North Carolina high wind and dust storms
Every recorded high wind record since 1996 · 100 counties with a record
NOAA's Storm Events Database records 2,490 high wind and dust records in North Carolina from 1996 through June 30, 2026, about 84 a year since 2000. The deadliest was the August 27, 2011 high wind: 3 deaths and $78.8 million in damage in 2025 dollars across 6 records. North Carolina ranks 22nd of 52 states and territories by count and 23rd of 51 per square mile.
High wind and dust storms in North Carolina, 1996 to 2026
Wind records per year (NOAA Storm Events); 2026 to June 30, 2026.
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $1 million
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- $1 billion or more, or 100 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- Records
- 2,4901996 to June 30, 2026
- A year since 2000
- 84average
- Deaths
- 4164 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $489Mas filed
- Busiest year
- 2004168 records
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026; deaths and damage as filed, damage in 2025 dollars. Search the record at NCEI.
Are high wind and dust records common in North Carolina?
North Carolina averages about 84 high wind and dust records a year since 2000, 22nd of 52 states and territories by count. The busiest year on record was 2004 (168). Per 10,000 square miles of land, North Carolina records 512 high wind and dust records since 1996, 23rd of 51 states and territories by that measure.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1996, per 10,000 square miles of land area (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer; places under 1,000 square miles not ranked). Damage colours: Storm Events damage, 2025 dollars.
Which counties in North Carolina have the most high wind and dust records?
Per square mile, Watauga County leads North Carolina: 155 days with a high wind record since 1996, 496.1 per 1,000 square miles of land. By raw count, Watauga County has the most wind records (163 since 1996); large counties collect more records simply by covering more ground, so the ranking counts days with a record per unit of area (a storm filed for several forecast zones adds several records but one day).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, days with a record in the county since 1996 per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer); in brackets, the count of records.
When is the windy season in North Carolina?
North Carolina's high wind and dust records by month. The busiest month is February (455 records).
The values, month by month
Jan 314 · Feb 455 · Mar 405 · Apr 290 · May 57 · Jun 13 · Jul 37 · Aug 48 · Sep 183 · Oct 181 · Nov 217 · Dec 290 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began, since 1996.
What were the deadliest high wind and dust records in North Carolina?
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-08-27 | High WindWayne County · forecast zone Wayne One storm episode: 6 records in 6 places; the totals are the episode's. Hurricane Irene made landfall over the the Outer Banks on the morning of August 27 as a Category 1 hurricane. The expansive wind field associated with Irene produced strong wind gusts of 40 to 65 mph over the Central Piedmont and Coastal counties of North Carolina beginning in the early morning hours and persisting ... | 54 kt wind | 3 | 0 | $79M |
| 2009-12-09 | Strong WindDavidson County · forecast zone Davidson One storm episode: 3 records in 3 places; the totals are the episode's. A powerful upper level disturbance combined with an arctic cold front resulted in wind gust of 45 to 55 mph across central North Carolina. Numerous trees were blown down across the area resulting in power outages and minor propery damage. | 40 kt wind | 2 | 2 | $91K |
| 2024-09-27 | Hurricane Helene · High WindWilkes County · forecast zone Wilkes One storm episode: 5 records in 5 places; the totals are the episode's. Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a powerful Category 4 hurricane late Thursday, September 26, and moved quickly northward into the southeastern states, and then turned slightly northwestward towards the southern Appalachian Mountains overnight into Friday morning, weakening as it moved over land. Helene’s ... | 55 kt wind | 2 | 0 | $37M |
| 2010-07-18 | Strong WindMecklenburg County · forecast zone Mecklenburg Gusty winds from a thunderstorm caused choppy waters to develop on Lake Norman, resulting in the drowning of a 17-year-old and an 11-year-old boy. | 35 kt wind | 2 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-16 | High WindTransylvania County · forecast zone Transylvania One storm episode: 8 records in 7 places; the totals are the episode's. Very strong S/SE winds developed across the North Carolina mountains early in the morning in advance of a dynamic frontal system. The strongest winds occurred between 3 AM and 5 AM, possibly assisted by a band of rain with embedded heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms that mixed higher winds from aloft to the ... | 50 kt wind | 2 | 0 | $470K |
| 2018-09-15 | Strong WindGaston County · forecast zone Gaston One storm episode: 2 records in 2 places; the totals are the episode's. Tropical Cyclone Florence made landfall on the 15th and moved slowly west while weakening through the 16th. Gusty winds resulted in a few trees and power lines falling across portions of western North Carolina, with some trees falling on vehicles and structures. | 40 kt wind | 2 | 0 | $18K |
| 1996-07-12 | High WindColumbus County · forecast zone Columbus Hurricane Bertha caused 6 inches rain and 75 MPH gusts, with 30% damage to a bumper crop. Trees knocked out power, and it was restored near midnight. 3 hours later an electrical fire killed a woman. | 1 | 10 | $30M | |
| 2004-03-07 | High WindMecklenburg County · forecast zone Mecklenburg As the cold front moved into the piedmont, wind damage continued and became more severe. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down, while roofs were torn off of some buildings. Some outbuildings and barns were damaged or destroyed. In Mecklenburg County, an 81-year-old man was killed in Huntersville, when a tree ... | 65 kt wind | 1 | 2 | $117K |
| 2014-03-12 | Strong WindForsyth County · forecast zone Forsyth A 25 year old male was killed when a tree fell on his vehicle on the 2000 block of Reynolda Road. Also, a 26 year old female passenger sustained non life-threatening injuries. | 43 kt wind | 1 | 1 | $12K |
| 1997-04-01 | High WindWake County · forecast zone Wake A strong low pressure system exited North Carolina early on the 1st, followed by a strong gradient wind behind the associated surface cold front. Winds gusted to around 45 knots during the day and were sustained at 30 knots at times from the northwest during the afternoon. Several trees were blown down across the ... | 1 | 1 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths direct and indirect, as filed by the National Weather Service, summed over each storm (one episode, or one named storm filed by several offices). Storm names from the titles of FEMA declarations that name the storm's counties.
The costliest high wind and dust records in North Carolina
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-09-05 | High WindRobeson County · forecast zone Robeson | 0 | 2 | $107M | |
| 2011-08-27 | High WindWayne County · forecast zone Wayne One storm episode: 6 records in 6 places; the totals are the episode's. | 54 kt wind | 3 | 0 | $79M |
| 1996-09-05 | High WindBladen County · forecast zone Bladen | 1 | 0 | $75M | |
| 1996-09-05 | High WindColumbus County · forecast zone Columbus | 0 | 1 | $68M | |
| 2024-09-27 | Hurricane Helene · High WindWilkes County · forecast zone Wilkes One storm episode: 5 records in 5 places; the totals are the episode's. | 55 kt wind | 2 | 0 | $37M |
| 1996-07-12 | High WindColumbus County · forecast zone Columbus | 1 | 10 | $30M | |
| 2007-04-16 | High WindMacon County · forecast zone Macon One storm episode: 25 records in 22 places; the totals are the episode's. | 60 kt wind | 0 | 3 | $18M |
| 1998-08-26 | High WindBladen County · forecast zone Bladen | 0 | 0 | $7.7M |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: property and crop damage as estimated by the National Weather Service, in 2025 dollars.
Are high wind and dust records becoming more frequent in North Carolina?
North Carolina's count per decade against the whole country's, and its share. NOAA recorded every event type only from 1996, so earlier decades are not comparable; the share of the national total is the fairer comparison across decades.
| Decade | North Carolina | United States | North Carolina's share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-99 | 277 | 14,026 | 2.0% |
| 2000s | 1,244 | 37,254 | 3.3% |
| 2010s | 660 | 41,748 | 1.6% |
| 2020-26 | 309 | 36,300 | 0.9% |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.
The most recent high wind and dust records in North Carolina
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-07 | Strong WindBurke County · forecast zone Greater Burke | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2026-02-07 | High WindYancey County · forecast zone Yancey | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-07 | High WindTransylvania County · forecast zone Transylvania | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-07 | High WindRutherford County · forecast zone Rutherford Mountains | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-07 | High WindMitchell County · forecast zone Mitchell | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-07 | High WindMcDowell County · forecast zone McDowell Mountains | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-07 | High WindHenderson County · forecast zone Henderson | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-07 | High WindMcDowell County · forecast zone Eastern McDowell | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-07 | High WindBurke County · forecast zone Burke Mountains | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-07 | High WindBuncombe County · forecast zone Buncombe | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-07 | High WindAvery County · forecast zone Avery | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-01 | High WindCurrituck County · forecast zone Eastern Currituck | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026; the newest months are revised by NCEI as reports arrive. Search the record at NCEI.
Next
- Watauga County: the county's whole recordThe North Carolina county with the most high wind and dust records per square mile
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