Tornado History
Catawba Tornado History
This county-level tornado history page focuses on Catawba, North Carolina. The records below identify 19 tornadoes from 1951 through 2024, including a highest listed rating of F4 (Devastating damage). NOAA damage estimates in this group total at least $33.0M, with 1 deaths and 9 injuries recorded across the listed events.
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Key Tornado Statistics
Key Tornado Facts for Catawba, North Carolina
Top local patterns from the historical tornado records in this group.
Average 0.3 tornadoes per year (0.5/yr in last decade)
May is the peak tornado month with 5 recorded events
Deadliest tornado: EF1 in Catawba, North Carolina with 1 deaths
2010 was the most active year with 3 tornadoes
The 2010s had the most tornado activity (6 events)
Longest tornado: 31.3 miles in Catawba, North Carolina
Widest tornado: 1,300.0 yards in Catawba, North Carolina
Most tornadoes in one day: 3 on Oct 26, 2010
Monthly Distribution
Shows tornado frequency across months of the year, highlighting seasonal patterns and peak tornado periods.
Summary: In Catawba, North Carolina, May is the most active month with 5 tornadoes.
Annual Tornado Trend
Shows year-by-year tornado counts, making active years and quiet stretches easier to spot.
Summary: 2010 was the most active year with 3 recorded tornadoes.
Property Damage Trends
Visualizes reported property damage over time. Bars use a log-like scale so very large damage years do not flatten the rest of the chart.
Summary: The highest reported property damage year in this group is 1989 with at least $25.0M in NOAA-listed property damage.
Historical Track Sketch
This map covers the wider location—not your exact property.Measure the closest recorded track to a street address in or near Catawba, North Carolina.
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Notable Tornado Records
The table highlights the strongest and most damaging records in this page's local dataset. Damage totals are NOAA-reported minimum estimates where available.
| Date | Rating | Area | Length | Width | Deaths | Injuries | Min. property damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 5, 1989 | F4 | Catawba, North Carolina | 6 mi | 800 yd | 0 | 3 | $25.0M |
| October 26, 2010 | EF2 | Catawba, North Carolina | 2.53 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $6.6M |
| August 9, 1951 | F2 | Catawba, North Carolina | 0.5 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| August 18, 1954 | F2 | Catawba, North Carolina | 5.4 mi | 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| October 23, 2017 | EF1 | Catawba, North Carolina | 3.87 mi | 1300 yd | 0 | 0 | $500K |
| January 9, 2024 | EF1 | Catawba, North Carolina | 7.52 mi | 250 yd | 1 | 4 | $250K |
| May 27, 1973 | F1 | Catawba, North Carolina | 31.3 mi | 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| November 22, 1992 | F1 | Catawba, North Carolina | 5 mi | 800 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| May 23, 1973 | F1 | Catawba, North Carolina | 0 mi | 33 yd | 0 | 2 | $25K |
| September 18, 1982 | F1 | Catawba, North Carolina | 0.5 mi | 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| March 14, 1975 | F1 | Catawba, North Carolina | 0.1 mi | 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| May 25, 1975 | F1 | Catawba, North Carolina | 0 mi | 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
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Source And Limits
Data sourced from NOAA Storm Prediction Center and the NCEI Storm Events Database. TornadoTrace summarizes reported weather events for screening and research; it is not a damage assessment, inspection, or insurance determination. Coordinates and records can be approximate, incomplete, revised, or missing. No warranty of completeness or accuracy.