Mitchell County, North Carolina
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 37121 · population 14,896 · 221 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 607 records for Mitchell County, North Carolina from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 526 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (385 records). 507 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 June 25, 2000 lightning: 1 death and 5 injuries. FEMA has issued 21 declarations naming the county since 1977, 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
- 607on 526 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 25 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $51Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- 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 Mitchell County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 385 since 1996. 54% 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 | 385 | 363 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $40K | 1 of 100 |
| High wind and dust storms | 46 | 45 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $831K | 5 of 100 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 38 | 32 | 1985-2026 | 0 | 0 | $197K | 89 of 100 |
| Drought | 35 | 35 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 2 of 100 |
| Hail | 35 | 28 | 1985-2026 | 0 | 0 | $15K | 53 of 100 |
| Floods | 30 | 25 | 1996-2024 | 1 | 0 | $40M | 19 of 100 |
| Extreme cold | 29 | 29 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | 1 of 100 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 3 | 2 | 2004-2005 | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | 6 of 100 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 2 | 2 | 2020-2024 | 0 | 0 | $6.6M | 61 of 100 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 2000-2004 | 1 | 5 | $2K | 57 of 100 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2003-2003 | 0 | 0 | – | 79 of 100 |
| Wildfires | 1 | 1 | 2000-2000 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 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.
When was the last damaging storm in Mitchell County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the September 27, 2024 flash flood (1 death and $28.2 million in damage in 2025 dollars).
Extensive flooding of the North Toe and Nolichucky Rivers, and their tributaries, including Cane Creek developed during the overnight and early morning hours of the 27th as rainfall rates began to intensify again during the evening of the 26th. The most intense rainfall occurred just after sunrise, as the tropical rain bands near the center of Helene swept across the area. A stream gauge on Cane Creek near Bakersville reached major flood stage of 10 feet just after sunrise before it stopped reporting. Dozens of structures were inundated and damaged throughout the county, with some homes completely swept away. Numerous bridges and roads were also damaged, especially near the Yancey County line. Three-day rainfall totals were 7-12 inches across much of the county. However, amounts of 15-20 inches were reported in the extreme southern part of the county along the McDowell County line. …
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1218188)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtMitchell County · forecast zone Mitchell | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtMitchell County · forecast zone Mitchell | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | HailRed Hill, Mitchell County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindBoonford, Mitchell County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | Winter WeatherMitchell County · forecast zone Mitchell | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-22 | Winter WeatherMitchell County · forecast zone Mitchell | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-07 | High WindMitchell County · forecast zone Mitchell | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-01 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillMitchell County · forecast zone Mitchell | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-30 | Heavy SnowMitchell County · forecast zone Mitchell | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-26 | Cold/Wind ChillMitchell County · forecast zone Mitchell | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormMitchell County · forecast zone Mitchell | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-30 | Winter WeatherMitchell County · forecast zone Mitchell | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-06-25 | LightningBakersville, Mitchell County Strong to severe thunderstorms developed in the mountains during the early afternoon and rumbled east across the foothills and into the western piedmont by early evening. All of the damage was produced by straight-line winds estimated almost as high as 70 mph that downed trees and power lines. In the Asheville, ... | 1 | 5 | – | |
| 2024-09-27 | Flash FloodWing, Mitchell County Extensive flooding of the North Toe and Nolichucky Rivers, and their tributaries, including Cane Creek developed during the overnight and early morning hours of the 27th as rainfall rates began to intensify again during the evening of the 26th. The most intense rainfall occurred just after sunrise, as the tropical ... | 1 | 0 | $28M |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-27 | Flash FloodWing, Mitchell County | 1 | 0 | $28M | |
| 1998-01-07 | Flash FloodBakersville, Mitchell County | 0 | 0 | $9.1M | |
| 2004-09-08 | Debris FlowMitchell County · forecast zone Mitchell | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | |
| 2013-07-03 | Flash FloodToecane, Mitchell County | 0 | 0 | $760K | |
| 2004-09-17 | FloodMitchell County · forecast zone Mitchell | 0 | 0 | $283K |
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 Mitchell 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 | – | – | – | – | 59 | 159 | 119 | 48 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 6 | 33 | 6 | 1 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 6 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 6 | 27 | 0 | 2 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 11 | 2 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 6 | 11 | 9 | 4 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
54% 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 139 · Feb 110 · Mar 75 · Apr 34 · May 29 · Jun 27 · Jul 16 · Aug 21 · Sep 18 · Oct 15 · Nov 43 · Dec 80 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Mitchell County
FEMA's register lists 21 declarations that include Mitchell County: 12 major disasters, 9 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (8) 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 |
| 2018-09-10 | 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 |
| 1996-01-13 | 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 Mitchell County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 30 flood or flash flood records for Mitchell County from 1996 to 2024, on 25 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Mitchell County ranks 1660th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Helene | 2024-09-27 | 2 | 1 |
| Hurricane Ivan | 2004-09-17 | 1 | 0 |
| Tropical Storm Frances | 2004-09-07 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2.7 million on 50 claims filed in Mitchell County; the most in one year was 15 in 2024. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 1 · 1980: 1 · 1983: 1 · 1991: 3 · 1992: 2 · 1995: 3 · 1996: 3 · 1998: 9 · 2003: 2 · 2004: 3 · 2011: 1 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2024: 15; 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 Mitchell County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Mitchell County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $6.9 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 | Relatively High | $741K | 54 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $96K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $170K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $985K | 4.8 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $4.1M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $343K | once in about 16 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $206K | 2.8 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Very Low | $78K | once in about 36 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Mitchell County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- 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 Mitchell CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Mitchell County's FEMA declarations (CSV)21 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis