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Wilkes County, North Carolina
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1973 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
12
Tornado reports
139
Hail reports
85
Floods since 1996
794
All events
4
Deaths
$15.3M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Wilkes County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 11 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.
Hundreds of trees were downed across the county by high winds associated with the remnants of Hurricane Helene, which caused dozens of road closures and power outages. By the peak of the winds Friday afternoon, around 23,6000 customers were reported without power. Downed trees ca…
A North Wilkesboro man suffered fatal injuries in a two vehicle collision on the night of January 20th. Ice along Rock Creek Road in the Hays Community of Wilkes County was noted as a contributor to the accident. Additional accidents were reported throughout the county on both Ja…
Thunderstorms along a squall line downed a large white pine tree at a residence along Mountain Valley Church Road as the line crossed the area west of Mulberry. The tree fell on an elderly man as he was walking across his yard. Damage values are estimated.
Thunderstorms along a squall line produced damaging winds that downed trees along a swath that included the communities of Roaring River, Hays, and Pleasant Hill. There was tremendous damage in the Pleasant Hill region. A total of 50 to 100 trees that were blown down along the Pl…
The Wilkes County 911 Dispatch Center received several reports of water flowing several inches deep across roads and bridges throughout the western half of the county as rounds of heavy rain continue to pass across the area. With seven to ten inches of rain occurring on the 26th,…
Moravian Creek flooded and closed Germantown Road near Moravian Falls, and School Street in Wilkesboro. Twenty-seven people were evacuated from their homes along Moravian Creek, near Germantown Road, and six mobile homes were destroyed. Wilkesboro Community College received damag…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree was reported down at the 6000 Block of US Highway 21.
Drought Drought
Exceptional Drought conditions improved to Extreme Drought conditions across Wilkes county through early to late June after several rainfall events. Drought conditions lingered however, after the previous several months of March, April, and May recorded precipitation totals of 8.…
Drought Drought
Exceptional Drought conditions expanded into, and worsened across Wilkes county through early to late May after the previous several months of February, March, and April recorded precipitation totals of 4.00-6.00 inches, which ended up being 25 to 50 percent of normal for that pe…
Drought Drought
Severe Drought conditions continued, and worsened across Wilkes county through April after the previous several months of January, February, and March recorded precipitation totals of 6.00-8.00 inches, which ended up being 25 to 50 percent of normal for that period. These dry con…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snow totals ranged from 3.0 to 8.5 inches. Key Impacts: transportation delays.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
A wintry mix occurred with reports of up to 3.1 inches of snow, up to 2.6 inches of sleet, and up to 0.05 inches of freezing rain. Key Impacts: power outages, transportation delays.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds blew down one tree near the intersection of Thurmond Road and Zephyr Mountain Park Road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds blew down one tree near the intersection of Grassy Fork Road and Beaver Road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds blew down several trees and utility lines in the town of Wilkesboro.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Hundreds of trees were blown down or snapped by thunderstorm winds in a downburst near Cool Springs Church Road and Preacher Field Road. Trees fell onto a home, causing significant damage, as well as a separate carport and several sheds. A large area of crops was also flattened b…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Numerous trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds in an area from Ferguson to Windy Gap.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds onto powerlines along Boone Trail Road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds at Edmiston Road.
Hail Hail
Hail of 0.75 inches in diameter was observed for a few minutes.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds downed a tree into the roadway at the intersection of Pike Road and Wild Cat Road near Moravian Falls.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds ripped off an awning at a Starbucks.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds blew down one tree on to North Carolina Highway 16 near the Central Wilkes Middle School and one tree on to West Meadows Road about a half of a mile east of North Carolina Highway 16.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds blew down a tree on to a house along Robinson Road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds blew down one tree on West Forest Drive.
High Wind High Wind
Ten trees were blown down by non-thunderstorm winds near the town of Hays.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Between two and five inches of snow fell across Wilkes County from January 10 through January 11. The highest amount of five inches was observed near Glendale Springs. Snowfall created in hazardous driving conditions, leading to several traffic accidents on several state highways…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds blew a few trees down along East Brocktown Road. Damage values are estimated.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds downed a couple of trees and which blocked Cane Creek Road in the McGrady area. Damage values are estimated.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
An EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 90 mph briefly touched down just south of the Greenhorn Road and Burcham intersection. This tornado lifted less than a half of a mile northwest of this location. Several trees were uprooted and snapped, shingles were taken off a home, a few sola…
Flash Flood Flash Flood
A tributary of Moravian Creek was out of its banks and was observed flowing several inches deep across School Street. No damage was reported to the roadway, which was open to traffic after the water receded.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds blew trees down which blocked Traphill Road near Yellows Banks Road. Damage values are estimated.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds downed trees off Dehart Church Road. Damage values are estimated.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds downed trees and powerlines in the area of McGrady. Damage values are estimated.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds blew a tree down upon a power line. Damage values are estimated.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Numerous trees were blown down across the county, with several of these trees falling on power lines. Damage values are estimated.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Multiple roads have become flooded and impassible due to persistent rounds of heavy rain across the county, falling at rates of 0.5 to 1 inch per hour.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds blew portions of a tin roof and siding off a building then scattered the debris across the 1600 block of South Center Church Road. Additionally, in the same area, a power pole was blown over, and crops were damaged in a field. Damage values are estimated.
Hail Hail
Hail ranging from the size of dimes to pennies fell on White Oak Road.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Runoff from a radar-estimated four to five inches of rainfall caused Fishing Creek to flood out of its banks. Heavy runoff was also observed flooding the pit area inside the Wilkesboro Speedway about 2.5 feet deep, with several race staff walking in knee-high water per video uplo…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds downed several trees and a few powerlines from Breeze Hill Road Southeast to Parkers Farm Road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds downed a tree near North Wilkesboro.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
One tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds on US Highway 421 South.
Hail Hail
Quarter sized hail was reported in North Wilkesboro.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | 0 |
| 2025 | 21 | 0 |
| 2024 | 23 | 2 |
| 2023 | 29 | 0 |
| 2022 | 44 | 0 |
| 2021 | 17 | 2 |
| 2020 | 40 | 0 |
| 2019 | 14 | 0 |
| 2018 | 43 | 0 |
| 2017 | 19 | 2 |
| 2016 | 24 | 0 |
| 2015 | 4 | 0 |
| 2014 | 24 | 0 |
| 2013 | 17 | 0 |
| 2012 | 31 | 0 |
| 2011 | 62 | 1 |
| 2010 | 51 | 0 |
| 2009 | 41 | 0 |
| 2008 | 41 | 0 |
| 2007 | 26 | 0 |
| 2006 | 11 | 0 |
| 2005 | 9 | 0 |
| 2004 | 9 | 0 |
| 2003 | 25 | 0 |
| 2002 | 11 | 0 |
| 2001 | 3 | 0 |
| 2000 | 10 | 0 |
| 1999 | 13 | 0 |
| 1998 | 29 | 0 |
| 1997 | 12 | 0 |
| 1996 | 28 | 0 |
| 1995 | 12 | 0 |
| 1994 | 4 | 1 |
| 1992 | 3 | 0 |
| 1991 | 1 | 0 |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | 7 | 0 |
| 1988 | 6 | 0 |
| 1987 | 5 | 0 |
| 1986 | 1 | 0 |
| 1985 | 5 | 0 |
| 1984 | 4 | 0 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 | 3 | 1 |
| 1976 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 | 1 | 1 |
| 1974 | 1 | 1 |
| 1973 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Wilkes County, measured to its path.
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