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Rowan County, North Carolina
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1957 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
13
Tornado reports
111
Hail reports
42
Floods since 1996
694
All events
5
Deaths
$16.3M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Rowan County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 12 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 woman died, apparently from expsosure to the cold weather. Her body was found at the steps of her home in the morning.
Drought Drought
Drought Drought
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Spotter reported trees blown down on Highway 150, with another tree down on Main St on the west side of Salisbury.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Spotters and utility company reported multiple trees blown down east through south of Spencer, including on Cranford Rd and Long Ferry Rd, where a tree was down on a house. Emergency manager reported numerous trees down on the south side of High Rock Lake, including at Saint Matt…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Spotter reported multiple power poles blown down on Wright Rd west of Enochville.
Flood Flood
Emergency manager reported stream flooding developed in areas south of Rockwell after 2.5 to 4 inches of rain fell across the area over a period of 4 to 6 hours. Klums Creek overflowed its banks and inundated Old Beatty Ford Rd. Water from a tributary inundated another portion of…
Hail Hail
Public reported 3/4-inch hail.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Spotter reported multiple trees, a snapped power pole, and power lines blown down along Old Beatty Ford Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Utility company reported trees blown down on power lines and causing an outage around Long Bow Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported two trees blown down at Old Beatty Ford Rd and Emmanuel Church Rd.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Spotters reported a tree blown down on a house on Short St in Faith and another tree on a house on Travis Ln, where an occupant was briefly trapped.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Emergency manager reported multiple trees blown throughout the southern part of the county.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Spotter reported multiple trees blown down near the intersection of Panther Creek Rd and Stokes Ferry Rd, with additional trees as well as power lines blown down on Bringle Ferry Rd.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Emergency management reported Town Creek overflowed its banks, with water inundating both lanes of Innes St. The crawlspace of several manufactured home was also inundated off of Bringle Ferry Rd. Additionally, a stream gauge on Grants Creek on Rowan Mill Rd exceeded its establis…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Spotters reported multiple trees blown down and blocking China Grove Rd and on Daugherty Rd. A tree was also blown down on a house on Old Beatty Ford Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Spotter reported a large tree was blown down across the roadway near Highway 152 W and Jackson Rd, and another tree down a little farther east down Highway 152.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Spotter reported multiple trees blown down across the Salisbury area, including one that fell across the road at N Ellis St and W Council St.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Spotter reported a tree blown down on power lines on Morgan Rd and another tree blocking the road at Bringle Ferry Rd and Wyatts Grove Church Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Spotters reported a tree blown down on Roy Cline Rd and multiple trees blown down on nearby Irish Potato Rd along the Cabarrus County line.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Spotter reported a tree and two utility poles blown down along Lippard Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Emergency manager reported multiple trees blown across western Rowan County, from Cleveland to China Grove.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public and an off-duty NWS employee reported multiple trees and power lines blown down in the area around Providence Church Rd and Bringle Ferry Rd, including on Ned Marsh Rd. A couple of trees fell on vehicles.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
NWS storm survey found the path of an EF1 tornado that touched down just off of Highway 801, just west of Centenary Church Rd in Mount Ulla. The tornado initially impacted a house near Centenary Church Rd, uplifting the roof deck, resulting in significant loss of roof covering ma…
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Emergency manager and newspaper reported flash flooding of small streams and poor drainage areas resulting in multiple roads being inundated and closed or rendered impassable after 3 to 5 inches of rain fell throughout Rowan County in around 12 hours. Impacted roads included Old …
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Emergency manager reported numerous trees blown down throughout Rowan County, especially in Salisbury and vicinity. Several trees were blown down on structures, and many trees were downed across roads.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Ham radio operator reported trees blown down along Bringle Ferry Rd at Panther Creek Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Emergency manager and spotter reported multiple trees blown down throughout Salisbury and vicinity. Part of one tree fell on a home and other trees fell across roads.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported (via Social Media) a tree blown down on a vehicle in Faith.
Hail Hail
Emergency manager reported quarter size hail on Lincolnton Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Utility company reported trees blown down on power lines near Recreation Dr.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public and DOT reported multiple trees blown down across roads, along with some power lines down across central Rowan County, including Salisbury and vicinity.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
A tornado that touched down in the Conover and Claremont area of Catawba County and crossed through southern Iredell County passed into Rowan County near Landis Highway. Damage was limited to numerous snapped large branches and uprooted trees as the tornado initially paralleled H…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported trees blown down on power lines.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Spotter reported trees blown down on power lines and one tree down on a roadway on the north and east side of China Grove.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Spotter reported a couple of trees blown down along with some downed power lines north of Spencer.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Spotter reported trees blown down on power lines near Jones Rd and Centenary Rd, with other lines down in the area.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Spotter reported trees blown down near Third Creek Church Rd and Springway Ln and other trees down near Foster Rd and Cool Springs Rd.
Hail Hail
Spotter reported quarter size hail near West Monroe St.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | 0 |
| 2025 | 10 | 0 |
| 2024 | 16 | 1 |
| 2023 | 17 | 1 |
| 2022 | 17 | 0 |
| 2021 | 13 | 0 |
| 2020 | 15 | 1 |
| 2019 | 9 | 0 |
| 2018 | 24 | 0 |
| 2017 | 20 | 0 |
| 2016 | 16 | 0 |
| 2015 | 11 | 0 |
| 2014 | 17 | 0 |
| 2013 | 8 | 0 |
| 2012 | 19 | 0 |
| 2011 | 32 | 1 |
| 2010 | 28 | 1 |
| 2009 | 20 | 0 |
| 2008 | 29 | 0 |
| 2007 | 31 | 0 |
| 2006 | 25 | 0 |
| 2005 | 15 | 1 |
| 2004 | 18 | 0 |
| 2003 | 42 | 0 |
| 2002 | 20 | 0 |
| 2001 | 27 | 0 |
| 2000 | 26 | 0 |
| 1999 | 22 | 0 |
| 1998 | 23 | 0 |
| 1997 | 11 | 0 |
| 1996 | 19 | 2 |
| 1995 | 3 | 0 |
| 1994 | 4 | 1 |
| 1993 | 3 | 0 |
| 1992 | 10 | 0 |
| 1991 | 4 | 0 |
| 1990 | 4 | 0 |
| 1989 | 7 | 0 |
| 1988 | 5 | 0 |
| 1987 | 6 | 0 |
| 1986 | 3 | 0 |
| 1985 | 9 | 0 |
| 1984 | 2 | 0 |
| 1983 | 6 | 0 |
| 1979 | 1 | 1 |
| 1978 | 2 | 1 |
| 1977 | 2 | 0 |
| 1976 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 | 2 | 0 |
| 1974 | 1 | 0 |
| 1970 | 2 | 0 |
| 1969 | 1 | 0 |
| 1968 | 3 | 0 |
| 1966 | 2 | 1 |
| 1965 | 1 | 1 |
| 1959 | 1 | 0 |
| 1958 | 2 | 0 |
| 1957 | 1 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Rowan County, measured to its path.
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