Buncombe County, North Carolina
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 37021 · population 269,305 · 656 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 892 records for Buncombe County, North Carolina from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 671 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (264 records). The deadliest day on its record was September 27, 2024: flash flood and debris flow records filed for Buncombe County that day count 37 deaths across 3 records. FEMA has issued 21 declarations naming the county since 1973, 19 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm” on January 24, 2026.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 892on 671 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 4316 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $788Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 7strongest F1
- FEMA declarations
- 21latest 2026
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Buncombe County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 264 since 1996. 57% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. The rank column places the county among North Carolina's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 264 | 252 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $114K | 16 of 100 |
| Hail | 207 | 132 | 1962-2026 | 0 | 0 | $8K | 18 of 100 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 202 | 170 | 1959-2026 | 2 | 9 | $744K | 59 of 100 |
| High wind and dust storms | 68 | 68 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 0 | $2.2M | 12 of 100 |
| Floods | 52 | 42 | 1996-2024 | 26 | 0 | $700M | 55 of 100 |
| Drought | 35 | 35 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 35 of 100 |
| Extreme cold | 24 | 24 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $14M | 18 of 100 |
| Lightning | 14 | 14 | 1996-2011 | 1 | 7 | $446K | 28 of 100 |
| Heavy rain | 9 | 9 | 1998-2014 | 0 | 0 | $590K | 26 of 100 |
| Tornadoes | 7 | 5 | 1976-2024 | 0 | 0 | $4.4M | 95 of 100 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 5 | 5 | 2004-2024 | 13 | 0 | $32M | 8 of 100 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 3 | 3 | 1997-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | 33 of 100 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 2 | 2 | 2020-2024 | 0 | 0 | $33M | 90 of 100 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Buncombe County had?
NOAA records 7 tornadoes in Buncombe County from 1976 to 2024, the strongest rated F1, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 7 tornadoes whose track touched Buncombe County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 7, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in North Carolina.
Every tornado record filed for Buncombe County (7)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-05-08 | Walkertown, Buncombe County | EF0 2.32 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $94K |
| 1999-05-06 | Asheville, Buncombe County | F1 2 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $443K |
| 1993-05-19 | Asheville, Buncombe County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1977-06-06 | Buncombe County | F1 8.8 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1977-06-06 | Buncombe County | F1 9.4 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1976-02-18 | Buncombe County | F1 0.5 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1976-02-18 | Buncombe County | F1 3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Buncombe County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 16, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($5,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindBiltmore, Buncombe County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtBuncombe County · forecast zone Buncombe | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtBuncombe County · forecast zone Buncombe | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | HailAlexander, Buncombe County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindFairview, Buncombe County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindNew Bridge, Buncombe County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-02-07 | High WindBuncombe County · forecast zone Buncombe | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-01 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillBuncombe County · forecast zone Buncombe | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-30 | Heavy SnowBuncombe County · forecast zone Buncombe | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-26 | Cold/Wind ChillBuncombe County · forecast zone Buncombe | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormBuncombe County · forecast zone Buncombe | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-30 | Winter WeatherBuncombe County · forecast zone Buncombe | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-27 | Flash FloodRidgecrest, Buncombe County Historic and catastrophic flash flooding developed along the Swannanoa River basin during the early morning hours as rainfall rates began to intensify as tropical rainbands near the center of Helene swept across the area. Numerous structures and roads were inundated in the city of Black Mountain, the Swannanoa ... | 15 | 0 | $282M | |
| 2024-09-27 | Debris FlowBlue Ridge, Buncombe County A large debris flow developed along Old Fort Rd in the Fairview area, destroying multiple homes and killing 11 members of the same family. A second large debris flow later developed and killed two emergency workers responding to the first event. | 13 | 0 | $941K | |
| 2024-09-27 | Flash FloodShumon, Buncombe County Rainfall rates began to intensify as tropical rainbands near the center of Helene swept across the area during the morning hours after 10-17 inches of rain fell across much of the county, with amounts over 20 inches reported in the eastern part of the county. Devastating flash flooding developed along numerous ... | 9 | 0 | $282M | |
| 2004-09-16 | FloodBuncombe County · forecast zone Buncombe After many hours of moderate to heavy rainfall, gradual rises on creeks and streams resulted in the second devastating flood across the county in just 9 days. Flooding first began around Candler, but eventually affected every valley community in the county. Flooding was actually more widespread than during the Frances ... | 2 | 0 | $62M | |
