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Wind in Wake County, North Carolina

761 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.

761 events · 4 deaths recorded · peak month July · county share of state 3.3%

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Wind event locations in and around Wake County. Dots: Wind event locations in the kept record. 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.

NCEI records 761 wind events in Wake County, North Carolina, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 55 years.

July is the busiest month, with 200 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 561 events against 154 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.

The county holds 3.3% of the 22,958 wind events recorded in North Carolina; its 91.2 per 100 square miles compares with 47.2 statewide.

NCEI attributes 4 deaths in the county to damaging wind.

47 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 8 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

MeasureWake CountyNorth CarolinaUS
Wind events since 195076122,958701,953
Per 100 square miles91.247.219.9
Per 10,000 residents6.621.821.1
Deaths recorded4872,166
Busiest monthJulyJulyJune

By year

195019882026
Wind events recorded in Wake County per year, 1950 to 2026 (2026 is partial).

Seasonality

Jan
20
Feb
36
Mar
41
Apr
74
May
98
Jun
121
Jul
200
Aug
117
Sep
27
Oct
6
Nov
17
Dec
4
Wind events in Wake County by month of occurrence, all years.

Magnitude distribution

under 58 mph712
58–73 mph39
74–95 mph8
96 mph and over0
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 188 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 761. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.

DateEvent typeMagnitudeProperty damageCrop damageDeathsInjuriesGeography
27 Jun 2026Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
27 Jun 2026Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
27 Jun 2026Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
27 Jun 2026Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
27 Jun 2026Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
27 Jun 2026Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$10K———County
27 Jun 2026Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$10K———County
23 Jun 2026Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$3K———County
11 Jun 2026Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
11 Jun 2026Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
16 Mar 2026Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$10K———County
16 Mar 2026Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$20K———County
16 Mar 2026Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$20K———County
16 Mar 2026Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$20K———County
16 Mar 2026Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
19 Dec 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
19 Dec 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
1 Aug 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
19 Jul 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
13 Jul 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
12 Jul 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
10 Jul 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$10K———County
10 Jul 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$10K———County
9 Jul 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
9 Jul 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
2 Jul 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$2K———County
2 Jul 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
27 Jun 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
25 Jun 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
25 Jun 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$2K———County
19 Jun 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
19 Jun 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
19 Jun 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$2K———County
19 Jun 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
19 Jun 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
7 Jun 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
7 Jun 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
31 May 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
31 May 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$2K———County
31 May 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$2K———County
31 Mar 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
31 Mar 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
5 Mar 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$3K———County
5 Mar 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
5 Mar 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$2K———County
5 Mar 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
16 Feb 2025Thunderstorm Wind59 mph————County
16 Feb 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
16 Feb 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
27 Sep 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
1 Sep 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
1 Sep 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$4K———County
1 Sep 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
30 Aug 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
30 Aug 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
30 Aug 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$15K———County
30 Aug 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
30 Aug 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
30 Aug 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
3 Aug 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
2 Aug 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
22 Jul 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$3K———County
22 Jul 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
18 Jul 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$2K———County
18 Jul 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$2K———County
18 Jul 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
6 Jul 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
6 Jul 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
6 Jul 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
6 Jul 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$2K———County
6 Jul 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$2K———County
27 May 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
27 May 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
27 May 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
27 May 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
27 May 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
26 May 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
26 May 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$2K———County
26 May 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
26 May 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
25 May 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
3 Apr 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$4K———County
9 Jan 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$10K———County
9 Jan 2024Thunderstorm Wind69 mph————County
