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Cherokee County, North Carolina
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1965 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
10
Tornado reports
57
Hail reports
20
Floods since 1996
319
All events
4
Deaths
$30.7M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Cherokee 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.
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.
An EF-2 tornado with maximum wind speeds around 120 mph produced a damage path 21.5 miles long and 400 yards wide. The tornado track extended across almost the entire county and damaged the northern part of Murphy. The storm destroyed five homes and five businesses. The number of…
Creeks out of banks, low spots flooded, and roads closed countywide.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
One tree felled by severe thunderstorm wind gusts along Owl Creek Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
One tree downed by powerful thunderstorm wind gusts along Hendrix Road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A few trees were felled by severe thunderstorm wind gusts.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Steady snow led to heavy snow accumulations: 5.7 inches on the east-southeastern side of Murphy, along with 4 inches elsewhere in Murphy. Additional snow totals include 3.8 inches of snow near Hot House, and 3.4 inches of snow near Nottely Dam.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
One inch of snow fell in Murphy, North Carolina, according to both a CO-OP observer and a CoCoRaHS observer. Lesser snow amounts fell elsewhere in Cherokee.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Three large trees were blown down by severe thunderstorm wind gusts.
Lightning Lightning
Fire dispatch radio noted a house fire due to a likely lightning strike. Only minor damage was known of, with no injuries.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm brought a brief instance of damaging winds to Cherokee County, knocking down powerlines and bringing a short outage to over 2000 customers in the area.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Severe thunderstorm winds felled several trees. Additionally, hail of unknown size fell during the storm.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Light snow fell in two distinct rounds in Cherokee County, but eventually snow of 1 inch was measured in Murphy, 1 inch in Andrews, and 2.2 inches in Unaka.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Heavy snow followed by light sleet and wintry mix yielded 3-4 of snow across Cherokee County, per reports from both a trained spotter and several public reports in Hot House, Murphy, Marble, and Culberson.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple powerlines and trees brought down by severe thunderstorm winds across the county.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple trees were blown down by severe thunderstorm wind gusts.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple trees were blown over by severe thunderstorm wind gusts.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A large tree was blown down by severe thunderstorm wind gusts at the intersection of two roads.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
A survey found EF-1 tornado damage, with peak winds of 95 mph. Pockets of extensive tree damage were noted near and around the Peachtree community. The tornado likely developed near Greenlawn Cemetery Road and Memory Lane. It continued east across Upper Peachtree Road causing som…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees and powerlines were blown down by powerful straight line thunderstorm wind gusts. In addition, an amateur radio operator reported a wind gust to 50 mph in the Marble area.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
On the right flank of a tornado, significant straight line wind damage was observed. Multiple large trees had their trunks snapped, and multiple trees lost large limbs as the severe thunderstorm passed through.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A very large tree was uprooted by powerful thunderstorm winds and blocked the entire road.
Debris Flow Debris Flow
Mudslide reported just northwest of Murphy.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees were blown down by severe thunderstorm wind gusts.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A large tree is blown down by severe thunderstorm wind gusts.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A large tree blown down by powerful thunderstorm wind gusts blocks a road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees were blown down by strong thunderstorm winds, some landed on power lines. One set of powerlines fell onto a vehicle in Murphy.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees and powerlines blown down by severe thunderstorm winds.
High Wind High Wind
A tree was blown down onto power lines in Belleview near Highway 129, trapping a driver in his car.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A vehicle was struck by a falling tree near the intersection of Airport Road and Love Road. No injuries were reported after EMS visited the scene. There was an additional report of a tree and power line down in the county.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Multiple roads inundated. Multiple structures flooded. Some roadside washouts. For the Marble flash flood event, damages were estimated to be at least $1,000,000, with $750,000 of that going to road repair, and the remainder toward properties.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Multiple residences being evacuated due to rising flood waters in Marble NC.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Flooded stream approaching the base of a house.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Mesonet Station MBLN7 1.1 NE Marble 24 hour rainfall of 4.18 inches.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees were blown down across the county.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees were blown down.
Hail Hail
High Wind High Wind
A steel outbuilding was blown over and down a hill. This occurred near Andrews, NC.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
In Unaka, 3.3 inches of snow was measured.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Water from Laurel Creek was covering the bridge on Laurel Creek Road to a depth of twelve inches. Access to and from homes was cut off, but no residences were endangered.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Streams were out of their banks and flooding yards.
High Wind High Wind
Numerous trees were blown down across Cherokee County.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree fell on top to two houses on Smoke Rise Drive.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A roof was blown off a structure on Mount Wimpey Road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees were reported down and the roof of an outbuilding was damaged.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snow depth was measured at 3.3 inches at Unaka.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 | 8 | 0 |
| 2024 | 10 | 1 |
| 2023 | 9 | 0 |
| 2022 | 9 | 0 |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 |
| 2020 | 7 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 |
| 2018 | 9 | 1 |
| 2017 | 14 | 0 |
| 2016 | 6 | 0 |
| 2015 | 10 | 0 |
| 2014 | 5 | 0 |
| 2013 | 6 | 0 |
| 2012 | 6 | 1 |
| 2011 | 12 | 0 |
| 2010 | 11 | 0 |
| 2009 | 10 | 0 |
| 2008 | 15 | 0 |
| 2007 | 3 | 0 |
| 2006 | 21 | 0 |
| 2005 | 6 | 0 |
| 2004 | 13 | 0 |
| 2003 | 12 | 0 |
| 2002 | 13 | 0 |
| 2001 | 9 | 0 |
| 2000 | 6 | 0 |
| 1999 | 7 | 0 |
| 1998 | 14 | 1 |
| 1997 | 13 | 0 |
| 1996 | 5 | 0 |
| 1995 | 4 | 0 |
| 1994 | 2 | 0 |
| 1993 | 6 | 0 |
| 1992 | 2 | 0 |
| 1991 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | 4 | 0 |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 |
| 1985 | 7 | 0 |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 |
| 1979 | 1 | 1 |
| 1976 | 2 | 0 |
| 1974 | 6 | 4 |
| 1970 | 1 | 0 |
| 1966 | 1 | 0 |
| 1965 | 1 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Cherokee County, measured to its path.
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