| 1984-03-08 | Thunderstorm WindBuncombe County | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2023-04-01 | Strong WindBuncombe County · forecast zone Buncombe Gusty winds developed across western North Carolina in the wake of a cold front, causing a tree to fall on a 65-year-old employee on Approach Rd at Biltmore Estate. | 40 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| 2022-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindBiltmore, Buncombe County Media reported gusty winds associated with a weakening line of showers and thunderstorms blew down a tree onto a vehicle at Biltmore Estate, killing an occupant. | 40 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $5K |
| 2009-06-08 | LightningFairview, Buncombe County A 65-year-old man was struck and killed by lightning on highway 74E just south of Fairview. | 1 | 0 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-27 | Flash FloodRidgecrest, Buncombe County | 15 | 0 | $282M | |
| 2004-09-07 | FloodBuncombe County · forecast zone Buncombe | 0 | 0 | $64M | |
| 2004-09-16 | FloodBuncombe County · forecast zone Buncombe | 2 | 0 | $62M | |
| 2024-09-27 | Tropical StormBuncombe County · forecast zone Buncombe | 0 | 0 | $33M | |
| 2004-09-08 | Debris FlowBuncombe County · forecast zone Buncombe | 0 | 0 | $16M | |
| 2004-09-17 | Debris FlowBuncombe County · forecast zone Buncombe | 0 | 0 | $16M | |
| 2013-07-04 | Flash FloodWoodfin, Buncombe County | 0 | 0 | $3.2M | |
| 1998-01-07 | Flash FloodCountywide, Buncombe County | 0 | 0 | $1.8M |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: February 18, 1976 (tornado, Buncombe County); June 6, 1977 (tornado, Buncombe County); June 6, 1977 (tornado, Buncombe County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Buncombe County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 38 | 115 | 85 | 26 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 29 | 79 | 66 | 19 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 24 | 72 | 57 | 36 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 12 | 42 | 11 | 3 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 7 | 14 | 24 | 7 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 6 | 26 | 1 | 2 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
57% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 121 · Feb 87 · Mar 61 · Apr 63 · May 108 · Jun 137 · Jul 109 · Aug 59 · Sep 33 · Oct 18 · Nov 29 · Dec 67 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Buncombe County
FEMA's register lists 21 declarations that include Buncombe County: 11 major disasters, 9 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for hurricane (9) and flood (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3637 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2024-09-28 | DR-4827 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| 2024-09-26 | EM-3617 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| 2022-10-01 | EM-3586 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ian |
| 2021-09-08 | DR-4617 | Hurricane | Remnants of Tropical Storm Fred |
| 2020-08-02 | EM-3534 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isaias |
| 2020-03-25 | DR-4487 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3471 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-09-03 | EM-3423 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
| 2018-09-10 | EM-3401 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2016-11-11 | FM-5161 | Fire | Party Rock Fire |
| 2013-09-25 | DR-4146 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2010-02-02 | DR-1871 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3222 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-09-18 | DR-1553 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ivan |
| 2004-09-10 | DR-1546 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Frances |
| 1996-09-06 | DR-1134 | Hurricane | Hurricane Fran |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1087 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 |
| 1993-03-17 | EM-3110 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
| 1977-11-09 | DR-542 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1973-06-25 | DR-394 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Buncombe County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 52 flood or flash flood records for Buncombe County from 1996 to 2024, on 42 days, with 26 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Buncombe County ranks 289th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Helene | 2024-09-27 | 3 | 24 |
| Hurricane Ivan | 2004-09-16 | 1 | 2 |
| Tropical Storm Fred | 2021-08-17 | 1 | 0 |
| Tropical Storm Frances | 2004-09-07 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $104 million on 1,192 claims filed in Buncombe County; the most in one year was 506 in 2024. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 4 · 1979: 23 · 1980: 1 · 1982: 4 · 1983: 8 · 1984: 4 · 1987: 1 · 1989: 5 · 1990: 2 · 1991: 2 · 1992: 3 · 1993: 4 · 1994: 10 · 1995: 52 · 1996: 1 · 1998: 26 · 1999: 1 · 2000: 4 · 2001: 1 · 2002: 1 · 2003: 5 · 2004: 257 · 2005: 7 · 2009: 11 · 2010: 2 · 2011: 2 · 2012: 8 · 2013: 25 · 2014: 5 · 2015: 32 · 2016: 7 · 2017: 5 · 2018: 38 · 2019: 25 · 2020: 12 · 2021: 85 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 506 · 2026: 2; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Buncombe County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Buncombe County Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $82.4 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning | Very High | $2.4M | 55 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively High | $1.3M | 2.1 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | $17M | 3.8 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | $1.5M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | $2.5M | 2.8 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $48M | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $4.4M | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $187K | 15 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Buncombe County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in North CarolinaEvery North Carolina tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Winter storms in North CarolinaThe state's winter storm records, by county, year and month
- The North Carolina recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Buncombe CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Buncombe County's FEMA declarations (CSV)21 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis