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Wind in McDowell County, North Carolina
227 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.
McDowell County, North Carolina, has 227 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 38 different years.
July is the busiest month, with 63 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 147 events against 77 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1% of the 22,958 wind events recorded in North Carolina; its 51.6 per 100 square miles compares with 47.2 statewide.
47 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
| Measure | McDowell County | North Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 227 | 22,958 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 51.6 | 47.2 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 50.8 | 21.8 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 87 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | July | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
6Feb
4Mar
9Apr
9May
23Jun
55Jul
63Aug
40Sep
8Oct
3Nov
6Dec
1
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 178 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 227. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Mar 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jan 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Oct 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Oct 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Mar 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Nov 2005 | High Wind | 63 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Apr 2005 | High Wind | 69 mph | $500K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Mar 2004 | High Wind | 58 mph | $25K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Nov 2003 | High Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Oct 2003 | High Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Mar 2001 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Mar 2001 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Nov 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Nov 2000 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jan 2000 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Nov 1999 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Sep 1999 | High Wind | 52 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Mar 1999 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Sep 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 1998 | High Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Jan 1998 | High Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Aug 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 1997 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Aug 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Mar 1996 | High Wind | — | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Jan 1996 | High Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Aug 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 100 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Feb 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has McDowell County had?
227 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 McDowell County?
29 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 McDowell County?
The high wind of 2 Apr 2005, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $500K.
How does McDowell County compare with North Carolina for wind?
51.6 events per 100 square miles against 47.2 statewide; the county holds 227 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.