Lincoln County, North Carolina
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 37109 · population 86,724 · 296 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 537 records for Lincoln County, North Carolina from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 405 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (177 records). The deadliest single record is the May 5, 1989 tornado: 4 deaths and 19 injuries. FEMA has issued 21 declarations naming the county since 1974, 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
- 537on 405 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 636 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $90Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 23strongest F4
- 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 Lincoln County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 177 since 1956. 44% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1956 fell in June and July. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 177 | 151 | 1956-2026 | 2 | 1 | $825K | 10 of 100 |
| Hail | 131 | 93 | 1962-2025 | 0 | 0 | $1.9M | 4 of 100 |
| Winter storms | 82 | 78 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $15M | 24 of 100 |
| Drought | 37 | 37 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 7 of 100 |
| Floods | 31 | 26 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 0 | $3.2M | 32 of 100 |
| Tornadoes | 23 | 19 | 1968-2025 | 4 | 30 | $64M | 6 of 100 |
| High wind and dust storms | 17 | 17 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 0 | $1.0M | 31 of 100 |
| Lightning | 12 | 12 | 1999-2023 | 0 | 4 | $1.6M | 8 of 100 |
| Extreme cold | 10 | 10 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | 20 of 100 |
| Heavy rain | 6 | 6 | 2003-2020 | 0 | 0 | $29K | 15 of 100 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 4 | 4 | 2018-2024 | 0 | 0 | $952K | 50 of 100 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 4 | 4 | 1997-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 of 100 |
| Heat | 3 | 3 | 1999-2012 | 0 | 1 | – | 34 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 Lincoln County had?
NOAA records 23 tornadoes in Lincoln County from 1968 to 2025, the strongest rated F4, with 4 deaths and 30 injuries recorded in the county. That is 6th of 100 North Carolina counties and 249th of 3,080 U.S. counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. 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 23 tornadoes whose track touched Lincoln County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 23, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 4 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989-05-05 16:54, as SPC files it | Belwood | F4 | 14 mi | 4 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in North Carolina.
Every tornado record filed for Lincoln County (23)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-05-03 | Lowesville, Lincoln County | EF0 1.32 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-02-06 | Elay, Lincoln County | EF0 0.45 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-04-19 | Laboratory, Lincoln County | EF0 6.06 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-10-23 | Toluca, Lincoln County | EF1 1.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-10-26 | Toluca, Lincoln County | EF2 2.58 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 11 | $1.6M |
| 2010-07-13 | Denver, Lincoln County | EF1 0.28 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $338K |
| 2010-07-13 | Kidville, Lincoln County | EF1 3.2 mi x 650 yd | 0 | 0 | $677K |
| 2008-05-11 | Cat Square, Lincoln County | EF0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-04-19 | Johnstown, Lincoln County | EF1 4.26 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $178K |
| 2008-04-19 | Elay, Lincoln County | EF1 0.63 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2006-11-15 | Denver, Lincoln County | F2 1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2006-11-15 | Lincolnton, Lincoln County | F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-07-13 | Lincolnton, Lincoln County | F1 3 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2003-10-16 | Lincolnton, Lincoln County | F1 1.5 mi x 35 yd | 0 | 0 | $80K |
| 2003-05-15 | Reepsville, Lincoln County | F1 3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $80K |
| 1998-05-07 | Denver, Lincoln County | F0 5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $36K |
| 1998-05-07 | Vale, Lincoln County | F2 2 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $384K |
| 1992-03-07 | Lincoln County | F1 3 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1989-05-05 | Lincoln County | F4 3 mi x 800 yd | 4 | 19 | $25M step |
| 1988-10-02 | Lincoln County | F0 0.5 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1974-08-03 | Lincoln County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1973-05-27 | Lincoln County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1968-03-12 | Lincoln County | F1 2 mi x 20 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 Lincoln County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the July 9, 2025 flash flood ($10,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindElay, Lincoln County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-01 | Cold/Wind ChillLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-31 | Heavy SnowLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-25 | Winter StormLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-09-04 | Thunderstorm WindTriangle, Lincoln County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-09-04 | Thunderstorm WindPumpkin Center, Lincoln County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-08-01 | HailPumpkin Center, Lincoln County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-09 | Flash FloodLincolnton, Lincoln County | 0 | 0 | $10K | |
| 2025-07-09 | Thunderstorm WindLincolnton, Lincoln County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-19 | Thunderstorm WindPumpkin Center, Lincoln County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989-05-05 | TornadoLincoln County | F4 3 mi x 800 yd | 4 | 19 | $25M step |
