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Wind in Orange County, North Carolina
303 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.
NCEI records 303 wind events in Orange County, North Carolina, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 45 years.
July is the busiest month, with 80 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 225 events against 66 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.3% of the 22,958 wind events recorded in North Carolina; its 76.2 per 100 square miles compares with 47.2 statewide.
NCEI attributes 2 deaths in the county to damaging wind.
8 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 1 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 | Orange County | North Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 303 | 22,958 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 76.2 | 47.2 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 20.4 | 21.8 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 2 | 87 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | July | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
9Feb
13Mar
11Apr
22May
48Jun
67Jul
80Aug
30Sep
9Oct
7Nov
3Dec
4
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 153 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 303. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Dec 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jan 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jan 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jan 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Oct 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Sep 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Mar 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Oct 2020 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $1.0M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $50K | — | 1 | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Feb 2020 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Feb 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Feb 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Feb 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Oct 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Oct 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Mar 2018 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $15K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Jan 2018 | Strong Wind | 41 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Oct 2016 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $100K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2016 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $20K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Feb 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $3K | — | 1 | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2011 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Dec 2009 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $30K | — | — | 2 | Forecast zone |
| 7 Jan 2009 | Strong Wind | 48 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Sep 2008 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $100K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Feb 2008 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Apr 2007 | Strong Wind | 53 mph | — | $5K | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Jun 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 25 May 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | 2 | County |
| 27 May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Orange County had?
303 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 Orange County?
22 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 Orange County?
The strong wind of 29 Oct 2020, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $1.0M.
How does Orange County compare with North Carolina for wind?
76.2 events per 100 square miles against 47.2 statewide; the county holds 303 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.