High Wind — Watauga, North Carolina

2025-12-19 · Watauga, North Carolina

Event narrative

A mesonet site located three miles north-northeast of Meat Camp measured a peak wind gust of 73 mph at 10:00 AM EST. However, prior to this time, periodic wind gusts between 59 and 63 mph were reported starting at 8:15 AM EST.

Wider weather episode

A cold front crossed the region during the early morning hours of the 19th. Behind this front, strong to damaging west to northwest winds were reported, some of which blew down trees. The strongest reported wind gusts occurred in Watauga County, where a mesonet instrument measured 73 mph near Meat Camp. In Ashe County, a 67 mph gust was recorded by the AWOS at the Ashe County Airport (KGEV), and a 69 mph gust was measured near West Jefferson by a mesonet station.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1304715. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.