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Wind in McDowell County, West Virginia
171 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.
McDowell County, West Virginia, has 171 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 38 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 37 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 129 events against 33 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.7% of the 10,267 wind events recorded in West Virginia; its 32.1 per 100 square miles compares with 42.7 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to damaging wind.
11 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 3 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 West Virginia
| Measure | McDowell County | West Virginia | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 171 | 10,267 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 32.1 | 42.7 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 93.1 | 57.6 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 22 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
6Feb
11Mar
7Apr
17May
32Jun
37Jul
30Aug
15Sep
4Oct
1Nov
4Dec
7
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
All 171 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Mar 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Mar 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Feb 2026 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Feb 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $200 | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Dec 2025 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $3K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Dec 2025 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Dec 2024 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Dec 2024 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Nov 2024 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Sep 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $200 | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Feb 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $200 | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Feb 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jan 2024 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Jan 2024 | Strong Wind | 35 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $200 | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $200 | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $200 | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $200 | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2023 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Mar 2023 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | $250 | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $750 | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $750 | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jan 2020 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2019 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Apr 2018 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Apr 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 100 mph | $60K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2016 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Nov 2014 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $750K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Feb 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Feb 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Dec 2009 | High Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Feb 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $250K | — | 1 | — | County |
| 11 Feb 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Nov 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Dec 2001 | High Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Oct 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Feb 2001 | High Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Feb 2001 | High Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Dec 2000 | High Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Nov 2000 | High Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jan 2000 | High Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Jan 2000 | High Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jan 2000 | High Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Aug 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 1999 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Sep 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Sep 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Sep 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Mar 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has McDowell County had?
171 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 McDowell County?
22 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 52 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in McDowell County?
The thunderstorm wind of 29 Jun 2012, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $750K.
How does McDowell County compare with West Virginia for wind?
32.1 events per 100 square miles against 42.7 statewide; the county holds 171 of the state's 10,267 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.