Thunderstorm Wind — Wilkes, North Carolina

2025-06-26 · near Benham, Wilkes, North Carolina

Event narrative

Hundreds of trees were blown down or snapped by thunderstorm winds in a downburst near Cool Springs Church Road and Preacher Field Road. Trees fell onto a home, causing significant damage, as well as a separate carport and several sheds. A large area of crops was also flattened by the downburst.

Wider weather episode

A northward retreating zone of high pressure induced moisture convergence near the southern Appalachian mountains. The enhanced moisture in an environment with above normal surface instability led to outflow driven thunderstorms which featured a few damaging downbursts.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (36.2877, -80.9012)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1279296. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.