High Wind in Madison, North Carolina

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 valley floors. Some minor structural damage was reported to houses across the region, while numerous trees were blown down, some onto structures, vehicles, and power lines. One tree fell on a trailer in the Conestee community of Transylvania County, killing a 13-year-old male and an 11-year-old male who were sleeping inside. Multiple outbuildings were damaged or destroyed in Haywood County. Power outages numbered in the tens of thousands at the peak of the event. The highest reliable measured gust across the area was at the Asheville Regional Airport, where official NWS obs measured a gust of 59 mph at 422 AM. However, damage reports suggest gusts likely reached as high as 70 mph in some locations. The band of showers and storms strengthened as it moved into the Piedmont later in the morning, with a small area of damaging wind gusts developing in northeast Union County in association with a short line of storms.