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Caldwell County, North Carolina
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1955 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
11
Tornado reports
127
Hail reports
87
Floods since 1996
520
All events
1
Deaths
$54.8M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Caldwell 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 violent, F4 tornado touched down near Dudley Shoals then moved east-southeast cutting a winding path through valleys, to the Alexander county border. The damage path was 100 yards wide on average, but reached a width of 3/4 of a mile at times. One well-constructed home was tota…
EM reported a large tree was blown down on a vehicle in Green Mountain Park killing a 78-year-old occupant and causing minor injuries to two others. A few other trees were blown down in Lenoir and areas just east of the city.
Eight firefighters working to contain a wildfire were treated for burns when lightning struck nearby.
Stream gauges indicated flash flooding developed across western Caldwell County, particularly Johns River, Yadkin River and their tributaries after 7-12 inches fell across the western half of the county over three days. Flash flooding first developed along Wilson Creek, followed …
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported (via Social Media) trees blown down between Rhodhiss and Granite Falls.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Emergency manager reported multiple trees blown down off Highway 321 just north of Lenoir. Media reported additional trees and some power lines blown down on the north side of town.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported a tree blown down on Pearl Dr and another tree down on Overlook Dr.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Multiple sources reported flash flooding developed along Buffalo Creek after 2.5 to 4 inches of rain fell in the area where Caldwell, Watauga, and Wilkes Counties come together. Water from the creek inundated a portion of Stone Mountain Rd. The bridge at Camp Carrolwood Rd was re…
Hail Hail
Ham radio operator reported nickel size hail on Highway 268 near the Yadkin River.
Hail Hail
Ham radio operator reported nickel size hail in the Mortimer community.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported a few trees blown down along Indian Grave Rd. Utility company reported a tree down on power lines and causing an outage closer to Lenoir.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Multiple sources reported flash flooding developed on the north side of Lenoir after 2 to 4 inches of rain fell over the area in less than two hours. The main impacts were to Blair Fork and its tributaries. Blair Fork overflowed its bans and inundated multiple roads, including Ma…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Utility company reported trees blown down on power lines, causing an outage.
Hail Hail
Ham radio operator reported quarter size hail in the Sawmills area.
Hail Hail
Spotter reported quarter size hail.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Ham radio operator reported two trees blown down in the Happy Valley community.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Amateur Radio operator reported flash flooding developed along a section of the Upper Little River after X to Y inches of rain fell in association with the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby, with much of that falling within a 2 to 4 hour window during the afternoon of the 8th. Wat…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported multiple trees blown down across Deal Mill Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Ham radio operator reported a tree blown down on power lines on Temple Hill Church Rd and another tree down on Peach Orchard Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported numerous trees blown down northeast of Granite Falls, including in Dudley Shoals and vicinity.
Hail Hail
Spotter reported quarter size hail.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Utility equipment reported trees blown down on power lines in Cajah Mountain. Ham radio operators reported trees and power lines blown down along Horseshoe Bend Rd and Hickory Nut Ridge Rd in Cajah Mountain and along Dry Ponds Rd in Sawmills.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported (via Social Media) multiple trees blown down Along Highway 18 northeast of Lenoir. Media and Emergency Management also reported multiple trees blown down and damage to the roof of a home on H T Road. Some trees fell on vehicles.
Flood Flood
A stream gauge on Johns River in Burke County exceeded its established flood stage, indicating flooding along the river upstream in Caldwell County after 3 to 5 inches of rain fell in the basin in about 12 hours. Highway 90 and Adako Rd were inundated in the Collettsville communi…
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Ham radio operator and the public (via Social Media) reported a couple of unnamed tributaries overflowed their banks on the northeast side of Lenoir. Floodwater was reportedly entering a residence at Pennell St NW and Plantation Dr. Just northeast of this location, Cottrell Hill …
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Emergency manager reported a billboard blown over along Highway 321 near Hudson. Ham radio operator reported a tree blown down on power lines in Sawmills.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Ham radio operator reported several trees blown down across Caldwell County.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
DOT reported multiple roads were washed out due to stream flooding across eastern Caldwell County after 4 to 6 inches of rain fell in just a few hours.
Hail Hail
Ham radio operator reported nickel size hail.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
County comms reported flash flooding developed along Wilson Creek after 4 to 6 inches of rain fell over the headwaters in around 24 hours, with 1 to 2 inches of that falling during the early afternoon of the 11th. At least one road was inundated (Brown Mountain Beach Rd). One per…
Flood Flood
A stream gauge on Johns River in Burke County exceeded its established flood stage, indicating flooding along the river upstream in Caldwell County after 4 to 7 inches of rain fell in the basin in about 24 hours. Highway 90 and Adako Rd were inundated in the Collettsville communi…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported multiple trees blown down in the Kings Creek community.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Media reported three pine trees blown down off Powder Creek Ct and a tree on a vehicle on Pooveys Chapel Church Rd.