10 Dec 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$10K———County
9 Sep 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
8 Sep 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
8 Sep 2023Thunderstorm Wind76 mph————County
15 Aug 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
15 Aug 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
15 Aug 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$2K———County
7 Aug 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
7 Aug 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
7 Aug 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$8K———County
9 Jul 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
9 Jul 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
9 Jul 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
9 Jul 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
7 Jul 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
7 Jul 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
5 Jul 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
26 Jun 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
26 Jun 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
26 Jun 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$30K———County
16 Jun 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
16 May 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$20K———County
30 Apr 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$3K———County
12 Jan 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
12 Sep 2022Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$10K———County
11 Aug 2022Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
11 Aug 2022Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
10 Aug 2022Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$10K———County
29 Jul 2022Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
26 Jul 2022Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
26 Jul 2022Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$10K———County
25 Jul 2022Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K———County
24 Jul 2022Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
7 Jul 2022Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
7 Jul 2022Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
7 Jul 2022Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$10K———County
17 Jun 2022Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$5K——1County
17 Jun 2022Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$25K———County
17 Jun 2022Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$10K———County
8 Jun 2022Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$10K———County
27 May 2022Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$10K———County
26 Apr 2022Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$25K———County
29 Oct 2020Strong Wind56 mph$1.5M———Forecast zone
23 Jul 2020Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$20K———County
23 Jul 2020Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$20K———County
18 Jul 2020Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$20K———County
30 Jun 2020Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$15K———County
26 Apr 2020Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$25K———County
13 Apr 2020Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$60K———County
13 Apr 2020Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$50K———County
13 Apr 2020Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$20K———County
13 Apr 2020Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$20K———County
7 Feb 2020Strong Wind46 mph$15K——1Forecast zone
7 Feb 2020Strong Wind54 mph$50K———Forecast zone
6 Feb 2020Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$250K———County
6 Feb 2020Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$50K———County
6 Feb 2020Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$20K———County
22 Aug 2019Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$15K———County
4 Jul 2019Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$15K———County
30 Jun 2019Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$100K———County
30 Jun 2019Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$25K———County
30 Jun 2019Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$20K———County
30 Jun 2019Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$15K———County
4 May 2019Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$10K—11County
8 Apr 2019Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$15K———County
11 May 2017Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$75K———County
8 Oct 2016Strong Wind45 mph$500K—1—Forecast zone
8 Oct 2016Strong Wind45 mph$20K———Forecast zone
9 Apr 2016Strong Wind45 mph$50K———Forecast zone
24 Feb 2016Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$50K———County
16 Feb 2016Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$15K———County
20 Jun 2015Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$20K———County
20 Jun 2015Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$20K———County
17 Jun 2015Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$15K———County
20 Aug 2014Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$25K———County
11 Jan 2014Thunderstorm Wind86 mph——12County
11 Jan 2014Thunderstorm Wind86 mph———1County
11 Jan 2014Thunderstorm Wind86 mph———1County
11 Jan 2014Thunderstorm Wind86 mph$1.0M———County
11 Jan 2014Thunderstorm Wind86 mph$350K———County
13 Jun 2013Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$1.0M———County
27 Aug 2011Strong Wind45 mph$100K———Forecast zone
5 Apr 2011Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$30K———County
23 Mar 2011Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$20K———County
10 Feb 2010High Wind58 mph$35K———Forecast zone
11 Nov 2009Strong Wind40 mph$150K———Forecast zone
31 Jul 2009Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$100K———County
7 Jan 2009High Wind63 mph$100K———Forecast zone
7 Jan 2009Strong Wind49 mph$20K———Forecast zone
6 Sep 2008Strong Wind45 mph$100K———Forecast zone
15 Aug 2008Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$15K———County
21 Aug 2007Thunderstorm Wind58 mph———8County
19 Apr 1998Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$25K———County
1 May 1997Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$30K———County
1 May 1997Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$20K———County
1 May 1997Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$15K———County
1 Apr 1997High Wind58 mph——11Forecast zone
11 May 1996Thunderstorm Wind63 mph$50K———County
11 Nov 1995Thunderstorm Wind0 mph$12K———County
19 May 1995Thunderstorm Wind0 mph$40K———County
21 Mar 1995Thunderstorm Wind0 mph$30K———County
7 Jan 1995Thunderstorm Wind0 mph$250K——4County
20 Jun 1988Thunderstorm Wind0 mph———1County
4 Aug 1987Thunderstorm Wind0 mph———2County

Questions and answers

How many wind events has Wake County had?

761 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 Wake 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 Wake County?

The strong wind of 29 Oct 2020, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $1.5M.

How does Wake County compare with North Carolina for wind?

91.2 events per 100 square miles against 47.2 statewide; the county holds 761 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.