Home / States / North Carolina
Jackson County, North Carolina
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1969 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
5
Tornado reports
61
Hail reports
31
Floods since 1996
225
All events
1
Deaths
$15.1M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Jackson County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 5 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.
Stream gauges indicated flash flooding developed along the Tuckasegee River and some of its tributaries, including Scotts Creek in Sylva after 10 to 15 inches of rain fell across the upper part of the basin over a couple of days. 1.5 to 2.5 inches of that fell over the headwaters…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
NWS employee reported trees blown down along Highway 74 just west of Sylva.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Utility company reported trees blown down on power lines and causing an outage off of Highway 107.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported multiple trees blown down in the area around Chickadee Ln, with one tree down on on a house.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Emergency manager reported flash flooding developed across a small part of northwest Jackson county after 2 to 3 inches of rain fell in less than two hours. The primary impact was to small streams and tributaries west of Thomas Valley Rd, where an unnamed stream inundated and was…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Emergency manager reported multiple trees blown down on Highway 19 near Highway 441 Business.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported tree blown down on a house. Another public report of multiple trees uprooted was received from the same area.
Hail Hail
Public reported quarter size hail.
Hail Hail
Emergency manager reported quarter size hail.
Flood Flood
Although heavy rainfall ended across Jackson County during the morning, flooding continued throughout the Tuckasegee basin as water from the 10-15 inches of rain flowed down the watershed. Most streams returned to their banks by evening.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported multiple trees blown down with one blocking the road on Rodeo Dr.
Emergency manager reported a large tree limb fell on a vehicle on Highway 19 in the Qualla Boundary. One occupant received minor injuries.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported several trees blown down.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Emergency manager reported numerous trees blown down across the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians reservation. Utility company reported multiple trees blown down on power lines from the Sylva area to Cullowhee.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
NWS storm survey found the path of a strong EF1 tornado that touched down in a heavily wooded area in the Cowee Mountains just east of Pumpkintown and near the Macon County line. The tornado produced minor tree damage as it ascended a ridge near Kirby Knob before rapidly strength…
Tornado EF1 Tornado
NWS storm survey found the path of a second EF1 tornado in Jackson County that touched down south of another tornado shortly before the earlier tornado ended. This brief tornado touched down in a wooded area just below Lake Glenville near Shoal Creek Mountain Road. The tornado cr…
Hail Hail
Public reported 3/4 inch hail.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported several trees blown down in the Cashiers area.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported trees blown down around Whittier. Emergency manager reported trees blown down across the Qualla Boundary.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported a tree blown down in the Savannah community and multiple trees down in Cullowhee, including on Old Settlement Rd and on Locust Creek Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported multiple trees blown down across roads on Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians land.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Ham radio operator reported three trees blown down in northern Jackson County, including at Highway 74 and Bradley Branch Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported trees and power lines blown down along Edgewater Rd.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Spotters and emergency manager reported flash flooding developed across northwest Jackson County after 3 to 5 inches of rain fell in just a few hours. The main impact was in the Barkers Creek watershed. Middle Fork Barkers Creek completely washed out a portion of Beachtree Rd. Ea…
Debris Flow Debris Flow
Emergency management reported a debris flow that began above Knob Hill Rd and ended at Lake Glenville. Significant damage occurred to a single home after a large log was forced through a bedroom wall.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
County comms reported multiple roads flooded and closed throughout Jackson County due to a combination of small stream and poor drainage flooding after 3.5 to 5 inches of rain fell in about an 18 hour period. At least half of that fell in less than six hours during the morning of…
Flood Flood
Although heavy rain tapered off across Jackson County during the afternoon and evening, county comms reported multiple roads remained flooded and closed for several hours after the rain ended.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported numerous trees and power lines blown down, with a few trees down on structures.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported multiple trees blown down across the county, especially toward the Cashiers area.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Emergency manager reported flash flooding developed in Sylva due from a combination of urban flooding as well as due to Scott Creek overflowing its banks after 3 to 4 inches of rain fell in just a few hours. Mill St and Main St were impacted in downtown Sylva.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported numerous trees blown down across the northern part of Jackson County.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County reported widespread trees and power lines blown down from the Savannah community toward Cashiers.
Hail Hail
Forest service personnel observed half dollar size hail at the Whitewater Falls parking area off Highway 281.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Forest service personnel reported multiple large tree limbs blown down at the Whitewater Falls parking area off Highway 281.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported numerous trees blown down throughout the county.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Newspaper reported multiple trees blown down across Jackson County.
Hail Hail
HAM Radio operator reported quarter size hail near Sylva.
Hail Hail
Spotter reported nickel size hail near Whittier.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported a few trees and power lines blown down, mainly across the central part of the county.
Flood Flood
After more than 3 inches of rain fell over just a few hours in the headwaters of the Tuckasegee basin, Emergency manager reported flooding developed along the West Fork of the river during the early morning hours. Several trailers were inundated with water from the stream near th…
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Newspaper reported flash flooding developed across portions of central Jackson County after more than 5 inches of rain fell in over 24 hours. Multiple tributaries of the Tuckasegee River overflowed their banks in the Tuckasegee and Cullowhee areas. Closed roads included Barkers C…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Newspaper reported four large pine trees were blown down, with one falling on a garage.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
EOC relayed a report via social media of multiple trees and power lines on Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian land in northern Jackson County.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Law enforcement reported numerous trees and power lines blown down on and in the vicinity of the Western Carolina University campus. The campus library and a couple of homes received minor roof damage from fallen trees.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Media reported multiple trees blown down in the Soco Gap area.
Hail Hail
Public reported nickel size hail near Balsam.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
FD reported several trees blown down in the Cullowhee area.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree blown down in the Whittier area and a tree was down on power lines near Sylva.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | 6 | 0 |
| 2024 | 8 | 2 |
| 2023 | 5 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 |
| 2020 | 6 | 0 |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 |
| 2017 | 3 | 0 |
| 2016 | 4 | 0 |
| 2015 | 5 | 0 |
| 2014 | 4 | 0 |
| 2013 | 4 | 0 |
| 2012 | 9 | 1 |
| 2011 | 18 | 0 |
| 2010 | 8 | 0 |
| 2009 | 15 | 0 |
| 2008 | 7 | 0 |
| 2007 | 4 | 0 |
| 2006 | 13 | 0 |
| 2005 | 9 | 0 |
| 2004 | 11 | 0 |
| 2003 | 9 | 0 |
| 2002 | 7 | 0 |
| 2001 | 8 | 0 |
| 2000 | 2 | 0 |
| 1999 | 9 | 0 |
| 1998 | 7 | 0 |
| 1997 | 8 | 0 |
| 1996 | 10 | 0 |
| 1995 | 5 | 0 |
| 1993 | 4 | 0 |
| 1991 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | 3 | 0 |
| 1986 | 1 | 0 |
| 1985 | 1 | 0 |
| 1976 | 1 | 1 |
| 1975 | 1 | 1 |
| 1971 | 1 | 0 |
| 1969 | 1 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Jackson County, measured to its path.
We couldn’t get your location. Check that location access is allowed for this site, or type an address.