Tornado History
Wilkes Tornado History
This county-level tornado history page focuses on Wilkes, North Carolina. The records below identify 11 tornadoes from 1973 through 2024, including a highest listed rating of F1 (Moderate damage). NOAA damage estimates in this group total at least $2.8M, with 0 deaths and 1 injuries recorded across the listed events.
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Key Tornado Statistics
Key Tornado Facts for Wilkes, North Carolina
Top local patterns from the historical tornado records in this group.
Average 0.2 tornadoes per year (0.6/yr in last decade)
May is the peak tornado month with 2 recorded events
Deadliest tornado: F1 in Wilkes, North Carolina with 0 deaths
2017 was the most active year with 2 tornadoes
The 1970s had the most tornado activity (4 events)
Longest tornado: 9.1 miles in Wilkes, North Carolina
Widest tornado: 300.0 yards in Wilkes, North Carolina
Most tornadoes in one day: 2 on Aug 17, 2021
Monthly Distribution
Shows tornado frequency across months of the year, highlighting seasonal patterns and peak tornado periods.
Summary: In Wilkes, North Carolina, May is the most active month with 2 tornadoes.
Annual Tornado Trend
Shows year-by-year tornado counts, making active years and quiet stretches easier to spot.
Summary: 2017 was the most active year with 2 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 2017 with at least $1.1M 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 Wilkes, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 23, 2017 | EF1 | Wilkes, North Carolina | 8.6 mi | 275 yd | 0 | 1 | $1.0M |
| September 5, 2011 | EF1 | Wilkes, North Carolina | 1.32 mi | 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $850K |
| May 27, 1973 | F1 | Wilkes, North Carolina | 9.1 mi | 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| April 4, 1977 | F1 | Wilkes, North Carolina | 6.4 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| April 11, 2024 | EF1 | Wilkes, North Carolina | 6 mi | 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| October 8, 2017 | EF1 | Wilkes, North Carolina | 4.37 mi | 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| June 1, 1974 | F1 | Wilkes, North Carolina | 1 mi | 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| September 26, 2024 | EF1 | Wilkes, North Carolina | 0.4 mi | 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| May 31, 1975 | F1 | Wilkes, North Carolina | 0 mi | 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| August 17, 2021 | EF0 | Wilkes, North Carolina | 0.68 mi | 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $85K |
| August 17, 2021 | EF0 | Wilkes, North Carolina | 0.74 mi | 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $15K |
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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.