Concord

Population 114,598 (2025)

16 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Concord since 1851; the strongest at closest approach was Hugo in 1989 (Category 1).

Hazard fingerprint for Concord Tornado: 58th percentile. Tropical: 69th percentile. Wildfire: 0th percentile. Flood: 86th percentile. Hail & wind: 87th percentile. Heat: 19th percentile. Cold: 46th percentile. Winter: 52th percentile. TORTROPFIREFLOODSEVEREHEATCOLDWINTER

Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed

2026
  • Tornado damage paths within 25 miles since 195089
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger35
  • Major flood years since 1978, Cabarrus County2

At a glance

Tornado paths within 25 miles, tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles and wildfire perimeters within 25 miles of the city centre. Storm events, flood insurance claims and disaster declarations are for Cabarrus County. Earthquakes within 50 miles, volcanoes within 100 miles and smoke days are measured from the city centre; river and tide gauges, tsunami and landslide records and the drought index are for Cabarrus County.

Flood insurance claims

241

Cabarrus County

$5.4 million paid since 1982

Details

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

16

2 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Tornadoes since 1950, within 25 mi

89

2 rated F3/EF3 or stronger

Details

Strongest tornado

F4

May 5, 1989, 13.0 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 1

Hurricane Hugo, 1989, 39.3 miles away

Federal disaster declarations

19

Most recent: Severe Winter Storm, 2026

Details

Record high

107°F

August 22, 1983

Details

Record low

−5°F

Reached 2 times, most recently January 22, 1985

Details

Tornadoes

About one tornado a year since 1950, 2 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest

May 5, 1989

F4, 13.0 mile path

500 yards wide; 1 killed along the whole path.

Most recent

Saturday, May 3, 2025

EF0, 1.3 mile path

Within the past year.

Tornadoes by decade, within 25 miles Doppler radar era² 1950s: 3 3 1960s: 9 9 1970s: 16 16 1980s: 8 8 1990s: 17 17 2000s: 8 8 2010s: 14 14 2020s: 14 14 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 3 F: 6 M: 14 A: 9 M: 22 22 J: 5 J: 6 A: 7 S: 7 O: 5 N: 3 D: 2 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes within 25 miles since 1950
May 3, 2025EF01.32000
Mar 5, 2025EF12.27500
Dec 29, 2024EF01.72000
Apr 11, 2024EF11.34000
Aug 7, 2023EF02.05000
Aug 7, 2023EF136.255000
Apr 22, 2023EF07.73000
Jan 12, 2023EF06.110000
May 23, 2022EF19.810000
May 3, 2021EF01.515000
Feb 6, 2020EF17.340000
Feb 6, 2020EF117.115000
Feb 6, 2020EF01.55000
Feb 6, 2020EF26.27500
Oct 22, 2019EF00.35000
May 24, 2017EF01.15000
Nov 30, 2016EF12.415000
May 15, 2014EF00.54000
Mar 3, 2012EF22.920040
Sep 5, 2011EF04.210000
Sep 5, 2011EF00.54000
Apr 16, 2011EF14.010000
Oct 26, 2010EF01.87500
Oct 26, 2010EF00.47500
Jul 13, 2010EF10.310000
Jul 13, 2010EF13.265000
Mar 28, 2010EF25.020050
Mar 28, 2010EF10.110000
Dec 11, 2008EF12.43000
May 11, 2008EF00.12000
May 9, 2008EF218.27500
May 14, 2006F10.25000
Mar 8, 2005F13.05000
Jan 14, 2005F20.310000
Jul 12, 2003F118.020000
Jul 4, 2001F00.2000
Sep 29, 1999F26.010000
Sep 29, 1999F20.15000
Aug 1, 1999F00.21000
May 7, 1998F06.05000
May 7, 1998F05.05000
Mar 20, 1998F00.13000
May 29, 1996F15.015000
May 29, 1996F15.015000
Apr 12, 1995F00.52310
Aug 5, 1994F00.11000
Mar 27, 1994F318.520020
Mar 10, 1992F10.53030
Mar 10, 1992F23.4180180
Mar 7, 1992F14.515000
Mar 7, 1992F00.18000
Mar 29, 1991F12.08000
Nov 28, 1990F10.12000
May 5, 1989F413.050061
May 5, 1989F10.33000
Jun 6, 1985F01.026700
May 3, 1984F120.010000
Mar 28, 1984F10.33300
Aug 23, 1983F14.010000
Sep 18, 1982F10.51000
May 18, 1980F23.35000
Feb 25, 1979F15.75030
Aug 14, 1978F00.11000
Jun 24, 1978F13.62730
Jun 6, 1978F10.33310
Jan 8, 1978F10.52000
Sep 16, 1977F10.21000
Oct 9, 1976F13.64000
May 15, 1976F00.11000
Oct 8, 1975F10.15000
Jun 6, 1975F00.11000
May 25, 1975F10.11000
Mar 14, 1975F10.12000
May 28, 1973F00.11000
May 28, 1973F10.15010
May 28, 1973F29.610000
May 28, 1973F00.11000
Apr 18, 1969F227.330000
Jun 7, 1968F216.720000
Apr 5, 1966F10.11000
Sep 12, 1965F20.37000
Jul 25, 1965F10.11000
Apr 27, 1965F15.125000
Aug 10, 1964F10.11000
Apr 12, 1961F11.020000
Feb 18, 1960F123.71000
Apr 6, 1956F156.410000
Nov 28, 1954F12.050000
Jul 27, 1950F10.11000
  1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond this area.
  2. Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

16 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 2 at hurricane strength.

Strongest within 50 miles

September 22, 1989

Hugo, Category 1

39.3 miles at closest approach, winds near 75 mph.

Most recent

July 8, 2021

Elsa, Tropical storm

62.5 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 1 60s: 0 70s: 1 80s: 4 4 90s: 1 00s: 0 10s: 1 20s: 1 30s: 0 40s: 1 50s: 2 60s: 0 70s: 1 80s: 2 90s: 0 00s: 0 10s: 1 20s: 0 50s60s70s80s90s00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s00s10s20s
Storms within 50 miles, by decade. Records before about 1900 miss storms that never reached land or ships.

Every storm within 100 miles

Tropical cyclones within 100 miles
Elsa202162.5Tropical storm48Category 1
Claudette202161.2Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Zeta202081.4Tropical storm52Category 3
Nestor201975.8Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Michael201820.1Tropical storm52Category 5
Andrea201399.9Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Alberto200667.1Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Hugo198939.3Category 175Category 5
Bob198515.2Tropical storm46Category 1
David197912.1Tropical storm49Category 5
Alma197067.6Tropical storm45Category 1
Unnamed196564.6Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Gracie195945.1Tropical storm48Category 4
Able19522.1Tropical storm46Category 2
Unnamed194941.4Tropical storm58Category 4
Unnamed194564.4Tropical storm55Category 4
Unnamed194474.9Post-tropical54Category 4
Unnamed193565.5Tropical storm52Category 5
Unnamed192959.1Post-tropical58Category 4
Unnamed19276.1Tropical storm39Tropical storm
Unnamed191679.6Tropical storm55Category 3
Unnamed191520.0Tropical storm41Category 1
Unnamed191380.2Tropical storm40Category 1
Unnamed191256.0Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Unnamed190740.1Post-tropical39Tropical storm
Unnamed190690.0Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed190484.4Tropical storm69Category 1
Unnamed190249.9Post-tropical40Category 2
Unnamed190258.3Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed189665.0Category 183Category 3
Unnamed189369.8Tropical storm46Category 4
Unnamed18937.7Category 175Category 3
Unnamed188926.9Tropical storm48Category 2
Unnamed188859.4Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed188687.5Tropical storm48Category 2
Unnamed18864.6Tropical storm40Category 2
Unnamed188549.1Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed188211.2Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed187839.9Tropical storm63Category 2
Unnamed187770.6Tropical storm54Category 3
Unnamed186796.2Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed185912.3Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed185468.7Tropical storm55Category 3
Unnamed185199.8Tropical storm46Category 3
  1. Tropical storms and hurricanes (34 kt or more, still tropical) at closest approach. Post-tropical remnants with gale-force winds are listed but not counted. Direct: track within 50 miles; near: within 100 miles. Distance is measured to the county boundary for counties and to the city centre for cities, using positions interpolated hourly between HURDAT2 fixes.

National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, 1851 to 2025.

Wildfire and smoke

No large wildfire has been mapped within 25 miles since satellite mapping began in 1984.

Smoke overhead

Smokiest year

2023: 40 days

Heavy smoke on 4 days in 2021, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

8.9 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

7 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 28 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 3 2012: 5 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 1 2016: 0 2017: 1 2018: 3 2019: 2 2020: 1 2021: 17 2022: 12 2023: 40 40 2024: 6 2025: 7 201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Days each year on which a satellite-traced plume of medium or heavy smoke covered the city centre, 2011 to 2025.
  1. A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.

NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Floods and flood insurance

241 federal flood insurance claims since 1982, with $5.4 million paid.

Flood insurance figures are for Cabarrus County, the county that contains Concord.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1985: 6 1995: 11 1997: 11 2003: 8 2004: 10 2008: 59 59 2009: 6 2010: 19 2013: 20 2018: 6 2020: 38 2024: 17 198520082020
Claims per year since 1982. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

2008: 59 claims

$2.2 million paid.

2nd most

2020: 38 claims

$881,000 paid.

3rd most

2013: 20 claims

$652,000 paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
28075154$2.7 million
2802734$493,000
2802519$482,000
2808115$1.4 million
2808312$216,000

Flood events since 1996

  • Flood43
  • Flash Flood42
  • Heavy Rain4

1 death recorded in flood events since 1996.

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.

River crests

River gauges in Cabarrus County, the county that contains Concord.

Most severe crest

August 27, 2008

Rocky River NC near ROCKY RIVER/ ABV IRISH BUFFALO CK, 29.91 ft

11.91 feet above the 18.0 ft flood stage; moderate flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

August 27, 2008

Rocky River NC near ROCKY RIVER/ ABV IRISH BUFFALO CK, 29.91 ft

Moderate flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Aug 27, 2008Rocky River NC near ROCKY RIVER/ ABV IRISH BUFFALO CK29.91+11.91Moderate
Jan 25, 2010Rocky River NC near ROCKY RIVER/ ABV IRISH BUFFALO CK24.60+6.60Minor
Feb 7, 2020Rocky River NC near ROCKY RIVER/ ABV IRISH BUFFALO CK23.46+5.46Minor
Apr 11, 2003Rocky River NC near ROCKY RIVER/ ABV IRISH BUFFALO CK23.21+5.21Minor
Sep 17, 2018Rocky River NC near ROCKY RIVER/ ABV IRISH BUFFALO CK23.21+5.21Minor
Dec 31, 2015Rocky River NC near ROCKY RIVER/ ABV IRISH BUFFALO CK22.51+4.51Minor
Sep 28, 2004Rocky River NC near ROCKY RIVER/ ABV IRISH BUFFALO CK22.36+4.36Minor
Mar 21, 2003Rocky River NC near ROCKY RIVER/ ABV IRISH BUFFALO CK22.10+4.10Minor
Jun 29, 2013Rocky River NC near ROCKY RIVER/ ABV IRISH BUFFALO CK21.75+3.75Minor
Mar 2, 2007Rocky River NC near ROCKY RIVER/ ABV IRISH BUFFALO CK21.27+3.27Minor
Nov 22, 2006Rocky River NC near ROCKY RIVER/ ABV IRISH BUFFALO CK21.16+3.16Minor
Feb 6, 2010Rocky River NC near ROCKY RIVER/ ABV IRISH BUFFALO CK20.42+2.42Minor
Jan 25, 2010Back Creek at Caldwell Rd near Harrisburg11.77+1.77Minor
Jun 29, 2013Clarke Creek NC near HARRISBURG15.27+1.27Minor
Sep 8, 2004Rocky River NC near ROCKY RIVER/ ABV IRISH BUFFALO CK19.21+1.21Minor
Apr 24, 2017Rocky River NC near ROCKY RIVER/ ABV IRISH BUFFALO CK18.79+0.79Minor
Jun 29, 2013Back Creek at Caldwell Rd near Harrisburg10.51+0.51Minor
Dec 26, 2009Rocky River NC near ROCKY RIVER/ ABV IRISH BUFFALO CK18.51+0.51Minor
Dec 23, 2013Rocky River NC near ROCKY RIVER/ ABV IRISH BUFFALO CK18.43+0.43Minor
Aug 27, 2008Clarke Creek NC near HARRISBURG14.14+0.14Minor
Mar 7, 2014Rocky River NC near ROCKY RIVER/ ABV IRISH BUFFALO CK18.02+0.02Minor
Aug 5, 2011Back Creek at Caldwell Rd near Harrisburg9.91−0.09Action
Dec 30, 2015Back Creek at Caldwell Rd near Harrisburg9.77−0.23Action
Jun 6, 2013Back Creek at Caldwell Rd near Harrisburg9.70−0.30Action
Aug 7, 2012Back Creek at Caldwell Rd near Harrisburg9.61−0.39Action

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Back Creek at Caldwell Rd near Harrisburg10.011.77 ftJan 25, 20100
Clarke Creek NC near HARRISBURG14.015.27 ftJun 29, 20130
Coddle Creek at SR 1612 NR DAVIDSON18.012.98 ftSep 28, 20040
Rocky River NC near ROCKY RIVER/ ABV IRISH BUFFALO CK18.029.91 ftAug 27, 20080
  1. Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.

NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Drought

In severe drought or worse for 100 of 1,581 months since 1895 (6%); the longest spell lasted 10 months.

The drought index is for Cabarrus County, the county that contains Concord.

100

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

27

Months in extreme drought

6%

Share of all months, severe or worse

35

Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996

Lowest reading

August 2002

−5.47, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

10 months

April 1986 to January 1987.

Latest month

September 2026

−2.76, moderate drought

Last severe month: June 2026.

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 0 1896: 0 1897: 0 1898: 0 1899: 0 1900: 0 1901: 0 1902: 0 1903: 0 1904: 1 1905: 0 1906: 0 1907: 0 1908: 0 1909: 0 1910: 0 1911: 0 1912: 0 1913: 0 1914: 0 1915: 0 1916: 0 1917: 0 1918: 0 1919: 0 1920: 0 1921: 0 1922: 0 1923: 0 1924: 0 1925: 6 1926: 1 1927: 0 1928: 0 1929: 0 1930: 0 1931: 0 1932: 0 1933: 4 1934: 2 1935: 0 1936: 0 1937: 0 1938: 0 1939: 0 1940: 0 1941: 2 1942: 1 1943: 0 1944: 0 1945: 0 1946: 0 1947: 0 1948: 0 1949: 0 1950: 0 1951: 8 1952: 0 1953: 0 1954: 0 1955: 0 1956: 0 1957: 0 1958: 0 1959: 0 1960: 0 1961: 0 1962: 0 1963: 0 1964: 0 1965: 0 1966: 0 1967: 3 1968: 0 1969: 0 1970: 0 1971: 0 1972: 0 1973: 0 1974: 0 1975: 0 1976: 0 1977: 1 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 0 1981: 3 1982: 0 1983: 2 1984: 0 1985: 0 1986: 9 9 1987: 3 1988: 0 1989: 0 1990: 0 1991: 0 1992: 0 1993: 0 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 2 1999: 4 2000: 0 2001: 2 2002: 8 2003: 0 2004: 1 2005: 0 2006: 0 2007: 5 2008: 3 2009: 0 2010: 1 2011: 9 2012: 4 2013: 3 2014: 0 2015: 3 2016: 1 2017: 2 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 1 2022: 1 2023: 0 2024: 0 2025: 0 18951905191519251935194519551965197519851995200520152025
Months each year with a Palmer index of −3 or lower, 1895 to 2025. Twelve means the whole year.
  1. The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.

NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.

Earthquakes

7 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more within 50 miles since 1916; none reached magnitude 4.

1

Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973

0

Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900

0

Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900

Largest within 50 miles

August 26, 1916

Magnitude 3.7

Western North Carolina; 46.7 miles away.

Most recent, magnitude 3 or more

June 4, 1998

Magnitude 3.2

4 km SSE of Mooresville, North Carolina; 14.0 miles away.

  1. Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the city centre.
  2. Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Severe weather and other events

606 events in the National Weather Service record for Cabarrus County, 532 of them since 1996.

72

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

6

Hail, 2 inches or larger

181

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

70

Winter weather events since 1996

3

Heat events since 1996

9

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

June 5, 1985

4.50 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

June 19, 1979

75 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Lightning901Jul 26, 2016
Dense fog and smoke200Jan 18, 2001

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Dec 4, 2002Ice Storm, Cabarrus$12.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Freezing rain began over the extreme southern mountains of North Carolina during the early afternoon on the 4th, and had spread into the southwest piedmont by mid afternoon. Resultant damage due to ice accumulation began during the mid-to-late afternoon. The intensity of the freezing rain increased after midnight, and by sunrise on the 5th, devastating ice accumulations of 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches were observed. The hardest hit area was Charlotte metro. Hundreds of thousands lost power, and the outages lasted for as long as 2 weeks in some areas.

  2. Aug 27, 2008Flash Flood$5.5 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Numerous roads were closed, mainly due to stream flooding from Harrisburg to Concord to Mount Pleasant. Several homes received significant damage due to floodwater, with Harrisburg being the hardest hit. Closed roads included highway 73 near Dutch Rd, Red Bird Cir, Morehead Rd from highway 29 to highway 49, Miami Church Rd, Stough Rd near Marlboro Dr, Bowman Barrier Rd, Zion Church Rd at Flowes Store Rd, Pharr Mill Rd at Sequoia Hills Dr, and a portion of highway 200.

  3. Jul 23, 1997Flash Flood$3.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    A cluster of thunderstorms producing very heavy rain sank south in the Charlotte metro area shortly before midnight of the 23rd and continued to redevelop over the area through mid-morning. Severe flash flooding resulted as nearly 10 inches of rain fell in some spots. Mecklenburg county officials requested that people not try to go to work or drive around. Numerous roads and bridges were washed out or damaged. A railroad trestle collapsed, dropping a locomotive 100 feet into a raging creek. Two women died after their vehicles became trapped in flood waters around 2 AM EST. A young girl perished around 9 AM EST when she went to play in the waters and was swept away. In Cabarrus…

  4. Mar 3, 2012Tornado$1.5 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    This tornado moved into Cabarrus County from Mecklenburg County, south of Harrisburg and west of the Robinson Church Rd and Peach Orchard Rd intersection. The tornado affected several residential areas, damaging around 30 homes and destroying two homes which slid off their foundations. The tornado crossed Robinson Church Rd and Peach Orchard Rd, lifting just short of Hickory Ridge Rd.

  5. Mar 20, 2003Flood, Cabarrus$1.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    After morning flash flooding, moderating rainfall contributed to slower rises, but continued and additional flooding along numerous creeks and streams into the evening hours. Flooding was quite severe from Kannapolis to Concord, as well as across southern and eastern sections of the county. A nursing home and a school had to be evacuated due to rising water. At least 10 roads were closed across the county.

  6. Aug 27, 2008Flash Flood$1.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Numerous streets and roads were closed in and around Kannapolis, due to flooding streams and poor drainage. Evacuations were necessary at a rest home on Pine St. Closed roads included Sloop Rd, Trinity Church Rd, Dogwood Bvd, Dakota St, Lane St, Oakwood Ave, South Little Texas Rd, Mallard Point Rd, and East 1st St. At least 14 swift water rescues were necessary. Approximately 70 buildings were damaged by floodwater across Cabarrus County.

