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Flood in Swain County, North Carolina
31 floods and flash floods events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Flood, Flash Flood, Coastal Flood, Lakeshore Flood.
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 31 flood events in Swain County, North Carolina, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 19 years.
January is the busiest month, with 6 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 18 events against 13 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.6% of the 5,375 flood events recorded in North Carolina; its 5.9 per 100 square miles compares with 11.1 statewide.
Compared with North Carolina
| Measure | Swain County | North Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flood events since 1950 | 31 | 5,375 | 183,559 |
| Per 100 square miles | 5.9 | 11.1 | 5.2 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 21.9 | 5.1 | 5.5 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 186 | 2,961 |
| Busiest month | January | September | June |
By year
Seasonality
6Feb
1Mar
0Apr
3May
6Jun
1Jul
2Aug
1Sep
5Oct
0Nov
3Dec
3
Recorded events
All 31 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Sep 2024 | Flash Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Sep 2024 | Flood | — | $400K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Feb 2020 | Flash Flood | — | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2019 | Flash Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2018 | Flash Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2018 | Flash Flood | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2016 | Flash Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Dec 2015 | Flood | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jan 2013 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jan 2013 | Flood | — | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jan 2013 | Flood | — | $3.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2012 | Flash Flood | — | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2011 | Flash Flood | — | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jan 2010 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Dec 2009 | Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Dec 2009 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Nov 2009 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Nov 2009 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2006 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2005 | Flash Flood | — | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Sep 2004 | Flood | — | $250K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Sep 2004 | Flood | — | — | $12K | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Nov 2003 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 May 2003 | Flash Flood | — | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2003 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 May 2003 | Flash Flood | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2003 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Apr 2000 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jan 1998 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Sep 1997 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jan 1996 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
Questions and answers
How many flood events has Swain County had?
31 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of floods and flash floods became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded flood event in Swain County?
27 Sep 2024 (Flood). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging flood event recorded in Swain County?
The flood of 15 Jan 2013, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $3.5M.
How does Swain County compare with North Carolina for flood?
5.9 events per 100 square miles against 11.1 statewide; the county holds 31 of the state's 5,375 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 Flood hub and the county page.