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Wind in Rutherford County, North Carolina
283 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.
Rutherford County, North Carolina, has 283 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 45 different years.
July is the busiest month, with 88 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 149 events against 127 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.2% of the 22,958 wind events recorded in North Carolina; its 50.0 per 100 square miles compares with 47.2 statewide.
NCEI attributes 5 deaths in the county to damaging wind.
69 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 6 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 | Rutherford County | North Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 283 | 22,958 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 50.0 | 47.2 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 43.8 | 21.8 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 5 | 87 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | July | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
7Feb
9Mar
10Apr
12May
39Jun
58Jul
88Aug
36Sep
11Oct
6Nov
5Dec
2
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 190 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 283. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Mar 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Feb 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Dec 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jan 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Oct 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Oct 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Sep 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Sep 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Sep 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jan 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jan 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $15K | — | 1 | 1 | County |
| 28 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | 2 | — | County |
| 4 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | 1 | — | County |
| 14 Jan 2006 | High Wind | 69 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Aug 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2005 | High Wind | 69 mph | $15K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Jan 2005 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | $10K | — | — | — | 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 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Mar 2004 | High Wind | 69 mph | $20K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Nov 2003 | High Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Oct 2003 | High Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Aug 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Nov 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | 2 | County |
| 13 May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 2000 | Strong Wind | — | $2K | — | 1 | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Mar 1999 | High Wind | 89 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Feb 1998 | High Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Feb 1998 | High Wind | — | $14K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Aug 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $175K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jan 1996 | High Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jun 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Feb 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Feb 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Mar 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Feb 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 1964 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Rutherford County had?
283 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 Rutherford County?
27 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 Rutherford County?
The thunderstorm wind of 5 Aug 1997, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $300K.
How does Rutherford County compare with North Carolina for wind?
50.0 events per 100 square miles against 47.2 statewide; the county holds 283 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.