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Watauga County, North Carolina
Recorded hazard history: storm events since 1950, federal disaster declarations since 1953, flood insurance claims since 1978, and FEMA's risk index.
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. NCEI storm records through 30 Jun 2026; OpenFEMA declarations refreshed 1 Oct 2026; NFIP claims as of 8 Sep 2026.
Between 1950 and 2026, NCEI recorded 679 storm events in Watauga County, North Carolina, led by damaging wind.
That is 217.3 events per 100 square miles, above the North Carolina figure of 112.5, and 125.2 per 10,000 residents against 51.8 statewide.
12 events fall in the 12 months to 30 Jun 2026. NCEI attributes 4 deaths and 11 injuries to events in the county, with property damage estimated at $303M and crop damage at $11M.
FEMA has designated the county in 24 federal disaster declarations since 1953; the most recent is Severe Winter Storm (emergency, 24 Jan 2026).
National Flood Insurance Program policyholders in the county filed 463 claims since 1978, of which 357 were paid, totalling $16M (about $46K per paid claim). FEMA counts 485 residential flood policies in force.
FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall risk as "Relatively Low" and its expected annual loss as "Relatively Low" ($26M a year across 18 hazards).
15 tropical storm or hurricane tracks in the HURDAT2 record passed within 100 miles of the county's centre at tropical-storm strength or more, 0 of them within 50 miles at hurricane strength.
Compared with North Carolina and the United States
| Measure | Watauga County | North Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recorded events since 1950 | 679 | 54,696 | 1,977,440 |
| Events per 100 square miles | 217.3 | 112.5 | 56.0 |
| Events per 10,000 residents | 125.2 | 51.8 | 59.6 |
| Events in the last 12 months | 12 | 1,437 | 62,008 |
| Deaths recorded by NCEI | 4 | 622 | 26,435 |
| Property damage (NCEI estimates) | $303M | $15B | $575B |
| NFIP claims per 1,000 residents | 8.5 | 10.4 | 8.1 |
| Average paid NFIP claim | $46K | $28K | $43K |
| Claims per 100 policies in force, last 10 years | 51.1 | 24.1 | 16.1 |
County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county. State and US rows include events recorded only by forecast zone. Rates use 2021 Census population and land area.
Events by decade
Trend: 485 events in the 20 years to 2025 against 183 in the 20 years before. Reporting practice changed in 1996 and again with automated reports in the 2000s, so decade totals measure the record as much as the weather.
Events by type
Hazard pages exist for hail, tornado, flood, wind and winter where the county has at least 10 recorded events. "Other" covers heavy rain, debris flow, dust, funnel clouds and similar reports.
Largest recorded events
| Date | Event type | Group | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Sep 2024 | Flash Flood | Flood | — | $250M | — | 2 | 4 | County |
| 30 May 2018 | Debris Flow | Other | — | $550K | — | 2 | — | County |
| 27 Sep 2024 | High Wind | Wind | 91 mph | $28M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Apr 1996 | Tornado | Tornado | F1 | $50K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 10 Mar 2002 | High Wind | Wind | — | $3K | — | — | 2 | Forecast zone |
| 8 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 69 mph | $100K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 17 Aug 2021 | Flood | Flood | — | $15K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 16 Jul 1997 | Lightning | Lightning | — | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 1 Sep 2007 | Drought | Drought | — | — | $10M | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Sep 2004 | Flood | Flood | — | $5.0M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Sep 2011 | Flash Flood | Flood | — | $5.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2004 | Flood | Flood | — | $2.7M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Nov 2003 | Flash Flood | Flood | — | $1.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Mar 2008 | Flash Flood | Flood | — | $1.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2018 | Flash Flood | Flood | — | $1.3M | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Oct 2017 | Flash Flood | Flood | — | $800K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Sep 2011 | Flash Flood | Flood | — | $750K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2019 | Flood | Flood | — | $615K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1998 | Flash Flood | Flood | — | $600K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 1996 | Lightning | Lightning | — | $510K | — | — | — | County |
Ranked by deaths, then injuries, then NCEI's damage estimate. Deaths and injuries are NCEI counts (direct plus indirect); no personal details are recorded here.
