Madison County, North Carolina
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 37115 · population 21,147 · 450 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 651 records for Madison County, North Carolina from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 551 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (311 records). 415 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 September 27, 2024 flash flood: 5 deaths and $9.4 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 23 declarations naming the county since 1977, 21 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
- 651on 551 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 77 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $91Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 7strongest F1
- FEMA declarations
- 23latest 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 Madison County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 311 since 1996. 53% 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 | 311 | 297 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 of 100 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 107 | 95 | 1974-2026 | 0 | 0 | $69K | 71 of 100 |
| Hail | 75 | 54 | 1974-2025 | 0 | 0 | $33K | 60 of 100 |
| Floods | 44 | 39 | 1996-2024 | 6 | 2 | $81M | 34 of 100 |
| High wind and dust storms | 38 | 38 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | 19 of 100 |
| Drought | 34 | 34 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 20 of 100 |
| Extreme cold | 24 | 24 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $4.3M | 8 of 100 |
| Tornadoes | 7 | 4 | 1977-2026 | 0 | 5 | $2.6M | 88 of 100 |
| Heavy rain | 6 | 6 | 2002-2013 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 of 100 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 2000-2010 | 1 | 0 | $359K | 66 of 100 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 2 | 2 | 2020-2024 | 0 | 0 | $1.9M | 82 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 Madison County had?
NOAA records 7 tornadoes in Madison County from 1977 to 2026, the strongest rated F1, with 0 deaths and 5 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 5 tornadoes whose track touched Madison County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 7: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in North Carolina.
Every tornado record filed for Madison County (7)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-16 | Ivy, Madison County | EF0 2.18 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | Lone Ridge, Madison County | EF0 0.44 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-04-27 | Antioch, Madison County | EF0 0.07 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-05-07 | Spring Creek, Madison County | F1 1.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1977-06-06 | Madison County | F1 2.7 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1977-06-06 | Madison County | F1 8.7 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 1977-06-06 | Madison County | F1 19.7 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 3 | $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 Madison County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 16, 2025 high wind ($100,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtMadison County · forecast zone Madison | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtMadison County · forecast zone Madison | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindBeech Glen, Madison County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | TornadoIvy, Madison County | EF0 2.18 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | TornadoLone Ridge, Madison County | EF0 0.44 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | Winter WeatherMadison County · forecast zone Madison | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-22 | Winter WeatherMadison County · forecast zone Madison | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillMadison County · forecast zone Madison | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-30 | Heavy SnowMadison County · forecast zone Madison | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-26 | Cold/Wind ChillMadison County · forecast zone Madison | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormMadison County · forecast zone Madison | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-10 | Winter WeatherMadison County · forecast zone Madison | 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 FloodRollins, Madison County Stream gauges indicated devastating flash flooding developed along the French Broad River and some of its tributaries, including Ivy River in Madison County during the morning. A stream gauge on the French Broad at Marshall exceeded major flood stage during this time, with water inundating most structures in downtown ... | 5 | 0 | $9.4M | |
| 2003-07-06 | Flash FloodPetersburg, Madison County A section of Petersburg Road was covered with 6 feet of water near Petersburg. Several roads were flooded in and around Marshall. Mudslides also developed, one of which caused a tree to fall onto a vehicle in Grapevine, crushing the vehicle, and killing a 63-year-old woman, and injuring a 12-year-old boy. The flooding ... | 1 | 1 | $1.3M | |
| 2010-06-04 | LightningJoe, Madison County A 25-year-old woman was struck and killed by lightning while hiking on Max Patch. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1977-06-06 | TornadoMadison County | F1 19.7 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 3 | $250K step |
| 1977-06-06 | TornadoMadison County | F1 8.7 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 1998-01-08 | FloodMadison County · forecast zone Madison The French Broad River flooded significantly at all forecast points and caused some property damage. One person drowned (indirect) and another was injured while attempting to canoe down the raging river. | 0 | 1 | $91K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-27 | FloodRollins, Madison County | 0 | 0 | $24M | |
| 2004-09-16 | FloodMadison County · forecast zone Madison | 0 | 0 | $14M | |
| 1999-07-06 | Flash FloodAllenstand, Madison County | 0 | 0 | $11M | |
| 2024-09-27 | Flash FloodRollins, Madison County | 5 | 0 | $9.4M | |
| 2001-08-04 | Flash FloodMarshall, Madison County | 0 | 0 | $6.2M | |
| 2001-07-29 | Flash FloodMarshall, Madison County | 0 | 0 | $5.8M | |
| 2001-07-30 | Flash FloodMarshall, Madison County | 0 | 0 | $4.3M | |
| 2013-07-03 | Flash FloodHot Spgs, Madison County | 0 | 0 | $3.2M |
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: June 6, 1977 (tornado, Madison County); June 6, 1977 (tornado, Madison 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 Madison 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 | – | – | – | – | 51 | 132 | 95 | 33 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 39 | 35 | 14 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 24 | 22 | 7 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 4 | 30 | 6 | 4 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 31 | 1 | 1 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 6 | 26 | 0 | 2 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
53% 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 123 · Feb 81 · Mar 71 · Apr 37 · May 54 · Jun 58 · Jul 61 · Aug 30 · Sep 17 · Oct 14 · Nov 36 · Dec 69 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Madison County
FEMA's register lists 23 declarations that include Madison County: 14 major disasters, 9 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (9) and severe storm (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 |
| 2020-05-08 | 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 |
| 2018-09-14 | DR-4393 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2018-09-10 | EM-3401 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 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 |
| 1998-01-15 | DR-1200 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1996-02-23 | DR-1103 | Snowstorm | Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| 1977-11-09 | DR-542 | 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 Madison County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 44 flood or flash flood records for Madison County from 1996 to 2024, on 39 days, with 6 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Madison County ranks 1261st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Helene | 2024-09-27 | 3 | 5 |
| Tropical Storm Fred | 2021-08-17 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Ivan | 2004-09-16 | 1 | 0 |
| Tropical Storm Frances | 2004-09-07 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $8.8 million on 110 claims filed in Madison County; the most in one year was 41 in 2024. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 2 · 1979: 3 · 1983: 3 · 1989: 2 · 1990: 6 · 1994: 3 · 1995: 4 · 1996: 3 · 1997: 1 · 1998: 2 · 2001: 1 · 2003: 1 · 2004: 27 · 2005: 2 · 2011: 2 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 41; 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 Madison County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Madison County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $9.1 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 | $155K | 1.6 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $504K | 53 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $153K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.1M | 3.8 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $6.1M | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $291K | 3.1 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $24K | 23 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $101K | once in about 346 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Madison 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 Madison CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Madison County's FEMA declarations (CSV)23 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis