Wilkes County, North Carolina
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 37193 · population 65,928 · 754 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 794 records for Wilkes County, North Carolina from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 459 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (382 records). The deadliest day on its record was June 13, 2013: thunderstorm wind records filed for Wilkes County that day count 2 deaths across 2 records. FEMA has issued 22 declarations naming the county since 1977, 20 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
- 794on 459 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 45 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $37Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 12strongest EF1
- FEMA declarations
- 22latest 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 Wilkes County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 382 since 1976. 45% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1976 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 | 382 | 211 | 1976-2026 | 2 | 2 | $2.4M | 50 of 100 |
| Hail | 139 | 95 | 1984-2025 | 0 | 0 | $103K | 54 of 100 |
| Floods | 85 | 51 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 0 | $9.2M | 51 of 100 |
| Winter storms | 53 | 53 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 1 | $1.2M | 81 of 100 |
| High wind and dust storms | 45 | 45 | 1996-2025 | 1 | 1 | $2.0M | 29 of 100 |
| Drought | 29 | 29 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | $12M | 39 of 100 |
| Lightning | 18 | 15 | 1996-2023 | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | 32 of 100 |
| Heavy rain | 17 | 12 | 2018-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 20 of 100 |
| Tornadoes | 12 | 11 | 1973-2024 | 0 | 1 | $5.9M | 80 of 100 |
| Extreme cold | 11 | 10 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $2.6M | 41 of 100 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 2 | 2 | 2020-2020 | 0 | 0 | $2K | 16 of 100 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 1 | 1 | 2020-2020 | 0 | 0 | $6K | 99 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 Wilkes County had?
NOAA records 12 tornadoes in Wilkes County from 1973 to 2024, the strongest rated EF1, with 0 deaths and 1 injury 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 12 tornadoes whose track touched Wilkes County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 12, 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 Wilkes County (12)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-26 | Lomax, Wilkes County | EF1 0.4 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
| 2024-04-11 | Moravian Falls, Wilkes County | EF1 6 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $235K |
| 2021-08-17 | Clingman, Wilkes County | EF0 0.68 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $93K |
| 2021-08-17 | Osbornville, Wilkes County | EF0 0.74 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $16K |
| 2017-10-23 | Wilkesboro, Wilkes County | EF1 8.6 mi x 275 yd | 0 | 1 | $1.2M |
| 2017-10-08 | Maple Spgs, Wilkes County | EF1 4.37 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $120K |
| 2011-09-05 | Joynes, Wilkes County | EF1 1.32 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.1M |
| 1994-08-16 | Lomax, Wilkes County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 1977-04-04 | Wilkes County | F1 6.4 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1975-05-31 | Wilkes County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1974-06-01 | Wilkes County | F1 1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1973-05-27 | Wilkes County | F1 9.1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $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 Wilkes County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 18, 2026 thunderstorm wind.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindMountain Park, Wilkes County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtWilkes County · forecast zone Wilkes | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtWilkes County · forecast zone Wilkes | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-21 | DroughtWilkes County · forecast zone Wilkes | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-30 | Winter StormWilkes County · forecast zone Wilkes | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormWilkes County · forecast zone Wilkes | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-09 | Thunderstorm WindBenham, Wilkes County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2025-07-09 | Thunderstorm WindThurmond, Wilkes County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2025-07-01 | Thunderstorm WindWilkesboro, Wilkes County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2025-06-26 | Thunderstorm WindBenham, Wilkes County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $190K |
| 2025-06-19 | Thunderstorm WindBoomer, Wilkes County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2025-06-19 | Thunderstorm WindMillers Creek, Wilkes County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-01-20 | Winter WeatherWilkes County · forecast zone Wilkes A North Wilkesboro man suffered fatal injuries in a two vehicle collision on the night of January 20th. Ice along Rock Creek Road in the Hays Community of Wilkes County was noted as a contributor to the accident. Additional accidents were reported throughout the county on both January 20th/21st which were attributed ... | 1 | 1 | $37K | |
| 2024-09-27 | High WindWilkes County · forecast zone Wilkes Hundreds of trees were downed across the county by high winds associated with the remnants of Hurricane Helene, which caused dozens of road closures and power outages. By the peak of the winds Friday afternoon, around 23,6000 customers were reported without power. Downed trees caused damage to at least one home, on ... | 55 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $470K |