Federal disaster declarations
| Declared | Number | Type | Incident | Title | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Jan 2026 | EM-3637 | Emergency | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm | Public assistance |
| 28 Sep 2024 | DR-4827 | Major disaster | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 26 Sep 2024 | EM-3617 | Emergency | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene | Public assistance |
| 1 Oct 2022 | EM-3586 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Ian | Public assistance |
| 8 Sep 2021 | DR-4617 | Major disaster | Hurricane | Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred | Public assistance |
| 2 Aug 2020 | EM-3534 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Isaias | Public assistance |
| 25 Mar 2020 | DR-4487 | Major disaster | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 13 Mar 2020 | EM-3471 | Emergency | Biological | Covid-19 | Public assistance |
| 3 Sep 2019 | EM-3423 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian | Public assistance |
| 10 Sep 2018 | EM-3401 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence | Public assistance |
| 29 Oct 2013 | DR-4153 | Major disaster | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides | Public assistance |
| 25 Sep 2013 | DR-4146 | Major disaster | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Public assistance |
| 2 Feb 2010 | DR-1871 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Flooding | Public assistance |
| 5 Sep 2005 | EM-3222 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Public assistance |
| 18 Sep 2004 | DR-1553 | Major disaster | Hurricane | Hurricane Ivan | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 10 Sep 2004 | DR-1546 | Major disaster | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Frances | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 15 Jan 1998 | DR-1200 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding | Public assistance |
| 23 Feb 1996 | DR-1103 | Major disaster | Snowstorm | Winter Storm | Public assistance |
| 13 Jan 1996 | DR-1087 | Major disaster | Snowstorm | Blizzard Of 96 | Public assistance |
| 23 Oct 1995 | DR-1073 | Major disaster | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, High Winds | Public assistance |
| 17 Mar 1993 | EM-3110 | Emergency | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm | Public assistance |
| 25 Sep 1989 | DR-844 | Major disaster | Hurricane | Hurricane Hugo | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 9 Nov 1977 | DR-542 | Major disaster | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 25 Jun 1973 | DR-394 | Major disaster | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
Declarations in which FEMA designated this county, from the OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2). DR: major disaster; EM: emergency; FM: fire management assistance. Programs show whether individual or public assistance was made available.
Flood insurance claims
| Year of loss | Claims | Paid claims | Amount paid | Average paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 1 | $2,593 | $2,593 |
| 2025 | 2 | 2 | $117,306 | $58,653 |
| 2024 | 198 | 169 | $13,014,996 | $77,012 |
| 2023 | 1 | 1 | $75,653 | $75,653 |
| 2021 | 2 | 2 | $39,613 | $19,806 |
| 2020 | 7 | 5 | $79,604 | $15,921 |
| 2019 | 8 | 6 | $14,156 | $2,359 |
| 2018 | 15 | 7 | $47,977 | $6,854 |
| 2017 | 14 | 12 | $559,253 | $46,604 |
| 2016 | 2 | 1 | $4,195 | $4,195 |
| 2013 | 22 | 16 | $555,617 | $34,726 |
| 2012 | 3 | 1 | $2,445 | $2,445 |
| 2011 | 14 | 8 | $260,034 | $32,504 |
| 2010 | 2 | 1 | $2,168 | $2,168 |
| 2009 | 2 | 2 | $6,316 | $3,158 |
| 2004 | 44 | 37 | $595,356 | $16,091 |
| 2003 | 18 | 15 | $219,000 | $14,600 |
| 2000 | 1 | 0 | $0 | — |
| 1999 | 1 | 0 | $0 | — |
| 1998 | 9 | 7 | $106,594 | $15,228 |
| 1997 | 2 | 1 | $529 | $529 |
| 1996 | 3 | 1 | $1,453 | $1,453 |
| 1995 | 18 | 11 | $171,708 | $15,610 |
| 1994 | 34 | 27 | $266,703 | $9,878 |
| 1993 | 1 | 0 | $0 | — |
OpenFEMA NFIP claims (v3, as of 8 Sep 2026), aggregated by year of loss; amounts are building, contents and increased-cost-of-compliance payments as recorded. Repetitive-loss counts from the NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (2 Aug 2026); policies in force from the NFIP Residential Penetration Rates file (3 Aug 2026).
