Home / States / North Carolina
Macon County, North Carolina
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1970 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
4
Tornado reports
72
Hail reports
38
Floods since 1996
495
All events
5
Deaths
$11.6M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Macon County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 4 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.
A stream gauge on the Cullasaja River in the Gneiss community indicated flash flooding developed along the lower portion of the river after 10-15 inches of rain fell across the headwaters over three days. 1.5 to 3.5 inches of that fell in less than six hours during the early morn…
A landslide (debris flow) began at the top of Fishhawk Mountain and flowed through the Peeks Creek valley. The slide, consisting of water, boulders, trees, mud, and other debris, destroyed or severely damaged 20 to 30 homes and mobile homes. Four people and an unborn child were k…
Hundreds of trees were blown down, with dozens of trees down on homes, vehicles, and power lines. Frequent gusts up 50 to 60 mph occurred, with occasional gusts of 70-80 mph, especially on higher peaks and ridgetops.
Drought Drought
Drought Drought
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Hail Hail
Public reported (via Social Media) up to golf ball size hail.
High Wind High Wind
High Wind High Wind
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported a tree blown down on Flat Mountain Rd north of Highlands and another tree down closer to town.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported a couple of trees blown down in the roadway along with a few power lines down.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported several trees blown down around Nantahala Lake.
Hail Hail
Public reported dime to quarter size hail on W Old Murphy Rd near Highway 64.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported a few trees and power lines blown down in the Franklin area.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported power lines blown down on a tree down on Nantahala Shores, a tree down on Camp Branch Rd, and another tree down on Wayah Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported several trees blown down around Franklin, including one that grazed a house on Rolling Hills Dr.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported numerous trees and power lines blown down around Highlands.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported a few trees blown down between the Franklin area and Highlands.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported trees blown down on roads north of Otto.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Utility company reported multiple trees blown down on power lines in the Franklin area.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported multiple trees blown down just north of the Kyle community.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported numerous trees blown down in and around Franklin.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Emergency manager reported multiple trees blown down in the Nantahala National Forest.
Hail Hail
Public reported (via Social Media) nickel size hail.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Emergency manager reported flash flooding developed across Franklin and vicinity after 4 to 6 inches fell across a swath of central Macon County in less than 8 hours. The most significant impact was to Gibson Cove Branch, which inundated Old Murphy Rd and several adjacent busines…
Debris Flow Debris Flow
Emergency manager and geological survey team reported damaging debris flows developed in the Cartoogechaye Creek watershed, primarily originating on the northwest and southeast slopes of Dobson Mountain between West Old Murphy Rd and Patton Rd after 4 to 6 inches of rain fell in …
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Flash Flood Flash Flood
County comms reported multiple roads flooded and closed throughout Macon County due to a combination of small stream and poor drainage flooding after 3 to 6 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 the…
Flood Flood
Although heavy rain tapered off across Macon County during the afternoon and evening, county comms reported multiple roads remained flooded and closed for several hours after the rain ended.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported multiple trees blown down across Macon County with one tree falling on a house in Franklin.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported multiple trees blown down in the northern part of the county, with one tree blocking Highway 28.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | 0 |
| 2025 | 7 | 0 |
| 2024 | 8 | 0 |
| 2023 | 10 | 0 |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 |
| 2020 | 11 | 0 |
| 2019 | 4 | 0 |
| 2018 | 9 | 0 |
| 2017 | 9 | 0 |
| 2016 | 8 | 0 |
| 2015 | 10 | 0 |
| 2014 | 11 | 0 |
| 2013 | 17 | 0 |
| 2012 | 20 | 0 |
| 2011 | 25 | 1 |
| 2010 | 23 | 0 |
| 2009 | 16 | 0 |
| 2008 | 20 | 0 |
| 2007 | 27 | 0 |
| 2006 | 19 | 0 |
| 2005 | 23 | 1 |
| 2004 | 26 | 0 |
| 2003 | 28 | 0 |
| 2002 | 24 | 0 |
| 2001 | 18 | 0 |
| 2000 | 25 | 0 |
| 1999 | 16 | 0 |
| 1998 | 17 | 0 |
| 1997 | 20 | 0 |
| 1996 | 14 | 0 |
| 1995 | 4 | 0 |
| 1993 | 4 | 0 |
| 1992 | 2 | 0 |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 |
| 1986 | 1 | 0 |
| 1985 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | 1 | 0 |
| 1983 | 1 | 0 |
| 1976 | 2 | 2 |
| 1975 | 1 | 0 |
| 1970 | 1 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Macon County, measured to its path.
We couldn’t get your location. Check that location access is allowed for this site, or type an address.