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Catawba County, North Carolina
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1951 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
20
Tornado reports
177
Hail reports
41
Floods since 1996
746
All events
2
Deaths
$128.1M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Catawba County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 19 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated
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.
NWS storm survey found the path of a tornado that touched down near Yount Rd in Claremont, where large tree branches were broken off, before the tornado moved northeast, uprooting trees from Love Rd to Boggs Rd. The tornado appeared to intensify by along Hewitt Rd near McLin Cree…
Gusty winds at a golf course in Newton blew down a tree which fell on a golf cart. The 59-year-old man who was driving the cart was killed.
Thousands of trees were blown down, with hundreds of trees down on homes, vehicles, and power lines. Frequent gusts up to 60 mph occurred, with occasional gusts of 70 mph.
A stream gauge on the Catawba River at Lookout Shoals Dam indicated flash flooding developed in the vicinity of the damn after widespread extremely heavy rainfall occurred in the upper part of the basin across the mountains and foothills over three days, with 6-9 inches falling a…
A stream gauge on Lyle Creek in the Conover area indicated flash flooding developed along the stream after 6 to 10 inches of rain fell across the area in around three days, with 1 to 2 inches of that falling in less than six hours during the morning of the 27th. Water entered aro…
The event started with several streets flooded in Hickory. Over the next couple hours numerous roads and even several homes were flooded in western Catawba County as extremely heavy rain continued to fall. In excess of 10 inches of rain was measured in this area.
The gauge on Lookout Shoals Lake crested at a stage of 106.98 feet during the mid afternoon hours of the 6th. The lake only slowly receded over the next few days. Several residences were flooded along the lake. Some of the worst flooding was along Ridge Street in the Carpenter's …
The tornado touched down initially in an industrial park near Penny Rd, where two large buildings sustained significant roof damage. Part of the exterior wall of one of the buildings collapsed. The tornado moved northeast, causing damage to shingles and siding at several homes on…
A serious urban flash flood developed when 5 to 6 inches of rain fell in about 2 hours. Sink holes developed, which continued to grow for weeks after the flood. Some flat-roofed businesses collapsed. Water was reported to have accumulated to depths of 17 feet in portions of the d…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported multiple large trees blown down on structures and power lines, with outages reported in the vicinity Of Oxford School Rd and Rock Barn Rd. Another tree was blown down on nearby Hall Dairy Rd.
Drought Drought
Drought Drought
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Utility company reported trees blown down on power lines and causing an outage along Emmanuel Church Rd.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Hail Hail
Public reported quarter size hail.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported trees blown down on Emmanuel Church Rd, on Highway 70, and on Riverbend Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Fire dept reported several trees and power lines blown down in the Rhoney and Blackburn communities, including on Whitener Rd, Highway 10, and Rhoney School Rd.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported several trees blown down throughout Catawba County. NWS employee reported several pieces of sheet metal roofing blown off a barn on Highway 321 near Maiden.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Fire dept reported two trees blown down and blocking Grassy Creek Rd.
Hail Hail
Media relayed report from one of their spotters of 1-inch hail near Claremont.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported multiple trees blown down across northern Catawba County, including on Springs Rd near Lee Cline Rd, on River Bend Rd, on I-40, and on Herman Rd, where a large tree fell on and damaged a house. Additionally, a gas station canopy was destroyed north of Claremont.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Ham radio operator reported trees blown down across the road near the intersection of Old Shelby Rd and Rhoney Farm Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Utility company reported trees blown down on power lines in the Claremont area.
Hail Hail
Public reported (via NSSL mPING) quarter size hail.
Hail Hail
Fire dept reported 3/4 inch hail.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Public (via Social Media) and spotter reported flash flooding developed throughout central and northern Catawba County after 3 to 5 inches of rain fell in around 12 hours. Impacted roads included Pittstown Rd (due to Hop Creek overflowing its banks), Bethany Church Rd (due to McL…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported a tree blown down on a vehicle on Conover Blvd West. Fire dept reported a tree down on and blocking Highway 10.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
NWS storm survey found a swath of intense straight line wind damage across central Catawba County, from Mountain View and Hickory to Conover and Newton. Large numbers of trees were snapped and/or uprooted with numerous large tree branches downed. Several power poles were snapped …
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported (via Social Media) numerous trees and power lines blown down across Maiden and vicinity.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
NWS storm survey found the path of a long-track EF1 tornado that touched down between Conover and Claremont near the intersection of Kelly Blvd and Heart Dr, where large tree branches were snapped. The tornado continued to snap large branched as it moved southeast, crossing Highw…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported (via Social Media) trees blown down on I-40 in the Claremont area, and additional trees down on nearby Rock Barn Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Emergency manager reported several trees blown down in a wooded area off of Zion Church Rd, with a small tree down on an outbuilding in the vicinity.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Ham radio operators reported multiple trees blown down across the Hickory area, with multiple large trees down and blocking roads in Conover.
Hail Hail
Spotter reported penny to quarter size hail.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Tropical Storm Tropical Storm
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple trees and power lines were blown down in the city of Conover and power lines were blown down in Newton.
Hail Hail
Spotter reported nickel size hail.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported a few trees blown down across Catawba County.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported a few trees blown down off Cooksville Rd.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 | 0 |
| 2025 | 6 | 0 |
| 2024 | 14 | 1 |
| 2023 | 8 | 1 |
| 2022 | 13 | 0 |
| 2021 | 7 | 0 |
| 2020 | 17 | 0 |
| 2019 | 17 | 0 |
| 2018 | 23 | 0 |
| 2017 | 20 | 3 |
| 2016 | 22 | 0 |
| 2015 | 15 | 0 |
| 2014 | 13 | 0 |
| 2013 | 27 | 0 |
| 2012 | 19 | 0 |
| 2011 | 41 | 0 |
| 2010 | 29 | 3 |
| 2009 | 15 | 0 |
| 2008 | 33 | 0 |
| 2007 | 21 | 0 |
| 2006 | 29 | 0 |
| 2005 | 23 | 0 |
| 2004 | 16 | 0 |
| 2003 | 37 | 0 |
| 2002 | 20 | 0 |
| 2001 | 13 | 0 |
| 2000 | 35 | 0 |
| 1999 | 17 | 0 |
| 1998 | 32 | 1 |
| 1997 | 20 | 0 |
| 1996 | 31 | 0 |
| 1995 | 4 | 0 |
| 1994 | 2 | 1 |
| 1993 | 4 | 0 |
| 1992 | 8 | 2 |
| 1991 | 5 | 0 |
| 1990 | 7 | 0 |
| 1989 | 6 | 1 |
| 1988 | 6 | 0 |
| 1987 | 5 | 0 |
| 1986 | 7 | 0 |
| 1985 | 18 | 0 |
| 1984 | 1 | 0 |
| 1982 | 1 | 1 |
| 1980 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 | 3 | 0 |
| 1977 | 1 | 0 |
| 1976 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 | 2 | 2 |
| 1973 | 4 | 2 |
| 1971 | 1 | 0 |
| 1970 | 3 | 0 |
| 1969 | 3 | 0 |
| 1968 | 2 | 0 |
| 1967 | 2 | 0 |
| 1965 | 4 | 0 |
| 1957 | 2 | 0 |
| 1955 | 1 | 0 |
| 1954 | 1 | 1 |
| 1951 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Catawba County, measured to its path.
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