Graham County, North Carolina
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 37075 · population 8,013 · 292 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 442 records for Graham County, North Carolina from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 402 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (217 records). 306 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the April 3, 1974 tornado: 2 deaths and 11 injuries. FEMA has issued 17 declarations naming the county since 1974, 15 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
- 442on 402 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 214 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $4.4Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 1strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 17latest 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 Graham County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 217 since 1996. 55% 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 | 217 | 206 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 4 of 100 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 92 | 81 | 1990-2025 | 0 | 3 | $79K | 54 of 100 |
| Drought | 37 | 37 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 6 of 100 |
| Hail | 34 | 30 | 1974-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 73 of 100 |
| High wind and dust storms | 25 | 25 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $777K | 17 of 100 |
| Extreme cold | 20 | 20 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | 4 of 100 |
| Floods | 11 | 10 | 1997-2009 | 0 | 0 | $593K | 93 of 100 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 2002-2013 | 0 | 0 | – | 57 of 100 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 1 | 1 | 2020-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 88 of 100 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 1999-1999 | 0 | 0 | – | 80 of 100 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 1 | 1974-1974 | 2 | 11 | $1.5M | 98 of 100 |
| Wildfires | 1 | 1 | 2016-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 9 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 Graham County had?
NOAA records 1 tornado in Graham County from 1974 to 1974, the strongest rated F2, with 2 deaths and 11 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 1 tornado whose track touched Graham County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 1, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 2 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974-04-03 18:05, as SPC files it | Robbinsville | F2 | 24.1 mi | 2 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in North Carolina.
Every tornado record filed for Graham County (1)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974-04-03 | Graham County | F2 10.5 mi x 33 yd | 2 | 11 | $250K 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 Graham County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 16, 2007 high wind ($712,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
After an intense, but relatively brief high wind event affected the mountains and foothills on the evening of the 15th, another widespread damaging high wind event developed during the day of the 16th. However, this particular event included much of the piedmont. Thousands of trees fell across the area, resulting in widespread power outages. Numerous trees fell on roads, homes, and vehicles. The Blue Ridge mountains and the foothills received the brunt of the strongest winds. In Highlands, NC, two homes were heavily damaged by fallen trees, while approximately 100 homes received minor to moderate damage. A tree fell on and severely damaged a home in Otto, NC. Two businesses received significant roof damage in Cashiers, NC. Three contruction workers were injured in Mount Holly when an inflatable structure collapsed at a constructions site. …
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 29398)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtGraham County · forecast zone Graham | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtGraham County · forecast zone Graham | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillGraham County · forecast zone Graham | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-30 | Heavy SnowGraham County · forecast zone Graham | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-26 | Cold/Wind ChillGraham County · forecast zone Graham | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter WeatherGraham County · forecast zone Graham | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-10 | Winter WeatherGraham County · forecast zone Graham | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-05-17 | Thunderstorm WindTapoco, Graham County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-04 | High WindGraham County · forecast zone Graham | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-20 | Cold/Wind ChillGraham County · forecast zone Graham | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-22 | Cold/Wind ChillGraham County · forecast zone Graham | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-20 | Cold/Wind ChillGraham County · forecast zone Graham | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974-04-03 | TornadoGraham County | F2 10.5 mi x 33 yd | 2 | 11 | $250K step |
| 1997-07-04 | Thunderstorm WindRobbinsville, Graham County Severe thunderstorms moved into the mountains from Tennessee in the early evening on the Fourth, before moving into or redeveloping in the foothills and western piedmont later in the evening. Damaging winds raked much of western North Carolina, downing trees and power lines, and a few reports of hail as large a golf ... | 0 | 3 | – |
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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-05-07 | Flash FloodCountywide, Graham County | 0 | 0 | $401K |
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: April 3, 1974 (tornado, Graham County, 2 killed).
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 Graham 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 | – | – | – | – | 35 | 90 | 72 | 20 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 37 | 26 | 12 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 6 | 27 | 2 | 2 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 11 | 5 | 1 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 6 | 17 | 1 | 1 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 1 | 2 | 7 | 10 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
55% 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 87 · Feb 69 · Mar 51 · Apr 26 · May 35 · Jun 24 · Jul 26 · Aug 19 · Sep 10 · Oct 18 · Nov 28 · Dec 49 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Graham County
FEMA's register lists 17 declarations that include Graham County: 8 major disasters, 9 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (7) and tropical storm (2).
| 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 |
| 2020-05-08 | DR-4543 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3222 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-09-18 | DR-1553 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ivan |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1087 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 |
| 1995-10-23 | DR-1073 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, High Winds |
| 1993-03-17 | EM-3110 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
| 1974-04-12 | DR-428 | Tornado | Tornadoes |
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 Graham County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 11 flood or flash flood records for Graham County from 1997 to 2009, on 10 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Graham County ranks 2477th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $14,000 on 7 claims filed in Graham County; the most in one year was 3 in 2003. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1980: 1 · 1992: 1 · 2003: 3 · 2020: 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 Graham County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Graham County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $5.5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $79K | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.1M | 3.6 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $3.4M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $74K | 58 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $197K | 4 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $311K | once in about 10 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $225K | once in about 268 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $35K | once in about 378 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Graham 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 Graham CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Graham County's FEMA declarations (CSV)17 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis