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HailGeeks
NOAA/NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER REPORTS + U.S. CENSUS DATA

Hail, Wind & Tornado Reports in Avery County, NC

Public hail, wind, and tornado reports across Avery County, NC from April 9, 1965 through June 25, 2025, sourced from NOAA/NWS Local Storm Reports and SPC storm report data.

Example: 28657 — search hail, wind and tornado public reports for any U.S. ZIP code 
Hail Reports
56
Wind Reports
59
Tornado Reports
1
Max Hail Size
2.75″
Source  NOAA SPC · NWS Local Storm Reports Coverage  Avery County, NC · 1965–present Updated  Daily · last Jun 25, 2025

Latest NWS Hail Reports in Avery County

30 reports
Free hail report for your home →
1.75″ hail
Aug 7, 2023
7:30 PM UTC
Hail report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: Corrects previous hail report from 2 S Ingalls. Social media report of golf ball size hail in southern Avery County near the Mayland community.
NWS Hail Report Location: 2 S Ingalls, NC
1.50″ hail
Jul 2, 2023
10:55 PM UTC
Hail report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: Ping pong ball size hail fell in the Sugar Mountain area with vehicles sustaining damage at a service station on NC 105.
NWS Hail Report Location: 1 NNE Grandfather Mount, NC
1.00″ hail
Mar 18, 2021
9:28 PM UTC
Hail report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: 2 N Banner Elk, NC
0.75″ hail
Jul 2, 2014
6:05 PM EST-5
Hail report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: Public reported 3/4 inch hail.
NWS Hail Report Location: 1.49 SSW Balm, NC
0.75″ hail
May 12, 2014
3:40 PM EST-5
Hail report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: Spotters and county comms relayed multiple reports of hail, especially in the Pineola/Linville area, with the largest being 3/4 inch. Hail accumulated in some spots.
NWS Hail Report Location: 3 SE Newland, NC
1.25″ hail
Jul 3, 2012
12:35 PM EST-5
Hail report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: Larger hail was reported in the Sugar Mountain area.
NWS Hail Report Location: 2.82 SSW Balm, NC
1.00″ hail
Jul 3, 2012
12:07 PM EST-5
Hail report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: Quarter size hail fell along on Quarry Rd.
NWS Hail Report Location: .56 E Pineola, NC
0.75″ hail
May 2, 2012
4:55 PM EST-5
Hail report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: Penny size hail fell along Hickory Nut Gap Rd.
NWS Hail Report Location: 2.6 SW Banner Elk, NC
1.75″ hail
May 2, 2012
4:40 PM EST-5
Hail report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: A nearly stationary thunderstorms dropped hail up to golf ball size fell for at least 20 minutes at Sugar Mountain.
NWS Hail Report Location: 2.76 N Linville, NC
0.75″ hail
Apr 30, 2012
6:10 PM EST-5
Hail report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: Penny size hail fell along highway 221 near Grandfather Mountain.
NWS Hail Report Location: 5.8 E Newland, NC
2.00″ hail
Apr 30, 2012
5:12 PM EST-5
Hail report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: Hail larger than golf balls was reported about 5 miles west of Newland.
NWS Hail Report Location: .56 E Roaring Creek, NC
0.75″ hail
Apr 30, 2012
4:40 PM EST-5
Hail report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: 1.11 E Dark Ridge, NC
1.00″ hail
Jun 10, 2011
2:14 PM EST-5
Hail report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: .56 W Newland, NC
0.88″ hail
Jun 8, 2011
1:04 PM EST-5
Hail report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: 1.38 S Pyatte, NC
0.88″ hail
Apr 9, 2011
4:30 PM EST-5
Hail report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: Hail up to the size of nickels covered the ground in the Newland area.
NWS Hail Report Location: .69 N Newland, NC
Showing 15 of 30
Hail Damage Risk for Your Home +

Hail reports describe hail by diameter, often comparing stone size to familiar objects like peas, quarters, golf balls, and softballs. Use this guide as a starting point for possible hail damage to your roof, siding, gutters, vents, windows, and exterior. Actual hail damage depends on hail hardness, density, wind speed, impact angle, roof age, shingle condition, roof pitch, roofing material, installation quality, and prior storm damage.

Pea
0.25″
Low

Usually too small to cause hail damage to most sound asphalt roofs, siding, or gutters.

Mothball
0.50″
Sub-Severe Watch

Below the NWS severe-hail threshold, but not always harmless. Repeated small hail can scuff surfaces, wear aging shingles, and loosen protective granules over time.

Penny
0.75″
Minor / Watch

Below the NWS severe-hail threshold, but roof hail damage is still possible on older, brittle, poorly installed, or previously damaged shingles. May also mark screens, vents, gutters, and soft metal.

Nickel
0.88″
Minor / Watch

Still below the severe-hail threshold, but large enough to leave visible marks on soft metal and add wear to older or hail-weakened roof shingles.

Quarter
1.00″
Watch

The NWS severe-hail threshold. Quarter-size hail can bruise shingles, dent soft metal, and create roof hail damage worth checking.

Half Dollar
1.25″
Watch

More likely to dent gutters, vents, flashing, and siding. Hail damage risk rises quickly on older roofs or hail-weakened shingles.

Ping Pong / Walnut
1.50″
Likely

Hail damage becomes more likely, including bruised shingles, granule loss, dented siding, and damaged roof vents.

Golf Ball
1.75″
Likely

Often causes roof hail damage, cracked shingles, dented gutters, damaged flashing, and siding impacts. A roof inspection is recommended.

Hen Egg
2.00″
Serious

Can crack or puncture shingles, expose mat, dent siding, and cause widespread hail damage across the roof and exterior.

Tennis Ball
2.50″
Serious

Can cause heavy roof hail damage, punctured siding, broken skylights, damaged vents, and widespread exterior damage.

Baseball
2.75″
Major

Major hail damage is likely, including severe roof impacts, damaged siding, broken windows, and possible major roof repairs.

Tea Cup / Large Apple
3.00″
Major

Can cause heavy hail damage across the roof, siding, gutters, windows, and exterior. Significant repairs are often needed.

Softball
4.00″
Extreme

Destructive hail damage. Can severely damage roofing materials, siding, windows, gutters, vents, vehicles, and exterior surfaces.

Grapefruit
4.50″
Extreme

Catastrophic hail damage risk for roofs, windows, vehicles, siding, gutters, and exterior surfaces.

Source: NOAA / National Weather Service hail size references are used for hail-size comparisons and the 1.00″ severe-hail threshold. Damage descriptions are general homeowner guidance, not official NOAA/NWS damage ratings. Sub-severe hail under 1.00″ is below the severe threshold, but that does not mean “no roof damage.” Penny- to nickel-size hail can still contribute to granule loss, cosmetic surface marks, and added wear, especially on older, brittle, poorly installed, or previously damaged roofs.

Latest NWS Wind Reports in Avery County

30 reports
Free hail report + wind check →
UNK mph
Jun 25, 2025
7:20 PM UTC
Wind report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Tree and utility line damage leading to outages. Time approximate.
NWS Wind Report Location: 3 SSW Crossnore, NC
UNK mph
Aug 7, 2023
7:25 PM UTC
Wind report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Avery County 911 call center reported a few trees and powerlines down in the Plumtree community. Duke Energy confirms about 130 customers are without power. Time estimated from radar.
NWS Wind Report Location: 4 N Ingalls, NC
UNK mph
Aug 7, 2023
7:25 PM UTC
Wind report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Avery County 911 call center reported a few trees and powerlines down in the Ingalls community. Duke Energy confirms about 80 customers are without power. Time estimated from radar.
NWS Wind Report Location: Ingalls, NC
UNK mph
Jul 29, 2023
10:20 PM UTC
Wind report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: A tree down in Minneapolis... and one along the Linville Falls Hwy.
NWS Wind Report Location: Minneapolis, NC
UNK mph
Jul 2, 2023
10:58 PM UTC
Wind report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: *** 1 INJ *** Individual injured by lightning and transported to hospital.
NWS Wind Report Location: 2 E Sugar Mountain, NC
UNK mph
Jul 2, 2023
10:58 PM UTC
Wind report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: *** 2 INJ *** Tent blown over in campground.
NWS Wind Report Location: 2 ENE Grandfather Mount, NC
UNK mph
Jun 17, 2022
8:09 PM UTC
Wind report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: TREES DOWN AROUND THE AREA.
NWS Wind Report Location: Banner Elk, NC
UNK mph
Jun 14, 2022
11:08 AM UTC
Wind report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: 2 TREES DOWN ALONG HIGHWAY 19E BLOCKING ROADWAY IN SOUTHERN AVERY COUNTY.
NWS Wind Report Location: 2 NNW Ingalls, NC
UNK mph
May 6, 2022
11:30 PM UTC
Wind report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: REPORTS OF TREES DOWN IN EASTERN PART OF COUNTY.
NWS Wind Report Location: 2 SSW Grandfather Mount, NC
UNK mph
May 6, 2022
10:30 PM UTC
Wind report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: TREES DOWN ACROSS THE COUNTY. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
NWS Wind Report Location: Newland, NC
UNK mph
Aug 18, 2021
12:10 AM UTC
Wind report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: EM REPORTS MULTIPLE TREES DOWN... STREET FLOODING IN DOWNTOWN LINVILLE
NWS Wind Report Location: 4 SE Newland, NC
UNK mph
Jul 19, 2020
9:54 PM UTC
Wind report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: ONE TREE FELL ONTO BUCKEYE ROAD IN THE SUGAR GROVE AREA OF NORTHERN AVERY COUNTY.
NWS Wind Report Location: 11 N Newland, NC
UNK mph
Jan 12, 2020
1:06 AM UTC
Wind report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: MULTIPLE TREES BLOWN DOWN AROUND SUGAR MOUNTAIN.
NWS Wind Report Location: Sugar Mountain, NC
UNK mph
Mar 18, 2018
1:25 AM UTC
Wind report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: TREES REPORTED DOWN OFF HWY 19E NEAR FRANK.
NWS Wind Report Location: 2 SW Minneapolis, NC
UNK mph
Jul 8, 2016
11:03 PM UTC
Wind report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: TREE DOWN AT 4670 HICKORY NUT GAP ROAD.
NWS Wind Report Location: Banner Elk, NC
Showing 15 of 30
Wind Damage Risk for Your Home +

Storm reports list thunderstorm wind gusts in mph. The NWS marks storms as severe at 58+ mph, but wind damage to your home depends on roof age, shingle condition, installation, exposure, nearby trees, and prior hail or wind damage.

Below Severe
Under 58 mph
Minor

Usually little damage to a sound roof, but loose shingles, flashing, or debris may shift.

Severe
58–74 mph
Watch

Can loosen shingles, lift flashing, break limbs, and damage gutters, siding, fences, or trim.

Damaging
75–90 mph
Serious

Can peel shingles, damage vents, tear siding, rip gutters, and expose weak roof areas.

Extreme
90+ mph
Major

Can cause major roof covering loss, tree damage, broken windows, and structural damage.

Source: NOAA / National Weather Service storm reports. Gusts may be measured or estimated; actual wind damage varies by roof condition, exposure, and prior hail or wind damage.

Latest NWS Tornado Reports in Avery County

1 reports
F2 category
Apr 9, 1965
2:45 AM CST
Tornado report for Avery County, NC
Avery County · 9,490 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, NC
Showing 1 of 1
Tornado Damage Risk for Your Home +

After a tornado, the National Weather Service assigns an EF rating from EF0 to EF5 based on surveyed damage. The rating estimates wind speed from what the tornado damaged, so actual damage can vary by construction quality, roof age, garage doors, windows, trees, debris, and how close the home was to the tornado path.

EF0
65–85 mph
Light

Can peel shingles, damage gutters or siding, break tree limbs, and toss loose outdoor items.

EF1
86–110 mph
Moderate

Can strip roof covering, damage exterior doors, break windows, snap trees, and cause heavier siding or gutter damage.

EF2
111–135 mph
Serious

Can tear off large sections of roofing, break or uproot trees, destroy weaker structures, and cause major exterior damage.

EF3–EF5
136+ mph
Severe

Can remove roofs and walls, destroy large portions of homes, toss vehicles, and cause severe to total destruction near the path.

Source: NOAA / National Weather Service. EF ratings are assigned after a post-storm damage survey and are based on observed damage, not a direct measurement at every home.

NWS Hail, Wind and Tornado Reports in Avery County on the Interactive Map

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Wind
Tornado

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Browse Cities with NWS Storm Reports in Avery County

Newland, NC 43
Hail, wind & tornado reports
Crossnore, NC 22
Hail, wind & tornado reports
Banner Elk, NC 21
Hail, wind & tornado reports
Linville, NC 13
Hail, wind & tornado reports
Elk Park, NC 9
Hail, wind & tornado reports
Grandfather Village, NC 4
Hail, wind & tornado reports
Sugar Mountain, NC 3
Hail, wind & tornado reports

NWS Storm Reports & Census Data

U.S. Census Data · County

Avery County, NC area census snapshot

People & households
Population17,643
Households6,559
Housing units14,051
Income
Median household income$57,657
$100k+ households34.0%
$150k+ households13.5%
Housing stock
Single-family detached9,490
Attached single-family90
Small multifamily1,713
Large multifamily1,095
Mobile homes1,663
Housing mix
Single-family share67.5%
Attached-home share0.6%
Multifamily share20.0%
Mobile-home share11.8%
Ownership & occupancy
Owner-occupied5,245
Renter-occupied1,314
Vacant units7,492
Home value & age
Median home value$233,200
Owner homes $300k+34.6%
Owner homes $500k+13.0%
Owner homes $750k+5.8%
Median year built1985
Older-home share36.6%
Vehicle context
Households with cars6,247
Free hail maps

This snapshot is for local area context only and describes the selected state, county, city, or ZIP area — not a specific home or property. For ZIP-level estimated hail impact, use Free Hail Maps to generate a hail report with key impact details for that ZIP.

Top ZIP Codes with NWS Storm Reports in Avery County

28657 58
Newland, NC Hail, wind & tornado reports
28604 54
Beech Mountain, NC Hail, wind & tornado reports
28611 30
NC Hail, wind & tornado reports
28777 29
Spruce Pine, NC Hail, wind & tornado reports
28605 20
Blowing Rock, NC Hail, wind & tornado reports
28646 16
Linville, NC Hail, wind & tornado reports
28622 15
Elk Park, NC Hail, wind & tornado reports
28679 9
Valle Crucis, NC Hail, wind & tornado reports
28652 3
NC Hail, wind & tornado reports
28662 2
NC Hail, wind & tornado reports
28616 1
Crossnore, NC Hail, wind & tornado reports

Get a Remote Hail Inspection

Not sure if hail may have affected your home in Avery County? Ask a local pro for a Remote Hail Inspection. They can review hail activity for your property and help you decide whether an in-person roof or exterior inspection makes sense.

Frequently asked questions

for homeowners, buyers & sellers
How many hail, wind, and tornado reports does Avery County have on record?

Our records show 56 hail, 59 wind, and 1 tornado reports in Avery County, compiled from NOAA SPC and NWS Local Storm Reports. The most recent was reported on June 25, 2025.

What is the largest hail ever reported in Avery County?

The largest hail size in these storm-report records in Avery County is 2.75″. It was reported near Banner Elk, NC on June 9, 2008.

A storm report showed up near my home in Avery County — does that mean my roof is damaged?

Not necessarily. A storm report only means hail, wind, or a tornado was observed nearby; it does not confirm damage at any specific address, and conditions change from block to block. Check an address-level hail report first, and if it looks significant, find a local pro that serves Avery County and ask about a Remote Hail Inspection before anyone climbs on the roof.

I am buying a home in Avery County — why should I look at its storm history?

Recent hail or wind can leave a roof or exterior with damage that is easy to miss during a walkthrough, and a recent roof replacement is sometimes an insurance job after a storm. Reviewing the storm history for a Avery County address before closing helps you ask informed questions about roof age, past repairs, and any prior claims.

I am selling a home in Avery County — how does this help me?

Knowing the storm history for your address lets you answer buyer questions with confidence, document repairs you have already made, and decide whether a pre-listing roof check is worthwhile. A clear hail history removes a common sticking point during negotiations.

How do I check hail history for a specific Avery County address?

Use the address search to pull a free address-level hail report for any property in Avery County — no phone number or email required. It shows recent hail activity for that address so you know whether a closer roof or exterior review makes sense.

Where does this storm report data come from, and what are its limits?

Storm reports on this page are public reports from storm events across Avery County, NC, sourced from NOAA SPC and NWS Local Storm Reports. They show where hail, wind, or tornado activity was reported in Avery County, but they do not confirm damage at any specific property. Report locations, sizes, and times may be approximate and can vary from what an individual home experienced. For property-specific hail history, use an address-level hail report or contact a participating local professional for a remote hail inspection. Pros inclusion is not an endorsement, and contacting a professional does not confirm damage at any property.

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