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Winter in Swain County, North Carolina

256 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.

256 events · 0 deaths recorded · peak month January · county share of state 2.9%

Winter event locations in and around Swain County. Boundaries: US Census Bureau.

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.

Swain County, North Carolina, has 256 winter events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 31 different years.

January is the busiest month, with 77 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 136 events against 120 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.

The county holds 2.9% of the 8,965 winter events recorded in North Carolina; its 48.5 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	Swain County	North Carolina	US
Winter events since 1950	256	8,965	287,339
Per 100 square miles	48.5	18.4	8.1
Per 10,000 residents	181.1	8.5	8.7
Deaths recorded	0	58	2,509
Busiest month	January	January	January

By year

195019882026

Winter events recorded in Swain County per year, 1950 to 2026 (2026 is partial).

Seasonality

Jan
77Feb
64Mar
40Apr
10May
1Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
5Nov
17Dec
42

Winter events in Swain County by month of occurrence, all years.

Recorded events

The 200 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 256. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.

Date	Event type	Magnitude	Property damage	Crop damage	Deaths	Injuries	Geography
16 Mar 2026	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
22 Feb 2026	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
30 Jan 2026	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
24 Jan 2026	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
10 Nov 2025	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
19 Feb 2025	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
19 Jan 2025	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
28 Jan 2024	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
18 Jan 2024	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
15 Jan 2024	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
11 Feb 2023	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
13 Jan 2023	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
23 Dec 2022	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
8 Apr 2022	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
12 Mar 2022	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
28 Jan 2022	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
15 Jan 2022	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
2 Jan 2022	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
6 Feb 2021	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Feb 2021	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
7 Jan 2021	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
24 Dec 2020	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Dec 2020	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
30 Nov 2020	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
28 Feb 2020	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
26 Feb 2020	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
21 Feb 2020	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
8 Feb 2020	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
27 Jan 2020	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Dec 2019	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
29 Jan 2019	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
21 Dec 2018	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
8 Dec 2018	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
21 Mar 2018	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
7 Mar 2018	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
29 Jan 2018	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
17 Jan 2018	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
8 Dec 2017	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
29 Oct 2017	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
14 Mar 2017	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
11 Mar 2017	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
29 Jan 2017	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
6 Jan 2017	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
5 May 2016	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
20 Mar 2016	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
8 Feb 2016	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
22 Jan 2016	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
20 Jan 2016	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
27 Mar 2015	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
25 Feb 2015	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
23 Feb 2015	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
20 Feb 2015	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
18 Feb 2015	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
16 Feb 2015	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
26 Jan 2015	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
26 Nov 2014	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Nov 2014	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
31 Oct 2014	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
29 Mar 2014	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
24 Mar 2014	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
12 Feb 2014	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
10 Feb 2014	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
28 Jan 2014	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
21 Jan 2014	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
2 Jan 2014	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
26 Nov 2013	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
25 Mar 2013	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
20 Mar 2013	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
5 Mar 2013	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Mar 2013	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
27 Feb 2013	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
19 Feb 2013	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
15 Feb 2013	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
2 Feb 2013	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Feb 2013	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
25 Jan 2013	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
17 Jan 2013	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
29 Dec 2012	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
5 Nov 2012	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
29 Oct 2012	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
11 Feb 2012	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
2 Jan 2012	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
7 Dec 2011	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
29 Nov 2011	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
11 Mar 2011	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
6 Mar 2011	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
9 Feb 2011	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
26 Jan 2011	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
24 Jan 2011	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
11 Jan 2011	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
10 Jan 2011	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
7 Jan 2011	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
5 Jan 2011	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
25 Dec 2010	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
15 Dec 2010	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
12 Dec 2010	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
4 Dec 2010	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
5 Nov 2010	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
22 Mar 2010	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
3 Mar 2010	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
2 Mar 2010	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
24 Feb 2010	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
15 Feb 2010	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
15 Feb 2010	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
12 Feb 2010	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
10 Feb 2010	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
4 Feb 2010	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
29 Jan 2010	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
12 Jan 2010	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
9 Jan 2010	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
7 Jan 2010	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
4 Jan 2010	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
2 Jan 2010	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
18 Dec 2009	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
17 Oct 2009	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
7 Apr 2009	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Mar 2009	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
22 Feb 2009	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
2 Feb 2009	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
18 Jan 2009	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
28 Nov 2003	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
10 Apr 2003	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
30 Mar 2003	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
30 Mar 2003	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
30 Mar 2003	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
23 Feb 2003	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
9 Feb 2003	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
6 Feb 2003	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
26 Jan 2003	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
23 Jan 2003	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
19 Jan 2003	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
16 Jan 2003	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
6 Jan 2003	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
25 Dec 2002	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
22 Dec 2002	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
4 Dec 2002	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
26 Feb 2002	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
6 Feb 2002	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
3 Feb 2002	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
6 Jan 2002	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
20 Mar 2001	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
15 Mar 2001	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
6 Mar 2001	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
20 Jan 2001	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
8 Jan 2001	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Jan 2001	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
30 Dec 2000	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
19 Dec 2000	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
17 Dec 2000	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
3 Dec 2000	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
19 Nov 2000	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
8 Apr 2000	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
4 Feb 2000	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
31 Jan 2000	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
29 Jan 2000	Ice Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
25 Jan 2000	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
22 Jan 2000	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
20 Jan 2000	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
16 Jan 2000	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
4 Jan 2000	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
24 Dec 1999	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
2 Nov 1999	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
26 Mar 1999	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
15 Mar 1999	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
9 Mar 1999	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
3 Mar 1999	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
3 Mar 1999	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
24 Feb 1999	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
19 Feb 1999	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
13 Feb 1999	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
31 Jan 1999	Sleet	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
23 Dec 1998	Sleet	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
10 Mar 1998	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
2 Mar 1998	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
27 Jan 1998	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
18 Jan 1998	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
30 Dec 1997	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
29 Dec 1997	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
27 Dec 1997	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
5 Dec 1997	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
10 Jan 1997	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
9 Jan 1997	Ice Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
8 Jan 1997	Sleet	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
5 Dec 1996	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
10 Nov 1996	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
9 Nov 1996	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
8 Apr 1996	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Apr 1996	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
20 Mar 1996	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
8 Mar 1996	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
16 Feb 1996	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
16 Feb 1996	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
12 Feb 1996	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
11 Feb 1996	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
7 Feb 1996	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
2 Feb 1996	Ice Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Feb 1996	Winter Weather	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
26 Jan 1996	Ice Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
11 Jan 1996	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
6 Jan 1996	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone

Questions and answers

How many winter events has Swain County had?

256 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 Swain County?

16 Mar 2026 (Winter Weather). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.

What was the most damaging winter event recorded in Swain County?

NCEI records no damage estimate for events of this type in the county.

How does Swain County compare with North Carolina for winter?

48.5 events per 100 square miles against 18.4 statewide; the county holds 256 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.