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Wind in Polk County, North Carolina
135 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 135 wind events in Polk County, North Carolina, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 37 years.
June is the busiest month, with 32 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 73 events against 57 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 56.8 per 100 square miles compares with 47.2 statewide.
22 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 | Polk County | North Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 135 | 22,958 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 56.8 | 47.2 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 68.7 | 21.8 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 87 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
8Feb
4Mar
8Apr
6May
13Jun
32Jul
32Aug
17Sep
10Oct
1Nov
3Dec
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
All 135 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Dec 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jan 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Feb 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Sep 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jan 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jan 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Sep 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Sep 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Sep 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Mar 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Mar 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Sep 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jan 2006 | High Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jul 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2005 | High Wind | 69 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jan 2005 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Sep 2004 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Sep 2004 | High Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jul 2004 | High Wind | 63 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Jun 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Mar 2004 | High Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Oct 2003 | High Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Aug 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jan 2003 | High Wind | 69 mph | $3K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Nov 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Sep 2002 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Sep 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Sep 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Feb 2002 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Mar 2001 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Mar 2001 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Feb 2001 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jan 2001 | Strong Wind | — | $15K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Nov 2000 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Mar 1999 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Feb 1998 | High Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | 2 | County |
| 31 Mar 1997 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Mar 1997 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Aug 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jan 1996 | High Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 May 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1967 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 1966 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Polk County had?
135 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 Polk County?
25 Jun 2025 (Thunderstorm Wind, 58 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Polk County?
The thunderstorm wind of 2 May 2003, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25K.
How does Polk County compare with North Carolina for wind?
56.8 events per 100 square miles against 47.2 statewide; the county holds 135 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.