Hail Hail
Media reported quarter to golf ball size hail in the Granite Falls and Northlakes areas.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported 10 to 20 trees, a few of them large blown down along J M Craig Road. A few of the trees were quite large and uprooted. A tree limb punctured the wall of an old sawmill.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported (via Social Media) several trees blown down on Baton School Road.
Flood Flood
A stream gauge on Johns River in Burke County exceeded its established flood stage, indicating flooding along the river upstream in Caldwell County after 4 to 6 inches of rain fell in the basin throughout the 29th and early part of the 30th. Highway 90 and Adako Rd were inundated…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported trees and power lines blown down on Clarks Chapel Rd and on Calico Rd.
Hail Hail
Public reported nickel size hail near Gamewell.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
NWS storm survey reported a small area of downburst damage along Playmore Beach Rd. Numerous trees were snapped and/or uprooted from Braswell Place to just west of Celia Creek Rd.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
A stream gauge on the Yadkin River near Patterson exceeded its established flood stage after 4 to 7 inches fell across the basin, with much of that falling in only 3 hours or so between midnight and daybreak on the 12th. Multiple roads and some homes were inundated in the Happy V…
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Emergency manager and stream gauges indicated flash flooding developed along the Johns River and Yadkin River basins after 3 to 5 inches of rain fell across much of Caldwell County in about 24 hours. Johns River flooded multiple roads in the Collettsville area, including Highway …
Flood Flood
Although heavy rain tapered off across Caldwell County during the morning, stream gauges indicated continued runoff from the heavy rain resulted in high water conditions persisting along Johns River as well as Lower Creek in Lenoir through the afternoon. Multiple roads remained i…
Hail Hail
Spotter reported quarter size hail on Mountain View Cir and Union Grove Rd and nearby at Oakmont Dr and Connelly Springs Rd.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Emergency manager reported flash flooding developed along multiple creek across northwest Caldwell County after 4 to 6 inches of rain fell, mostly in less than 8 hours. Anthony Creek overflowed its banks in the Globe community, washing out a low water crossing. Wilson Creek washe…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported trees blown down on Highway 18 in Gamewell. Spotter reported a large tree down on Connelly Springs Rd.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
County comms reported flash flooding developed across portions of Caldwell County after 4 to 5.5 inches of rain fell in about 24 hours with much of that falling during the morning of the 6th. Multiple roads were closed due to a combination of poor drainage in urban areas and due …
Hail Hail
Amateur radio reported quarter size hail on River Bend Dr near Highway 321.
Hail Hail
Public reported dime to quarter size hail on Macedonia Rd.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 | 7 | 0 |
| 2024 | 11 | 0 |
| 2023 | 4 | 0 |
| 2022 | 7 | 0 |
| 2021 | 4 | 0 |
| 2020 | 7 | 0 |
| 2019 | 13 | 0 |
| 2018 | 16 | 0 |
| 2017 | 21 | 3 |
| 2016 | 9 | 0 |
| 2015 | 9 | 0 |
| 2014 | 9 | 0 |
| 2013 | 21 | 0 |
| 2012 | 24 | 1 |
| 2011 | 28 | 1 |
| 2010 | 13 | 0 |
| 2009 | 11 | 0 |
| 2008 | 11 | 0 |
| 2007 | 8 | 0 |
| 2006 | 17 | 0 |
| 2005 | 26 | 0 |
| 2004 | 29 | 0 |
| 2003 | 38 | 0 |
| 2002 | 12 | 0 |
| 2001 | 16 | 0 |
| 2000 | 18 | 0 |
| 1999 | 27 | 0 |
| 1998 | 23 | 1 |
| 1997 | 20 | 0 |
| 1996 | 23 | 0 |
| 1995 | 4 | 0 |
| 1994 | 2 | 1 |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 |
| 1990 | 2 | 0 |
| 1989 | 4 | 1 |
| 1988 | 3 | 0 |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 |
| 1986 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | 5 | 0 |
| 1983 | 2 | 0 |
| 1977 | 1 | 1 |
| 1975 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 | 2 | 1 |
| 1973 | 1 | 1 |
| 1971 | 1 | 0 |
| 1969 | 2 | 0 |
| 1955 | 1 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Caldwell County, measured to its path.
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