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Buncombe County, North Carolina
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1959 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
7
Tornado reports
207
Hail reports
52
Floods since 1996
892
All events
43
Deaths
$746.3M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Buncombe County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 6 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
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Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
Rainfall rates began to intensify as tropical rainbands near the center of Helene swept across the area during the morning hours after 10-17 inches of rain fell across much of the county, with amounts over 20 inches reported in the eastern part of the county. Devastating flash fl…
Historic and catastrophic flash flooding developed along the Swannanoa River basin during the early morning hours as rainfall rates began to intensify as tropical rainbands near the center of Helene swept across the area. Numerous structures and roads were inundated in the city o…
A large debris flow developed along Old Fort Rd in the Fairview area, destroying multiple homes and killing 11 members of the same family. A second large debris flow later developed and killed two emergency workers responding to the first event.
Media reported gusty winds associated with a weakening line of showers and thunderstorms blew down a tree onto a vehicle at Biltmore Estate, killing an occupant.
A 65-year-old man was struck and killed by lightning on highway 74E just south of Fairview.
Tens of thousands of trees were blown down, with hundreds of trees down on homes, vehicles, and power lines. Frequent gusts up to 70 mph occurred, with occasional gusts of 100 mph on exposed high elevation ridgetops.
Several streets were flooded from the Biltmore Forest area northward to Asheville. Numerous roads were closed by flooding, landslides and fallen trees. Around 9 pm EDT a large debris flow took out part of Vance Gap Road, isolating several homes. Around a dozen residences had to b…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms and utility company reported trees and power lines blown down, with some outages from the Biltmore area, across Bent Creek, to Lake Julian.
Drought Drought
Drought Drought
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple sources reported a smattering of trees blown down across northeast Buncombe County, from the Woodfin area, across Weaverville to the Dillingham community. Several trees were down across roads, and a barn was damaged by a fallen tree near Weaverville.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Spotter reported multiple trees and power lines blown down with power outages in the Fairview area.
Hail Hail
Public reported 3/4 inch hail on Cedar Hill Rd.
High Wind High Wind
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Hail Hail
Public reported quarter size hail along Laurel Circle Dr.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Emergency manager reported two trees blown down and blocking a roadway.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Utility company reported trees blown down on power lines and causing an outage in the Woodfin area.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported (via Social Media) several trees blown down.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Utility company reported trees blown down on power lines, resulting in an outage.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Utility company reported trees blown down on power lines and causing an outage near Patricia Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported several trees blown down in the Barnardsville area.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Fire dept reported multiple trees blown down on roads in the Candler/west Asheville area.
Hail Hail
Public reported 3/4 inch hail in west Asheville.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Utility company reported several trees blown down on power lines and causing outages near East Wonder Rd.
Hail Hail
Public reported quarter size hail.
Hail Hail
Public reported quarter size hail.
Hail Hail
Numerous reports were received from the public, spotters, and media of nickel to golf ball size hail from Woodfin, across the north side, downtown, and east side of Asheville.
Hail Hail
Media relayed viewer report of golf ball size hail near Swannanoa.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The ASOS at the Asheville Regional Airport measured a wind gust of 58 mph (50 kts).
High Wind High Wind
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Hail Hail
Spotter reported 3/4 inch hail along Bear Creek Rd.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 11 | 0 |
| 2025 | 25 | 0 |
| 2024 | 25 | 1 |
| 2023 | 12 | 0 |
| 2022 | 15 | 0 |
| 2021 | 10 | 0 |
| 2020 | 10 | 0 |
| 2019 | 16 | 0 |
| 2018 | 23 | 0 |
| 2017 | 17 | 0 |
| 2016 | 18 | 0 |
| 2015 | 18 | 0 |
| 2014 | 24 | 0 |
| 2013 | 27 | 0 |
| 2012 | 43 | 0 |
| 2011 | 38 | 0 |
| 2010 | 33 | 0 |
| 2009 | 39 | 0 |
| 2008 | 28 | 0 |
| 2007 | 39 | 0 |
| 2006 | 31 | 0 |
| 2005 | 34 | 0 |
| 2004 | 29 | 0 |
| 2003 | 53 | 0 |
| 2002 | 35 | 0 |
| 2001 | 43 | 0 |
| 2000 | 38 | 0 |
| 1999 | 31 | 1 |
| 1998 | 26 | 0 |
| 1997 | 24 | 0 |
| 1996 | 32 | 0 |
| 1995 | 2 | 0 |
| 1993 | 3 | 1 |
| 1992 | 2 | 0 |
| 1991 | 4 | 0 |
| 1990 | 3 | 0 |
| 1989 | 5 | 0 |
| 1988 | 5 | 0 |
| 1987 | 2 | 0 |
| 1985 | 3 | 0 |
| 1984 | 2 | 0 |
| 1982 | 5 | 0 |
| 1977 | 2 | 2 |
| 1976 | 2 | 2 |
| 1970 | 1 | 0 |
| 1966 | 1 | 0 |
| 1964 | 1 | 0 |
| 1962 | 1 | 0 |
| 1959 | 1 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Buncombe County, measured to its path.
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