National Risk Index
| Hazard (NRI) | Risk rating | Expected annual loss |
|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | $17,078,331 | |
| Cold wave | $3,528,529 | |
| Tornado | $1,510,110 | |
| Landslide | $1,003,438 | |
| Earthquake | $634,194 | |
| Drought | $629,857 | |
| Ice storm | $416,169 | |
| Strong wind | $409,784 | |
| Lightning | $324,333 | |
| Hurricane | $213,673 | |
| Hail | $134,852 | |
| Winter weather | $67,162 | |
| Wildfire | $23,936 |
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 release. Ratings are FEMA's relative comparison of counties; expected annual loss is FEMA's modelled estimate of average yearly building, population and agriculture loss. See how to read the NRI.
Hurricane and tropical storm passes
| Storm | Year | Closest approach | Max wind while within 100 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hugo | 1989 | 23 mi | 63 mph |
| David | 1979 | 90 mi | 46 mph |
| Gracie | 1959 | 17 mi | 40 mph |
| Able | 1952 | 85 mi | 46 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1949 | 63 mi | 58 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1934 | 98 mi | 40 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1932 | 74 mi | 40 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1927 | 99 mi | 40 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1915 | 70 mi | 40 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1907 | 44 mi | 40 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1902 | 68 mi | 40 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1901 | 96 mi | 40 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1893 | 89 mi | 75 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1886 | 82 mi | 40 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1882 | 82 mi | 46 mph |
HURDAT2 best-track positions at tropical-storm strength (34 kt) or more, measured from the county's Census centre point; through the 2025 season. Distance from a track is not the same as the extent of the storm's wind, rain or surge.
ZIP codes with flood claims
ZIP codes whose NFIP claims carry this county's code, with the number of claims. Five or more claims are needed for a ZIP page to be indexed.
Questions and answers
How often does it hail in Watauga County, NC?
NCEI records 75 hail events in Watauga County since 1950, in 22 different years; that is about 1.0 recorded events a year. 10 reports were golf-ball size (1.75 in) or larger.
Has Watauga County had a tornado?
Yes. NCEI records 4 tornadoes in Watauga County since 1950, 0 of them rated (E)F2 or stronger. Tornado deaths recorded: 0.
When was the last federal disaster declaration for Watauga County?
24 Jan 2026: Severe Winter Storm, a emergency declaration for winter storm. The county appears in 24 declarations since 1953.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Watauga County, and how much was paid?
463 NFIP claims since 1978, 357 of them paid, for $16M in total. FEMA publishes these figures redacted and aggregated; individual properties are not identified.
Is Watauga County in the National Risk Index's high-risk band?
FEMA's National Risk Index (December 2025) rates the county "Relatively Low" for overall risk, "Relatively Low" for expected annual loss, "Relatively High" for social vulnerability and "Relatively High" for community resilience. These ratings are FEMA's relative comparison across all US counties.
How does Watauga County compare with the rest of North Carolina?
217.3 recorded events per 100 square miles against 112.5 statewide, and 8.5 NFIP claims per 1,000 residents against 10.4. The comparison table on this page shows each measure beside the state and national figures.
Provenance
Storm events: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026 (public domain). Declarations: OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, refreshed 1 Oct 2026. Flood claims: OpenFEMA NfipClaims v3 as of 8 Sep 2026; NfipMultipleLossProperties v1 (2 Aug 2026); NfipResidentialPenetrationRates v1 (3 Aug 2026). Risk index: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025. Hurricane tracks: NHC HURDAT2 through 2025. Population and area: US Census Bureau, 2021 vintage. Built 1 Oct 2026; see the methodology and corrections pages. Hazard hubs: Hail · Tornado · Flood · Wind · Winter.