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Wind in Wilkes County, North Carolina
426 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.
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.
Wilkes County, North Carolina, has 426 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 43 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 87 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 325 events against 93 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.9% of the 22,958 wind events recorded in North Carolina; its 56.5 per 100 square miles compares with 47.2 statewide.
NCEI attributes 3 deaths in the county to damaging wind.
115 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 9 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 | Wilkes County | North Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 426 | 22,958 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 56.5 | 47.2 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 64.7 | 21.8 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 3 | 87 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
6Feb
14Mar
25Apr
30May
44Jun
87Jul
84Aug
87Sep
29Oct
9Nov
3Dec
8
Magnitude distribution
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 175 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 426. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $175K | $15K | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $11K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Feb 2025 | High Wind | 63 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Dec 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Dec 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Sep 2024 | High Wind | 63 mph | $500K | — | 1 | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2024 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $20K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $10K | $2K | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 96 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | $3K | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2023 | High Wind | 58 mph | $100K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Mar 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $500 | — | — | County |
| 3 Mar 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $500 | — | — | County |
| 30 Sep 2022 | Strong Wind | 53 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $200 | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $5K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $5K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 23 Mar 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Mar 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Mar 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Mar 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 2022 | Strong Wind | 35 mph | $25K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Mar 2022 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $25K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $8K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 12 Apr 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Dec 2019 | High Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Oct 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $18K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2019 | High Wind | 63 mph | $6K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Oct 2018 | Strong Wind | 35 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Sep 2018 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Sep 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2018 | High Wind | 60 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Oct 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Sep 2017 | Strong Wind | 56 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $10K | $60K | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $75K | — | 1 | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | 1 | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $18K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Mar 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Feb 2011 | High Wind | 63 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Feb 2010 | High Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Dec 2008 | High Wind | 58 mph | $15K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Sep 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $23K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Feb 2008 | High Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Apr 2007 | High Wind | 72 mph | $250K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Dec 2006 | High Wind | 64 mph | $300K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $80K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2005 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | 1 | Forecast zone |
| 30 Aug 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jan 2000 | High Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 1998 | High Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Mar 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $160K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $120K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Sep 1996 | High Wind | — | $25K | $5K | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Apr 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jan 1996 | High Wind | — | $90K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | 1 | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Wilkes County had?
426 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 Wilkes County?
18 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 Wilkes County?
The high wind of 27 Sep 2024, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $500K; 1 death recorded.
How does Wilkes County compare with North Carolina for wind?
56.5 events per 100 square miles against 47.2 statewide; the county holds 426 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.