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Wind in Watauga County, North Carolina

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

231 events · 0 deaths recorded · peak month December · county share of state 1.0%

Wind event locations in and around Watauga 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 231 wind events in Watauga County, North Carolina, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 33 years.

December is the busiest month, with 35 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 155 events against 76 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.

The county holds 1% of the 22,958 wind events recorded in North Carolina; its 73.9 per 100 square miles compares with 47.2 statewide.

119 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 10 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

Measure	Watauga County	North Carolina	US
Wind events since 1950	231	22,958	701,953
Per 100 square miles	73.9	47.2	19.9
Per 10,000 residents	42.6	21.8	21.1
Deaths recorded	0	87	2,166
Busiest month	December	July	June

By year

195019882026

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

Seasonality

Jan
31Feb
32Mar
24Apr
14May
14Jun
17Jul
15Aug
13Sep
11Oct
11Nov
14Dec
35

Wind events in Watauga County by month of occurrence, all years.

Magnitude distribution

under 58 mph79

58–73 mph109

74–95 mph10

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 154 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 231. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.

Date	Event type	Magnitude	Property damage	Crop damage	Deaths	Injuries	Geography
21 May 2026	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$2K	—	—	—	County
29 Dec 2025	High Wind	71 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
19 Dec 2025	High Wind	72 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
15 Apr 2025	High Wind	58 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
16 Mar 2025	High Wind	75 mph	$60K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
6 Mar 2025	High Wind	60 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
16 Feb 2025	High Wind	61 mph	$2K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
29 Jan 2025	High Wind	74 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Jan 2025	High Wind	62 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
11 Dec 2024	High Wind	62 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
5 Dec 2024	High Wind	72 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
27 Sep 2024	High Wind	91 mph	$28M	—	—	—	Forecast zone
25 Sep 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$1K	—	—	—	County
16 Jul 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$4K	—	—	—	County
12 Apr 2024	High Wind	68 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
10 Mar 2024	High Wind	59 mph	$20K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
28 Feb 2024	High Wind	62 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
13 Feb 2024	High Wind	64 mph	$2K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
13 Jan 2024	High Wind	67 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
10 Jan 2024	High Wind	62 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
9 Jan 2024	High Wind	63 mph	$10K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
18 Dec 2023	High Wind	62 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
15 Aug 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$3K	—	—	—	County
15 Aug 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	63 mph	$2K	—	—	—	County
15 Aug 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$500	—	—	—	County
14 Aug 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$500	—	—	—	County
29 Jul 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$2K	—	—	—	County
29 Jul 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$1K	—	—	—	County
29 Jul 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$5K	—	—	—	County
2 May 2023	High Wind	58 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Apr 2023	High Wind	58 mph	$60K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
3 Mar 2023	High Wind	72 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
28 Feb 2023	High Wind	68 mph	$10K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
26 Jan 2023	High Wind	63 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
20 Jan 2023	High Wind	59 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
3 Jan 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	69 mph	$5K	—	—	—	County
23 Dec 2022	High Wind	62 mph	$10K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
25 Sep 2022	Thunderstorm Wind	60 mph	—	—	—	—	County
17 Jun 2022	Thunderstorm Wind	63 mph	$18K	—	—	—	County
14 Jun 2022	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$500	—	—	—	County
6 May 2022	Thunderstorm Wind	69 mph	—	$5K	—	—	County
30 Mar 2022	High Wind	58 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
27 Mar 2022	High Wind	64 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
12 Mar 2022	High Wind	64 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
19 Feb 2022	High Wind	60 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
17 Jan 2022	High Wind	75 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
31 Aug 2021	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$500	—	—	—	County
31 Aug 2021	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$500	—	—	—	County
31 Aug 2021	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$500	—	—	—	County
20 Jan 2021	High Wind	61 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
24 Dec 2020	High Wind	63 mph	$25K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
22 Dec 2020	High Wind	60 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
11 Nov 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	69 mph	$15K	—	—	—	County
31 Jul 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	63 mph	—	—	—	—	County
27 Feb 2020	High Wind	63 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
7 Jan 2020	High Wind	63 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
4 Jan 2020	High Wind	58 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
31 Dec 2019	High Wind	62 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
5 Dec 2019	High Wind	67 mph	$3K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
27 Nov 2019	High Wind	66 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
31 Oct 2019	High Wind	64 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
31 Oct 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$500	—	—	—	County
26 Apr 2019	High Wind	68 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
24 Feb 2019	High Wind	58 mph	$15K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
12 Feb 2019	High Wind	63 mph	$42K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
20 Jan 2019	High Wind	58 mph	$8K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
9 Jan 2019	High Wind	58 mph	$2K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
5 Jan 2019	High Wind	59 mph	$1K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
20 Oct 2018	High Wind	58 mph	$40K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
11 Oct 2018	Strong Wind	48 mph	$75K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
16 Sep 2018	Strong Wind	49 mph	$3K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
6 Jul 2018	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$15K	—	—	—	County
1 Mar 2018	High Wind	60 mph	$40K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
14 Dec 2017	High Wind	58 mph	$1K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
11 Sep 2017	High Wind	58 mph	$15K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
6 Apr 2017	High Wind	59 mph	$3K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
10 Mar 2017	High Wind	64 mph	$1K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
13 Feb 2017	High Wind	63 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
9 Feb 2017	High Wind	58 mph	$5K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
20 Nov 2016	High Wind	58 mph	$2K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
8 Jul 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	69 mph	$100K	—	—	1	County
2 Apr 2016	High Wind	68 mph	$5K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
25 Feb 2016	High Wind	58 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
13 Feb 2016	High Wind	62 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
18 Nov 2015	Strong Wind	52 mph	$1K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
3 Oct 2015	Strong Wind	35 mph	$20K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
5 Aug 2015	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$1K	—	—	—	County
5 Aug 2015	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$500	—	—	—	County
5 Aug 2015	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$500	—	—	—	County
13 Jul 2015	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$2K	—	—	—	County
14 Feb 2015	High Wind	62 mph	$5K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
14 Oct 2014	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$10K	—	—	—	County
7 Sep 2014	Strong Wind	35 mph	$500	—	—	—	Forecast zone
8 Jul 2014	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$500	—	—	—	County
8 Jul 2014	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$500	—	—	—	County
22 May 2014	High Wind	58 mph	$3K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
30 Mar 2014	High Wind	67 mph	$300	—	—	—	Forecast zone
12 Mar 2014	High Wind	58 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
3 Jan 2014	High Wind	58 mph	$1K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
17 Jul 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$600	—	—	—	County
17 Jul 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$3K	—	—	—	County
17 Jul 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	60 mph	—	—	—	—	County
13 Jun 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	67 mph	$3K	—	—	—	County
20 Feb 2013	High Wind	66 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
8 Feb 2013	High Wind	58 mph	$1K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
3 Feb 2013	High Wind	62 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
29 Jan 2013	High Wind	62 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
24 Jan 2013	High Wind	66 mph	$5K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
26 Dec 2012	High Wind	64 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
20 Dec 2012	High Wind	67 mph	$6K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
29 Oct 2012	High Wind	58 mph	$7K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Aug 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$30K	—	—	—	County
1 Jul 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	63 mph	$3K	—	—	—	County
12 Jan 2012	High Wind	58 mph	$50K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
7 Dec 2011	High Wind	67 mph	$3K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
23 Nov 2011	Strong Wind	46 mph	$600	—	—	—	Forecast zone
12 Jun 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	69 mph	$3K	—	—	—	County
10 May 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	—	—	—	—	County
28 Feb 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$2K	—	—	—	County
25 Feb 2011	High Wind	59 mph	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
14 Feb 2011	High Wind	62 mph	$5K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
21 Jun 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$2K	—	—	—	County
14 Jun 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	63 mph	$3K	—	—	—	County
25 Dec 2009	High Wind	81 mph	$3K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
3 Apr 2009	High Wind	58 mph	$35K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
7 Dec 2008	High Wind	58 mph	$5K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
26 Jun 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	58 mph	$3K	—	—	—	County
10 Jun 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	63 mph	$3K	—	—	—	County
10 Jun 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	63 mph	$3K	—	—	—	County
11 May 2008	High Wind	60 mph	$5K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
10 Feb 2008	High Wind	63 mph	$15K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
30 Jan 2008	High Wind	58 mph	$35K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
16 Dec 2007	High Wind	58 mph	$12K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
3 Dec 2007	High Wind	60 mph	$2K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
15 Apr 2007	High Wind	71 mph	$250K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Dec 2006	High Wind	60 mph	$8K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
28 Oct 2006	High Wind	58 mph	$200K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
25 Apr 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	54 mph	$15K	—	—	—	County
2 Apr 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	69 mph	$3K	—	—	—	County
22 Feb 2003	High Wind	89 mph	$15K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
25 Dec 2002	High Wind	—	$50K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
30 Nov 2002	High Wind	—	$10K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
10 Mar 2002	High Wind	—	$3K	—	—	2	Forecast zone
2 Apr 2001	High Wind	—	$10K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
20 Mar 2001	High Wind	—	$5K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
5 Mar 2001	High Wind	—	$125K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
13 Jan 2000	High Wind	—	$4K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
11 Jan 2000	High Wind	—	$5K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
3 Mar 1999	High Wind	—	$3K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
4 Feb 1998	High Wind	—	$10K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
13 Jun 1997	Thunderstorm Wind	—	$2K	—	—	—	County
5 Mar 1997	Thunderstorm Wind	—	$20K	—	—	—	County
19 Jan 1996	High Wind	—	$90K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
15 Apr 1993	Thunderstorm Wind	0 mph	$5K	—	—	—	County

Questions and answers

How many wind events has Watauga County had?

231 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 Watauga County?

21 May 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 58 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.

What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Watauga County?

The high wind of 27 Sep 2024, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $28M.

How does Watauga County compare with North Carolina for wind?

73.9 events per 100 square miles against 47.2 statewide; the county holds 231 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.