Tornado History
McDowell Tornado History
This county-level tornado history page focuses on McDowell, North Carolina. The records below identify 6 tornadoes from 1996 through 2021, including a highest listed rating of F2 (Considerable damage). NOAA damage estimates in this group total at least $523K, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded across the listed events.
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Key Tornado Statistics
Key Tornado Facts for McDowell, North Carolina
Top local patterns from the historical tornado records in this group.
Average 0.2 tornadoes per year (0.2/yr in last decade)
April is the peak tornado month with 3 recorded events
Deadliest tornado: F0 in McDowell, North Carolina with 0 deaths
1996 was the most active year with 1 tornadoes
The 1990s had the most tornado activity (2 events)
Longest tornado: 3.7 miles in McDowell, North Carolina
Widest tornado: 880.0 yards in McDowell, North Carolina
Most tornadoes in one day: 1 on Apr 20, 1996
Monthly Distribution
Shows tornado frequency across months of the year, highlighting seasonal patterns and peak tornado periods.
Summary: In McDowell, North Carolina, April is the most active month with 3 tornadoes.
Annual Tornado Trend
Shows year-by-year tornado counts, making active years and quiet stretches easier to spot.
Summary: 1996 was the most active year with 1 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 1998 with at least $482K 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 McDowell, 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 7, 1998 | F2 | McDowell, North Carolina | 3.7 mi | 880 yd | 0 | 0 | $482K |
| April 20, 1996 | F0 | McDowell, North Carolina | 0.1 mi | 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $20K |
| October 14, 2014 | EF0 | McDowell, North Carolina | 0.5 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| April 19, 2019 | EF0 | McDowell, North Carolina | 0.43 mi | 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| April 10, 2021 | EF0 | McDowell, North Carolina | 0.59 mi | 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| May 24, 2000 | F0 | McDowell, North Carolina | 3 mi | 30 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
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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.