| 2015-06-20 | Thunderstorm WindTriangle, Lincoln County Media reported a 43-year-old female postal worker died when gusty thunderstorm winds blew a large tree down on her vehicle on Norman Ct. | 40 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| 2008-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindLincolnton, Lincoln County A tree fell across Ed Willis Rd. A vehicle collided with the fallen tree, killing the 19-year-old female driver. | 40 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| 2010-10-26 | TornadoToluca, Lincoln County This strong tornado touched down near the intersection of Locust Trail and Tola Houser Lane. Several homes at the beginning of the track received major damage to the roof and exterior wall. One home was shifted off its foundation by nearly 20 feet, with an upstairs room removed. Two vehicles at this location were ... | EF2 2.58 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 11 | $1.6M |
| 2010-05-28 | LightningMariposa, Lincoln County A father and son were injured when struck by lightning on Old Plank Rd. | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 2023-08-07 | LightningHenry, Lincoln County Emergency manager reported a person was struck and injured by lightning in the Vale area. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2010-07-13 | LightningBoger City, Lincoln County Lightning struck and injured a man on Bethel Church Rd. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 1999-08-01 | HeatLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln Sweltering conditions with temperatures around 100 degrees and high humidity caused a 60 year old woman to lose consciousness while weedeating. She was diagnosed with a heat stroke. | 0 | 1 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-10-26 | TornadoToluca, Lincoln County | EF2 2.58 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 11 | $1.6M |
| 2013-07-27 | Flash FloodToluca, Lincoln County | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | |
| 2003-03-20 | FloodLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln | 0 | 0 | $802K | |
| 2010-07-13 | TornadoKidville, Lincoln County | EF1 3.2 mi x 650 yd | 0 | 0 | $677K |
| 2006-05-13 | LightningDenver, Lincoln County | 0 | 0 | $586K | |
| 1998-05-07 | TornadoVale, Lincoln County | F2 2 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $384K |
| 2006-06-02 | LightningLincolnton, Lincoln County | 0 | 0 | $366K | |
| 2020-02-06 | Flash FloodLincolnton, Lincoln County | 0 | 0 | $342K |
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 $25M, in the dollars of the day) holds: May 5, 1989 (tornado, Lincoln County, 4 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 Lincoln 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 19 | 50 | 58 | 29 |
| Hail | 0 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 22 | 56 | 28 | 9 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 18 | 29 | 28 | 7 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 7 | 28 | 0 | 2 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 2 | 15 | 8 | 6 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 2 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
44% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1956 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 48 · Feb 41 · Mar 27 · Apr 35 · May 99 · Jun 83 · Jul 75 · Aug 55 · Sep 22 · Oct 15 · Nov 15 · Dec 22 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Lincoln County
FEMA's register lists 21 declarations that include Lincoln County: 10 major disasters, 11 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (7) and snowstorm (4).
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 2013-10-29 | DR-4153 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3222 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-09-10 | DR-1546 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Frances |
| 2002-12-12 | DR-1448 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Ice Storm |
| 1996-02-23 | DR-1103 | Snowstorm | Winter Storm |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1087 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 |
| 1993-03-17 | EM-3110 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
| 1989-09-25 | DR-844 | Hurricane | Hurricane Hugo |
| 1989-05-17 | DR-827 | Tornado | Tornadoes |
| 1977-08-11 | EM-3049 | Drought | Drought |
| 1977-03-02 | EM-3033 | Snowstorm | Drought & Freezing |
| 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 Lincoln County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 31 flood or flash flood records for Lincoln County from 1997 to 2025, on 26 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Lincoln County ranks 2212th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Helene | 2024-09-27 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $246,000 on 15 claims filed in Lincoln County; the most in one year was 5 in 2013. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2008: 1 · 2011: 1 · 2013: 5 · 2014: 1 · 2020: 5 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 1; 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 Lincoln County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Lincoln County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $32.2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | $1.2M | 1.7 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $23M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $3.6M | once in about 8 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $637K | 52 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $977K | 2.4 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $1.3M | once in about 501 years (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $370K | once in about 17 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $324K | 5.3 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 Lincoln 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
- Severe thunderstorm wind in North CarolinaThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, 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 Lincoln CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Lincoln County's FEMA declarations (CSV)21 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis