Thunderstorm Wind, Madison
- When
- July 4, 6:06 PM EST
- Where
- Madison County, Big Laurel
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 35.930, -82.680
Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, July 4, 1997
Severe thunderstorms moved into the mountains from Tennessee in the early evening on the Fourth, before moving into or redeveloping in the foothills and western piedmont later in the evening. Damaging winds raked much of western North Carolina, downing trees and power lines, and a few reports of hail as large a golf balls were reported.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 14
- Property damage
- $335,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 39
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
What happened
The episode as NWS GSP wrote it up.
Severe thunderstorms moved into the mountains from Tennessee in the early evening on the Fourth, before moving into or redeveloping in the foothills and western piedmont later in the evening. Damaging winds raked much of western North Carolina, downing trees and power lines, and a few reports of hail as large a golf balls were reported. Several counties reported trees and power lines down countywide, often blocking roads and damaging homes and/or vehicles. Outflow from the storms propagated southeast into the Charlotte metro area before midnight, producing gusty winds between 35 and 45 mph for a short period of time. Dollar amounts for much of the damage were not available at the time of this writing.
The radar
The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 70 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:08 UTC.
Event by event
32 thunderstorm wind, 7 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm Wind, Madison
- When
- July 4, 6:20 PM EST
- Where
- Madison County, Marshall
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 35.800, -82.680
Thunderstorm Wind, Graham
- When
- July 4, 6:20 PM EST
- Where
- Graham County, Tapoco
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 35.450, -83.950
Hail, Graham
- When
- July 4, 6:20 PM EST
- Where
- Graham County, Tapoco
- Measured
- 1.25 in hail
- Coordinates
- 35.450, -83.950
Thunderstorm Wind, Swain
- When
- July 4, 6:30 PM EST
- Where
- Swain County, Bryson City
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Injuries
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Coordinates
- 35.430, -83.450
One person was injured when a tree fell on a camper. The Smoky Mountain Railroad train became trapped when trees fell across the tracks ahead of and behind it. The train and its passengers were not found until 10 pm EST.
Thunderstorm Wind, Buncombe
- When
- July 4, 6:31 PM EST
- Where
- Buncombe County, Woodfin to Weaverville
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Injuries
- 3 direct, 0 indirect
- Coordinates
- 35.630, -82.580
Shingles were blown off houses and three people injured from trees falling on campers.
Thunderstorm Wind, Graham
- When
- July 4, 6:35 PM EST
- Where
- Graham County, Robbinsville
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Injuries
- 3 direct, 0 indirect
- Coordinates
- 35.330, -83.820
Hail, Graham
- When
- July 4, 6:35 PM EST
- Where
- Graham County, Robbinsville
- Measured
- 1.25 in hail
- Coordinates
- 35.330, -83.820
Thunderstorm Wind, Graham
- When
- July 4, 6:45 PM EST
- Where
- Graham County, 10 mi E of Robbinsville
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 35.330, -83.630
Graham county officials reported 500 to 1000 trees downed, some on houses, and two thirds of the city of Robbinsville was without power. Three people were injured from trees falling on their trailers and campers.
Thunderstorm Wind, Macon
- When
- July 4, 6:45 PM EST
- Where
- Macon County, Beechertown
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 35.270, -83.670
Thunderstorm Wind, Buncombe
- When
- July 4, 6:46 PM EST
- Where
- Buncombe County, Montreat to Black Mtn
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 35.650, -82.320
Thunderstorm Wind, McDowell
- When
- July 4, 6:52 PM EST
- Where
- McDowell County, Old Ft
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 35.630, -82.180
Thunderstorm Wind, Macon
- When
- July 4, 7:00 PM EST
- Where
- Macon County, 6 mi NW of Franklin
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Property damage
- $250,000
- Coordinates
- 35.270, -83.480
Extensive damage occurred near Burningtown due to trees falling on homes and vehicles. Power was out for much of the night.
Thunderstorm Wind, Burke
- When
- July 4, 7:00 PM EST
- Where
- Burke County, Valdese
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 35.730, -81.570
Thunderstorm Wind, Caldwell
- When
- July 4, 7:05 PM EST to 7:30 PM EST
- Where
- Caldwell County, Countywide
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 35.970, -81.550
Thunderstorm Wind, McDowell
- When
- July 4, 7:15 PM EST
- Where
- McDowell County, Marion
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 35.680, -82.020
Hail, McDowell
- When
- July 4, 7:15 PM EST
- Where
- McDowell County, Marion
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Coordinates
- 35.680, -82.020
Thunderstorm Wind, Avery
- When
- July 4, 7:15 PM EST
- Where
- Avery County, Ingalls to Pineola
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 35.970, -82.020
Thunderstorm Wind, Macon
- When
- July 4, 7:15 PM EST
- Where
- Macon County, Highlands
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 35.050, -83.200
Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson
- When
- July 4, 7:20 PM EST
- Where
- Jackson County, Cashiers
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Injuries
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Coordinates
- 35.120, -83.100
A person was injured when a tree fell on his/her home.
Thunderstorm Wind, Transylvania
- When
- July 4, 7:25 PM EST
- Where
- Transylvania County, Countywide
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 35.230, -82.770
Hail, Transylvania
- When
- July 4, 7:25 PM EST
- Where
- Transylvania County, Countywide
- Measured
- 1.25 in hail
- Coordinates
- 35.230, -82.770
Thunderstorm Wind, Rutherford
- When
- July 4, 7:30 PM EST
- Where
- Rutherford County, 3 mi N of Rutherfordton
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 35.420, -81.970
Thunderstorm Wind, Henderson
- When
- July 4, 7:45 PM EST
- Where
- Henderson County, Etowah
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 35.320, -82.600
Thunderstorm Wind, Henderson
- When
- July 4, 7:45 PM EST
- Where
- Henderson County, 5 mi W of Hendersonville
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Injuries
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Coordinates
- 35.320, -82.570
A man suffered a head injury when a tree fell on him.
Thunderstorm Wind, Rowan
- When
- July 4, 8:00 PM EST
- Where
- Rowan County, Salisbury
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Injuries
- 3 direct, 0 indirect
- Coordinates
- 35.670, -80.500
Siding was ripped off a house in Salisbury. Several trees fell onto vehicles. A couple people were injured when the cars they travelled in hit fallen trees. Boats were capsized on High Rock Lake.
Thunderstorm Wind, Polk
- When
- July 4, 8:07 PM EST
- Where
- Polk County, 5 mi E of Columbus
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Injuries
- 2 direct, 0 indirect
- Coordinates
- 35.250, -82.120
Two people were injured by tent poles that were sent hurtling through the air by severe thunderstorm winds. Power loss to 35,000 customers also occurred.
Hail, Polk
- When
- July 4, 8:07 PM EST
- Where
- Polk County, 5 mi E of Columbus
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Coordinates
- 35.250, -82.120
Hail, Polk
- When
- July 4, 8:07 PM EST
- Where
- Polk County, 1 mi N of Saluda
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Coordinates
- 35.250, -82.350
Hail, Henderson
- When
- July 4, 8:07 PM EST
- Where
- Henderson County, 5 mi E of Flat Rock
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Coordinates
- 35.280, -82.370
Large hail occurred on the Henderson/Polk county line.
Thunderstorm Wind, Catawba
- When
- July 4, 8:30 PM EST
- Where
- Catawba County, Claremont
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 35.720, -81.150
Thunderstorm Wind, Rutherford
- When
- July 4, 8:35 PM EST
- Where
- Rutherford County, Rutherfordton to Forest City
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 35.370, -81.970
Thunderstorm Wind, Iredell
- When
- July 4, 8:40 PM EST
- Where
- Iredell County, Statesville to 3 mi of Statesville
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Property damage
- $85,000
- Coordinates
- 35.750, -80.930
A roof and steeple were blown off a church in Kyles Crossroads.
Thunderstorm Wind, Davie
- When
- July 4, 8:40 PM EST
- Where
- Davie County, Countywide
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 35.920, -80.530
Numerous trees fell on homes causing extensive damage. A museum in Mocksville sustained damage when winds sucked 3 attic windows and framework out the attic and into the air, eventually landing on the ground. Several trees fell across roads and numerous power outages lasted into the following morning.
Thunderstorm Wind, Rowan
- When
- July 4, 8:45 PM EST
- Where
- Rowan County, Cleveland to 5 mi of Mt Ulla
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 35.800, -80.680
Thunderstorm Wind, Cleveland
- When
- July 4, 8:50 PM EST
- Where
- Cleveland County, Boiling Spgs
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 35.250, -81.680
Thunderstorm Wind, Iredell
- When
- July 4, 8:55 PM EST
- Where
- Iredell County, Harmony to Elmwood
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 35.950, -80.770
Thunderstorm Wind, Cleveland
- When
- July 4, 9:00 PM EST
- Where
- Cleveland County, Shelby
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 35.300, -81.550
Thunderstorm Wind, Gaston
- When
- July 4, 9:30 PM EST
- Where
- Gaston County, 5 mi SW of Gastonia
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 35.220, -81.250
What these are
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
- Hail
- Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Virginia, July 4, 1997
- Lightning Strike in North Carolina, July 4, 1997
- Tornado and Hail in Florida, July 4, 1997
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Tennessee, July 4, 1997
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Georgia, July 4, 1997
- Damaging Wind in Florida, July 4, 1997
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Kentucky, July 4, 1997
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Tennessee, July 4, 1997
- Damaging Wind in Florida, July 4, 1997
- Damaging Wind in Tennessee, July 4, 1997
- Damaging Wind in Florida, July 4, 1997
- Damaging Wind in Florida, July 4, 1997
More
Every storm in North Carolina in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, July 1997
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5608974, 5608975, 5608976, 5608977, 5608978, 5608979, 5608980, 5608981, 5608982, 5608983, 5608984, 5608985, 5608986, 5608987, 5608991, 5608988, 5608989, 5608990, 5608992, 5608993, 5608994, 5608995, 5608996, 5608997, 5609098, 5609099, 5609100, 5609101, 5609102, 5609103, 5609104, 5609105, 5609106, 5609107, 5609108, 5609109, 5609110, 5609111, 5609112.