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McDowell County, North Carolina
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1974 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
6
Tornado reports
141
Hail reports
59
Floods since 1996
555
All events
3
Deaths
$127.5M
Property damage
Tornado paths in McDowell County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 6 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.
Stream gauges and emergency management reported catastrophic flash flooding developed along the Catawba River basin after 15-22 inches of rain fell across the western half of the county over three days. Dozens of structures were damaged or destroyed in the Old Fort area alone. Hu…
A 32-year old man was killed when he was buried by debris from a landslide while inspecting a rail line in far western McDowell County.
A stream gauge on the North Fork Catawba River in the North Cove community exceeded its established flood stage and indicated significant flash flooding developed after 10-17 inches fell over the watershed in about three days. Dozens of structures, roads, and campgrounds were inu…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported trees blown down across Montford Cove Rd.
Hail Hail
Public reported 3/4 inch hail.
Hail Hail
NWS employee reported dime to nickel size hail near the Burke County line.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Emergency manager reported flash flooding developed in Marion and vicinity after 2.5 to 4 inches of rain fell in less than two hours. Flash flooding was first reported in downtown Marion, mainly in the form of severe urban/drainage flooding. Two buildings were inundated and damag…
Hail Hail
Emergency manager reported quarter size hail in the Little Switzerland area.
Hail Hail
Public reported (via Social Media) up to quarter size hail just east of Marion.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Emergency manager reported trees blown down near the intersection of Hankins Rd and Yancey Rd. Another tree was blown down on a vehicle just east of Marion.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Emergency manager reported trees blown down and blocking Highway 70.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Emergency manager reported trees blown down near Fortune Rd and Highway 64.
Hail Hail
Emergency management reported golf ball size hail. Multiple public reports of quarter size hail were received from the Dysartsville community.
Hail Hail
Public reported quarter size hail.
Hail Hail
Emergency manager reported quarter size hail.
Flood Flood
Although heavy rain ended across McDowell County by early afternoon, significant flooding continued across the Broad River basin through the 27th. Water gradually receded through the morning of the 28th, and most streams returned to their banks by the afternoon of the 28th.
Flood Flood
Rain rates diminished during the early morning, and water rises became slower before beginning to recede late in the morning. The lull in the heavy rainfall continued through the afternoon and Catawba River and its tributaries briefly returned to their banks before heavy rain red…
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Emergency manager reported flash flooding developed along the Catawba River and some tributaries from Old Fort through the central part of the county after a swath of 3 to 4 inches of rain fell in the headwaters over 2-4 hours. Multiple campgrounds and low water crossing and seco…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported a tree and power lines blown down on Wildlife Rd at Highway 126.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Emergency management reported numerous roads flooded in the city of Marion due to a combination of severe urban/poor drainage and small stream flooding after 3.5 to 4 inches of rain fell in just a couple of hours over a localized area right over the city. Youngs Fork overflowed i…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Emergency management reported numerous trees blown down in the Old Fort area.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Emergency management reported numerous trees blown down throughout Marion and vicinity. One tree fell on a house on Forest Hill Drive off Highway 70.
Hail Hail
Media reported 3/4 inch hail along Highway 70 near Old Fort.
Flood Flood
Stream gauges on the Catawba River in central McDowell County briefly exceeded flood stage after 3 to 5 inches of rain fell in around 12 hours. Multiple low water crossings and several campgrounds along the river were inundated with a couple of feet of water. Some water may have …
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Emergency manager reported a large tree blown down on Highway 221 north of Ashford and another tree blocking the roadway south of Ashford.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple sources reported multiple trees blown down and blocking roads across McDowell County.
Hail Hail
Public reported up to quarter size hail.
Hail Hail
Fire dept reported dime to nickel sized hail in the Pleasant Gardens area.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple resources reported a number of trees blown down across southeast McDowell County, from Highway 221 at Ashworth Rd, across the I-40 corridor to points southeast. More than a dozen trees were blown down in the area around Ashworth Rd and Grants Mountain Rd alone, with mult…
Hail Hail
Public reported nickel size hail on Old Fort Sugar Hill Rd.
Hail Hail
Public reported nickel size haiPublic reported (via Social Media) quarter size hail on Zion Hill Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported a tree blown down on a house on Windswept Dr.
Hail Hail
Public reported (via Social Media) penny to quarter size hail in the Old Fort area.
Hail Hail
Emergency manager measured 2-inch diameter hail near Old Fort.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Emergency manager reported multiple trees blown down on Old Highway 70.
Hail Hail
Fire dept reported 3/4 inch hail.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Emergency manager reported a tree and power lines blown down on Vein Mountain Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Emergency manager relayed fire dept reports of multiple trees blown down in the Marion area.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported a tree blown down on a house and another tree down across a road in extreme southeast McDowell County.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported multiple trees blown down from Cannon rd toward Airport Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported trees blown down along Sain Rd, along Walker Rd, and near the intersection of Highways 64 and 226.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
County comms reported numerous trees blown down in Marion and vicinity.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Emergency manager reported trees blown down in the Pleasant Gardens area.
Hail Hail
Emergency manager reported quarter size hail in the Pleasant Gardens area.
Hail Hail
Public reported quarter size hail on Nix Creek Rd.
Hail Hail
Spotter reported quarter size hail off Magnolia Dr.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 0 |
| 2025 | 9 | 0 |
| 2024 | 11 | 0 |
| 2023 | 13 | 0 |
| 2022 | 16 | 0 |
| 2021 | 10 | 1 |
| 2020 | 17 | 0 |
| 2019 | 14 | 1 |
| 2018 | 18 | 0 |
| 2017 | 19 | 0 |
| 2016 | 29 | 0 |
| 2015 | 16 | 0 |
| 2014 | 21 | 1 |
| 2013 | 9 | 0 |
| 2012 | 20 | 0 |
| 2011 | 23 | 0 |
| 2010 | 15 | 0 |
| 2009 | 7 | 0 |
| 2008 | 10 | 0 |
| 2007 | 10 | 0 |
| 2006 | 21 | 0 |
| 2005 | 20 | 0 |
| 2004 | 26 | 0 |
| 2003 | 31 | 0 |
| 2002 | 19 | 0 |
| 2001 | 18 | 0 |
| 2000 | 31 | 1 |
| 1999 | 22 | 0 |
| 1998 | 27 | 1 |
| 1997 | 16 | 0 |
| 1996 | 18 | 1 |
| 1995 | 2 | 0 |
| 1992 | 2 | 0 |
| 1991 | 2 | 0 |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | 2 | 0 |
| 1985 | 3 | 0 |
| 1980 | 1 | 0 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 | 1 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in McDowell County, measured to its path.
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