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Flood in Watauga County, North Carolina
150 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 150 flood events in Watauga County, North Carolina, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 28 years.
November is the busiest month, with 23 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 124 events against 26 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 2.8% of the 5,375 flood events recorded in North Carolina; its 48.0 per 100 square miles compares with 11.1 statewide.
NCEI attributes 2 deaths in the county to floods and flash floods.
Compared with North Carolina
| Measure | Watauga County | North Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flood events since 1950 | 150 | 5,375 | 183,559 |
| Per 100 square miles | 48.0 | 11.1 | 5.2 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 27.7 | 5.1 | 5.5 |
| Deaths recorded | 2 | 186 | 2,961 |
| Busiest month | November | September | June |
By year
Seasonality
15Feb
2Mar
7Apr
11May
17Jun
12Jul
16Aug
21Sep
16Oct
4Nov
23Dec
6
Recorded events
All 150 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 May 2025 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2025 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2025 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2025 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2025 | Flood | — | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Dec 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Dec 2024 | Flood | — | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Dec 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Dec 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Sep 2024 | Flash Flood | — | $250M | — | 2 | 4 | County |
| 25 Sep 2024 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jan 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jan 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jan 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jan 2024 | Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jan 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Dec 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Mar 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Nov 2022 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Nov 2022 | Flood | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Nov 2022 | Flood | — | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Nov 2022 | Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Nov 2022 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Nov 2022 | Flood | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Nov 2022 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Nov 2022 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2022 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2021 | Flash Flood | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2021 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2021 | Flood | — | $15K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 17 Aug 2021 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2021 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2021 | Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2021 | Flash Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2020 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2020 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Flash Flood | — | $160K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Feb 2020 | Flood | — | $81K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jan 2020 | Flash Flood | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2019 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2019 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2019 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2019 | Flood | — | $615K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2019 | Flood | — | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Dec 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Oct 2018 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Sep 2018 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2018 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2018 | Flash Flood | — | $1.3M | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jan 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Oct 2017 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Oct 2017 | Flash Flood | — | $800K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2017 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2017 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2017 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Feb 2016 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Nov 2015 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Nov 2015 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Oct 2015 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Sep 2015 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Sep 2015 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2015 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2015 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2014 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2014 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2013 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2013 | Flash Flood | — | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2013 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2013 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2013 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2013 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2013 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2013 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2013 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2013 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2013 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2013 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2013 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jan 2013 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jan 2013 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jan 2013 | Flash Flood | — | $175K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Sep 2012 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2012 | Flash Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2012 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 2012 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Nov 2011 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Nov 2011 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Nov 2011 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Nov 2011 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2011 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2011 | Flash Flood | — | $5.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Sep 2011 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Sep 2011 | Flash Flood | — | $750K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Sep 2011 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Sep 2011 | Flash Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2011 | Flash Flood | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2011 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2011 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2011 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Nov 2010 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Nov 2010 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Nov 2010 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2010 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2010 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2010 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Mar 2010 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jan 2010 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jan 2010 | Flash Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2009 | Flash Flood | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 2009 | Flash Flood | — | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2009 | Flash Flood | — | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2009 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2009 | Flash Flood | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2008 | Flash Flood | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2008 | Flash Flood | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2008 | Flash Flood | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Mar 2008 | Flash Flood | — | $1.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2007 | Flash Flood | — | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2007 | Flash Flood | — | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2005 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jan 2005 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Sep 2004 | Flood | — | $5.0M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Sep 2004 | Flood | — | $2.7M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Nov 2003 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Nov 2003 | Flash Flood | — | $1.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2003 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2003 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2003 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2003 | Flash Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2002 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2001 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2000 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Nov 1999 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Nov 1999 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Nov 1999 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 1999 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1999 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 1999 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1998 | Flash Flood | — | $600K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1998 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Mar 1998 | Flash Flood | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jan 1998 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Nov 1996 | Flash Flood | — | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 1996 | Flash Flood | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jan 1996 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many flood events has Watauga County had?
150 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 Watauga County?
12 May 2025 (Flood). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging flood event recorded in Watauga County?
The flash flood of 27 Sep 2024, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $250M; 2 deaths recorded.
How does Watauga County compare with North Carolina for flood?
48.0 events per 100 square miles against 11.1 statewide; the county holds 150 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.