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Burke County, North Carolina
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1957 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
10
Tornado reports
211
Hail reports
84
Floods since 1996
730
All events
1
Deaths
$77.0M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Burke County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 10 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.
A 19-year old playing basketball in a non air-conditioned gymnasium collapsed from heat. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital in Morganton.
This tornado touched down near George Hildebrand School Rd, felling trees and causing minor roof damage to several homes. The tornado continued northeast from there, along an intermittent path. The damage path became more concentrated as it moved across Paige St, continuing to do…
Nine people were injured and several dogs were killed when lightning struck the Burke County Fairgrounds during a dog show.
Stream gauges and emergency management indicated catastrophic flash flooding developed across portions of Burke County, mainly central and northern sections after 7-13 inches of rain fell across much of the county in three days, with some amounts over 20 inches reported in the Jo…
NWS storm survey found the path of a strong tornado that began at the Hickory Regional Airport. A hangar at the airport was destroyed and several aircraft flipped. The tornado moved northeast to Winkler Park, damaging part of L.P. Frans stadium before moving into Catawba County. …
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported multiple trees blown down at Powell Rd and North Main St. Additional trees and some power lines were blown down between Drexel and Valdese.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported trees blown down in the area around Bowman Lowman Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported multiple trees blown down along Highway 70 west of Morganton.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported two trees blown down on a car on Brandon Road near Warrens Way.
Lightning Lightning
County comms reported a medical facility was struck by lightning, igniting a fire that was confined to the attic.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported several large trees blown down from Summers Rd to Burke Memorial Park Rd to Ramblewoods Dr.
Hail Hail
County comms reported quarter size hail.
Hail Hail
NWS employee reported quarter size hail.
Hail Hail
Public reported quarter size hail.
Hail Hail
Public reported 3/4 inch hail.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Emergency manager reported multiple trees blown down.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Law enforcement reported a couple of trees blown down in the Valdese area.
Flood Flood
Although the water was in the process of receding during the morning of the 28th, significant flooding continued along the Catawba River from Lake James to the Catawba County line through much of the day, and didnt completely fall below flood stage until the morning of the 29th.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Stream gauges along the Catawba River indicated flash flooding developed along the portion of the Catawba River in northeast Burke County (Rhodiss Dam and vicinity) after 7 to 13 inches of rain fell across upper much of Burke County over a three-day period. Multiple homes and som…
Flood Flood
Although heavy rainfall ended across Burke County during the afternoon, flooding continued along upper portions of the Catawba basin through much of the 28th. While most of the tributaries returned to their banks by early morning of the 28th, major flooding continued along the Ca…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported (via Social Media) trees blown down in the Highway 64 area on the south side of Morganton.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported several trees blown down in western Burke County.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported scattered trees and large limbs blown down across the county.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
County comms and a stream gage indicated flash flooding developed across the Hunting Creek basin after 3.5 to 4.5 inches of rain fell across the area in association with the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby, with much of that falling within a 2-4 hour window during the afternoon …
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported multiple trees blown down in the Chesterfield area.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported a tree blown down on Patton Rd and another tree down on Elmore Dr.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported multiple trees and power lines blown down across the city of Morganton, including on Ervin Rd and Burkemont Ave.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported multiple trees blown down from the Worry community to Chesterfield.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported multiple trees blown down in Morganton and vicinity.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported a tree was blown down on a house causing some damage.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported multiple trees blown down in Glen Alpine, with one tree on a home that caused a collapsed roof. Multiple trees were also blown down around Morganton.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported trees blown down along 39th St NW and on Henry River Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported trees and power lines blown down on Ronnie Fox Rd and a tree blown down on a house on George Hildebran Dr.
Flood Flood
A stream gauge on the Johns River north of Morganton exceeded its established flood stage after 3 to 5 inches of rain fell in the basin in around 12 hours, including the Wilson Creek tributary. Flooded roads included Johns River Loop Rd, Old Johns River Rd, and Valley View Cir. A…
Flood Flood
A stream gauge on Johns River exceeded its established flood stage after 5 to 7 inches of rain fell over the headwaters in about 24 hours. Portions of Johns River Rd were inundated as was Corpening Bridge Rd. Additionally, media reported Spainhour Rd was flooded by a tributary of…
Hail Hail
Public reported 3/4 inch hail.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported trees blown down at Rhodhiss Rd and Knob Ave.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms and spotter reported numerous trees and some power lines blown down from Glen Alpine across Morganton and vicinity. One tree fell on an outbuilding near Glen Alpine.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported (via Social Media) a tree blown down on a home.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Ham radio operator and spotter reported multiple trees and power lines blown down on roads in the Drexel area, including on Antioch Rd, at N Drexel Rd and Butler Rd, and on Settlemyre Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported trees blown down on Sugar Loaf Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported trees and power lines blown down on Antioch Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported multiple trees blown down throughout the Icard area.
Hail Hail
Public reported (via Social Media) nickel to quarter size hail along Mount Olive Church Rd.
Hail Hail
Public reported up to penny size hail on Gouge Ave.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported trees and power lines blown down along Wesley Rd.
Flood Flood
A stream gauge on the Johns River north of Morganton exceeded its established flood stage after 4 to 7 inches of rain fell in the basin, including the Wilson Creek tributary during the morning of the 11th. Flooded roads included Johns River Loop Rd, Old Johns River Rd, and Valley…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Media reported two trees blown down near the intersection of Hayes Water Rd and Conley Rd.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 0 |
| 2025 | 8 | 0 |
| 2024 | 19 | 0 |
| 2023 | 12 | 0 |
| 2022 | 18 | 0 |
| 2021 | 10 | 0 |
| 2020 | 23 | 0 |
| 2019 | 20 | 0 |
| 2018 | 31 | 0 |
| 2017 | 31 | 3 |
| 2016 | 22 | 0 |
| 2015 | 19 | 0 |
| 2014 | 32 | 0 |
| 2013 | 34 | 0 |
| 2012 | 32 | 1 |
| 2011 | 39 | 0 |
| 2010 | 17 | 1 |
| 2009 | 16 | 0 |
| 2008 | 15 | 1 |
| 2007 | 13 | 0 |
| 2006 | 23 | 0 |
| 2005 | 30 | 0 |
| 2004 | 23 | 0 |
| 2003 | 30 | 0 |
| 2002 | 23 | 0 |
| 2001 | 20 | 0 |
| 2000 | 35 | 2 |
| 1999 | 20 | 0 |
| 1998 | 25 | 0 |
| 1997 | 22 | 0 |
| 1996 | 22 | 0 |
| 1995 | 7 | 0 |
| 1994 | 2 | 0 |
| 1991 | 2 | 0 |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | 5 | 0 |
| 1986 | 6 | 0 |
| 1985 | 3 | 0 |
| 1981 | 2 | 0 |
| 1979 | 1 | 1 |
| 1977 | 1 | 0 |
| 1976 | 2 | 0 |
| 1975 | 3 | 0 |
| 1974 | 1 | 1 |
| 1970 | 3 | 0 |
| 1969 | 1 | 0 |
| 1968 | 1 | 0 |
| 1959 | 1 | 0 |
| 1957 | 1 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Burke County, measured to its path.
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