High Wind63 mph————Forecast zone
9 Nov 2000Strong Wind—————Forecast zone
10 Aug 2000Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
8 Apr 2000High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
28 Mar 2000High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
19 Mar 2000High Wind63 mph————Forecast zone
13 Feb 2000High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
13 Feb 2000Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
13 Feb 2000Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
15 Sep 1999High Wind52 mph————Forecast zone
6 May 1999Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$10K———County
16 Mar 1999Strong Wind—————Forecast zone
23 Jan 1999Thunderstorm Wind67 mph$10K———County
10 Nov 1998Strong Wind—————Forecast zone
21 Jun 1998Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
21 Jun 1998Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
7 Jan 1998High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
4 Jul 1997Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$250K———County
4 Jul 1997Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
4 Jul 1997Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
21 Feb 1997Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
5 Jan 1997Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
5 Jan 1997Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
17 Dec 1996High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
8 Apr 1996High Wind—$5K———Forecast zone
21 Feb 1993Thunderstorm Wind0 mph$5K———County
27 Aug 1992Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
26 Jul 1986Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
13 Oct 1983Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
25 Jan 1975Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
20 Jun 1970Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County

Questions and answers

How many wind events has Macon County had?

132 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 Macon County?

16 Mar 2025 (High Wind, 58 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.

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

The high wind of 16 Apr 2007, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $600K.

How does Macon County compare with North Carolina for wind?

25.6 events per 100 square miles against 47.2 statewide; the county holds 132 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.