| 2013-06-13 | Thunderstorm WindMulberry, Wilkes County Thunderstorms along a squall line downed a large white pine tree at a residence along Mountain Valley Church Road as the line crossed the area west of Mulberry. The tree fell on an elderly man as he was walking across his yard. Damage values are estimated. | 50 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $633 |
| 2013-06-13 | Thunderstorm WindHays, Wilkes County Thunderstorms along a squall line produced damaging winds that downed trees along a swath that included the communities of Roaring River, Hays, and Pleasant Hill. There was tremendous damage in the Pleasant Hill region. A total of 50 to 100 trees that were blown down along the Pleasant Hill Drive and Blue Ridge ... | 55 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $95K |
| 2020-04-13 | Thunderstorm WindElkin, Wilkes County Thunderstorm winds blew a tree onto a wooden outbuilding on J. A. Russell Drive. A man was inside the building at the time the tree fell, and was later transported to the hospital with minor injuries. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $9K |
| 2017-10-23 | TornadoWilkesboro, Wilkes County A tornado touched down in Wilkesboro at 411 PM EST near the intersection of East Main and Salem Streets. It would move north for over eight miles before lifting at Yellow Banks Road west of Hays at 420 PM EST. Multiple structures in Wilkesboro received significant damage. The following morning, Duke Energy which ... | EF1 8.6 mi x 275 yd | 0 | 1 | $1.2M |
| 2005-04-03 | High WindWilkes County · forecast zone Wilkes Deep closed upper level low and associated surface low passed directly over northwest North Carolina on April 2nd. The surface low deepened significantly as it exited and headed northeast. Unusualy strong low level winds developed in the deep, cyclonic flow in the storm's wake. The strongest wind gusts topped out in ... | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| 1989-06-12 | Thunderstorm WindWilkes County | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-09-01 | DroughtWilkes County · forecast zone Wilkes | 0 | 0 | $10.0M | |
| 2009-05-26 | Flash FloodWilkes Co Airport, Wilkes County | 0 | 0 | $3.4M | |
| 2024-09-27 | Flash FloodDarby, Wilkes County | 0 | 0 | $2.8M | |
| 2007-04-09 | Frost/FreezeWilkes County · forecast zone Wilkes | 0 | 0 | $2.1M | |
| 2017-10-23 | TornadoWilkesboro, Wilkes County | EF1 8.6 mi x 275 yd | 0 | 1 | $1.2M |
| 2011-09-05 | TornadoJoynes, Wilkes County | EF1 1.32 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.1M |
| 1998-04-17 | Flash FloodSouth Portion, Wilkes County | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | |
| 2007-10-01 | DroughtWilkes County · forecast zone Wilkes | 0 | 0 | $1.1M |
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: May 27, 1973 (tornado, Wilkes County); April 4, 1977 (tornado, Wilkes 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 Wilkes 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 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 18 | 38 | 70 | 155 | 97 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 20 | 41 | 47 | 21 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 13 | 21 | 30 | 21 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 11 | 17 | 19 | 6 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 6 | 14 | 18 | 7 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 6 | 15 | 1 | 7 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
45% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1976 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 38 · Feb 42 · Mar 38 · Apr 56 · May 120 · Jun 124 · Jul 126 · Aug 131 · Sep 48 · Oct 33 · Nov 9 · Dec 29 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Wilkes County
FEMA's register lists 22 declarations that include Wilkes County: 11 major disasters, 11 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (8) and tropical 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 |
| 2024-08-06 | EM-3608 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| 2022-10-01 | EM-3586 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ian |
| 2021-03-03 | DR-4588 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Eta |
| 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 |
| 2004-09-18 | DR-1553 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ivan |
| 2004-09-10 | DR-1546 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Frances |
| 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 |
| 1989-09-25 | DR-844 | Hurricane | Hurricane Hugo |
| 1977-11-09 | DR-542 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1977-08-11 | EM-3049 | Drought | Drought |
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 Wilkes County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 85 flood or flash flood records for Wilkes County from 1996 to 2024, on 51 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Wilkes County ranks 1851st 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 $1.4 million on 34 claims filed in Wilkes County; the most in one year was 6 in 2024. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 3 · 1980: 1 · 1983: 1 · 1984: 1 · 1987: 1 · 1990: 1 · 1991: 1 · 1994: 1 · 1996: 1 · 1998: 4 · 2008: 1 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 6 · 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 Wilkes County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Wilkes County Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $33.1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | $868K | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $25M | 1.6 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $831K | 2.6 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $1.7M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $1.9M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $328K | 50 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $7K | 2 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $710K | once in about 24 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Wilkes 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 Wilkes CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Wilkes County's FEMA declarations (CSV)22 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis