County Hazards

States › North Carolina › Mitchell County › Winter

Winter in Mitchell County, North Carolina

385 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.

385 events · 0 deaths recorded · peak month January · county share of state 4.3%

Winter event locations in and around Mitchell County. 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.

Mitchell County, North Carolina, has 385 winter events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 31 different years.

January is the busiest month, with 115 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 202 events against 183 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.

The county holds 4.3% of the 8,965 winter events recorded in North Carolina; its 174.0 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

MeasureMitchell CountyNorth CarolinaUS
Winter events since 19503858,965287,339
Per 100 square miles174.018.48.1
Per 10,000 residents257.38.58.7
Deaths recorded0582,509
Busiest monthJanuaryJanuaryJanuary

By year

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

Seasonality

Jan
115
Feb
92
Mar
62
Apr
15
May
1
Jun
0
Jul
0
Aug
0
Sep
0
Oct
7
Nov
25
Dec
68
Winter events in Mitchell County by month of occurrence, all years.

Recorded events

The 200 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 385. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.

DateEvent typeMagnitudeProperty damageCrop damageDeathsInjuriesGeography
16 Mar 2026Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
22 Feb 2026Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
30 Jan 2026Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
24 Jan 2026Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
30 Nov 2025Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
10 Nov 2025Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
19 Feb 2025Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
11 Feb 2025Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
19 Jan 2025Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
10 Jan 2025Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
6 Jan 2025Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
3 Jan 2025Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
15 Dec 2024Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
2 Dec 2024Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
21 Nov 2024Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
1 Mar 2024Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
28 Jan 2024Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
18 Jan 2024Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
15 Jan 2024Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
9 Jan 2024Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
6 Jan 2024Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
12 Mar 2023Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
11 Feb 2023Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
13 Jan 2023Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
23 Dec 2022Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
8 Apr 2022Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
12 Mar 2022Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
28 Jan 2022Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
16 Jan 2022Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
2 Jan 2022Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
17 Feb 2021Ice Storm—————Forecast zone
6 Feb 2021Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
1 Feb 2021Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
30 Jan 2021Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
27 Jan 2021Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
17 Jan 2021Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
16 Jan 2021Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
8 Jan 2021Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
24 Dec 2020Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
16 Dec 2020Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
1 Dec 2020Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
30 Nov 2020Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
28 Feb 2020Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
26 Feb 2020Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
21 Feb 2020Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
7 Feb 2020Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
31 Jan 2020Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
27 Jan 2020Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
13 Dec 2019Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
1 Dec 2019Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
19 Feb 2019Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
29 Jan 2019Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
23 Jan 2019Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
12 Jan 2019Ice Storm—————Forecast zone
21 Dec 2018Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
8 Dec 2018Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
5 Dec 2018Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
24 Nov 2018Ice Storm—————Forecast zone
15 Nov 2018Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
24 Mar 2018Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
21 Mar 2018Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
13 Mar 2018Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
7 Mar 2018Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
4 Feb 2018Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
29 Jan 2018Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
17 Jan 2018Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
31 Dec 2017Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
8 Dec 2017Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
29 Oct 2017Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
6 Apr 2017Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
14 Mar 2017Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
11 Mar 2017Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
29 Jan 2017Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
6 Jan 2017Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
5 May 2016Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
8 Feb 2016Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
22 Jan 2016Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
20 Jan 2016Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
27 Mar 2015Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
1 Mar 2015Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
25 Feb 2015Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
18 Feb 2015Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
16 Feb 2015Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
2 Feb 2015Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
26 Jan 2015Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
23 Jan 2015Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
13 Jan 2015Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
26 Nov 2014Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
17 Nov 2014Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
1 Nov 2014Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
31 Oct 2014Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
29 Mar 2014Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
24 Mar 2014Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
17 Mar 2014Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
6 Mar 2014Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
12 Feb 2014Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
10 Feb 2014Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
28 Jan 2014Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
21 Jan 2014Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
17 Jan 2014Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
15 Jan 2014Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
6 Jan 2014Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
2 Jan 2014Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
14 Dec 2013Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
8 Dec 2013Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
26 Nov 2013Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
25 Nov 2013Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
4 Apr 2013Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
25 Mar 2013Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
20 Mar 2013Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
5 Mar 2013Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
1 Mar 2013Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
27 Feb 2013Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
26 Feb 2013Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
26 Feb 2013Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
22 Feb 2013Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
19 Feb 2013Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
15 Feb 2013Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
7 Feb 2013Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
2 Feb 2013Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
15 Dec 2005Ice Storm—$25K———Forecast zone
26 Feb 2004Heavy Snow—$1K———Forecast zone
5 Feb 2004Winter Weather—$250———Forecast zone
20 Jan 2001Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
30 Dec 2000Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
19 Dec 2000Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
17 Dec 2000Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
13 Dec 2000Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
3 Dec 2000Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
19 Nov 2000Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
8 Apr 2000Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
20 Mar 2000Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
4 Feb 2000Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
31 Jan 2000Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
29 Jan 2000Ice Storm—————Forecast zone
26 Jan 2000Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
22 Jan 2000Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
20 Jan 2000Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
18 Jan 2000Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
16 Jan 2000Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
4 Jan 2000Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
24 Dec 1999Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
29 Apr 1999Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
26 Mar 1999Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
26 Mar 1999Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
15 Mar 1999Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
13 Mar 1999Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
9 Mar 1999Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
3 Mar 1999Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
3 Mar 1999Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
1 Mar 1999Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
28 Feb 1999Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
24 Feb 1999Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
23 Feb 1999Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
19 Feb 1999Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
19 Feb 1999Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
13 Feb 1999Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
31 Jan 1999Sleet—————Forecast zone
2 Jan 1999Ice Storm—————Forecast zone
23 Dec 1998Sleet—————Forecast zone
8 Nov 1998Sleet—————Forecast zone
11 Mar 1998Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
10 Mar 1998Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
2 Mar 1998Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
16 Feb 1998Sleet—————Forecast zone
6 Feb 1998Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
3 Feb 1998Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
27 Jan 1998Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
24 Jan 1998Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
18 Jan 1998Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
15 Jan 1998Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
30 Dec 1997Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
29 Dec 1997Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
27 Dec 1997Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
8 Dec 1997Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
5 Dec 1997Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
31 Mar 1997Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
10 Feb 1997Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
10 Jan 1997Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
9 Jan 1997Ice Storm—————Forecast zone
8 Jan 1997Sleet—————Forecast zone
8 Dec 1996Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
8 Dec 1996Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
5 Dec 1996Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
10 Nov 1996Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
9 Nov 1996Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
8 Apr 1996Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
1 Apr 1996Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
20 Mar 1996Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
20 Mar 1996Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
8 Mar 1996Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
16 Feb 1996Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
16 Feb 1996Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
12 Feb 1996Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
11 Feb 1996Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
7 Feb 1996Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
2 Feb 1996Ice Storm—————Forecast zone
26 Jan 1996Ice Storm—————Forecast zone
11 Jan 1996Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
6 Jan 1996Winter Storm—————Forecast zone

Questions and answers

How many winter events has Mitchell County had?

385 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 Mitchell County?

16 Mar 2026 (Winter Weather). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.

What was the most damaging winter event recorded in Mitchell County?

The ice storm of 15 Dec 2005, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25K.

How does Mitchell County compare with North Carolina for winter?

174.0 events per 100 square miles against 18.4 statewide; the county holds 385 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.