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Winter in Orange County, North Carolina
79 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.
Orange County, North Carolina, has 79 winter events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 24 different years.
January is the busiest month, with 36 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 58 events against 21 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.9% of the 8,965 winter events recorded in North Carolina; its 19.9 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 | Orange County | North Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter events since 1950 | 79 | 8,965 | 287,339 |
| Per 100 square miles | 19.9 | 18.4 | 8.1 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 5.3 | 8.5 | 8.7 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 58 | 2,509 |
| Busiest month | January | January | January |
By year
Seasonality
36Feb
19Mar
9Apr
0May
0Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
0Nov
1Dec
14
Recorded events
All 79 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Jan 2026 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Jan 2026 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Feb 2025 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Feb 2022 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jan 2022 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jan 2022 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2022 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2022 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Feb 2021 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Feb 2021 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Jan 2021 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jan 2021 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Feb 2020 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Jan 2019 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2018 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Mar 2018 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Mar 2018 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Mar 2018 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jan 2018 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Jan 2018 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Dec 2017 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Jan 2017 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Feb 2016 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jan 2016 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Mar 2015 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Feb 2015 | Winter Storm | — | $1.0M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Feb 2015 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Feb 2015 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Jan 2015 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Mar 2014 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Mar 2014 | Ice Storm | — | $2.7M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Mar 2014 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Feb 2014 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jan 2014 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jan 2014 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Dec 2013 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Dec 2013 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jan 2013 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jan 2011 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Dec 2010 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2010 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Dec 2010 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Dec 2010 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Mar 2010 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Feb 2010 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Feb 2010 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jan 2010 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Dec 2009 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2009 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Mar 2009 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jan 2009 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jan 2009 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Feb 2008 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Jan 2008 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jan 2008 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Dec 2007 | Winter Weather | — | $30K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jan 2007 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Jan 2007 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2005 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Jan 2005 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Feb 2004 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Feb 2004 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Jan 2004 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Feb 2003 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Feb 2003 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Dec 2002 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Jan 2002 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Jan 2002 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Nov 2000 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jan 2000 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Jan 2000 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jan 2000 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jan 2000 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Jan 2000 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Dec 1998 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Feb 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Feb 1996 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Jan 1996 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Jan 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
Questions and answers
How many winter events has Orange County had?
79 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 Orange County?
31 Jan 2026 (Winter Storm). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging winter event recorded in Orange County?
The ice storm of 6 Mar 2014, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.7M.
How does Orange County compare with North Carolina for winter?
19.9 events per 100 square miles against 18.4 statewide; the county holds 79 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.