  7. Sep 28, 2004Flash Flood$700,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Flash flooding developed across the county shortly after midnight in response to an intense tropical rain band. Roads were damaged and water entered homes and businesses, particularly in the Harrisburg area.

  8. Feb 6, 2020Tornado$500,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    NWS storm survey found the damage path of an EF2 tornado that began just west of I-85 near Lane St where trees were snapped and uprooted as the tornado crossed the interstate and moved east along Lane St. The awning of a service station was also damaged. The tornado then moved along Old Salisbury-Concord Rd snapping and uprooting trees until it reached Gold Fish Rd where several homes were damaged. The tornado then moved east along Irish Potato Rd snapping and uprooting trees. Farther along this road another home was damaged. Little damage was noted as the tornado moved east until it crossed Dutch Buffalo Creek where trees were snapped and uprooted. The strongest damage was found…

  9. Apr 16, 2007High Wind, Cabarrus$500,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    After an intense, but relatively brief high wind event affected the mountains and foothills on the evening of the 15th, another widespread damaging high wind event developed during the day of the 16th. However, this particular event included much of the piedmont. Thousands of trees fell across the area, resulting in widespread power outages. Numerous trees fell on roads, homes, and vehicles. The Blue Ridge mountains and the foothills received the brunt of the strongest winds. In Highlands, NC, two homes were heavily damaged by fallen trees, while approximately 100 homes received minor to moderate damage. A tree fell on and severely damaged a home in Otto, NC. Two businesses…

  10. Jul 20, 1998Lightning$250,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    An isolated severe thunderstorm in Waynesville downed numerous limbs and power lines. One thousand people power lost power as well. A cluster of thunderstorms moved from northern Cleveland county, east-southeast and became severe in the eastern portions, downing numerous trees. This cluster of severe thunderstorms moved across Gaston county, continuing to down trees and some power lines and leaving 6500 people without power for a while. The storms then moved into southern Mecklenburg county, blowing down 6 trees on the southwest side of Charlotte. Intense cloud to ground lightning from these storms that became nearly stationary struck 15 dwellings ranging from apartments to…

  1. Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.

Weather records

From Concord, 4.3 miles from the city centre, with records from 1891.

All-time high
107°FAug 22, 1983
All-time low
−5°F2 times, most recently Jan 22, 1985
Warmest night
79°F5 times, most recently Aug 11, 2010
Coldest day
16°FJan 11, 1982
Wettest day
8.80 inAug 27, 2008
Snowiest day
11.0 inFeb 27, 2004
Hottest year
1949mean 62.7°F
Coldest year
1976mean 58.1°F
Wettest year
201868.38 in
Driest year
198628.94 in
Snowiest season
23.8 in1935-36
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Concord 32°F 52° 29° 3.5 Jan 56° 32° 3.1 Feb 64° 39° 3.6 Mar 74° 47° 3.9 Apr 80° 57° 4.0 May 88° 65° 4.2 Jun 91° 69° 5.6 Jul 89° 67° 4.6 Aug 83° 61° 4.2 Sep 74° 48° 3.1 Oct 63° 37° 3.2 Nov 55° 32° 3.7 Dec Precipitation, inches
Average daily high and low by month, and average monthly precipitation, over the last 30 years.
Days reaching 95°F per year 1976: 11 1977: 41 1978: 21 1979: 10 1980: 50 50 1981: 18 1982: 5 1983: 39 1984: 10 1985: 16 1986: 27 1987: 22 1988: 21 1989: 7 1990: 13 1991: 8 1992: 14 1993: 22 1994: 0 1995: 12 1996: 12 1997: 15 1998: 27 1999: 27 2000: 10 2001: 3 2002: 26 2003: 6 2004: 10 2005: 10 2006: 23 2007: 39 2008: 20 2009: 6 2010: 36 2011: 41 2012: 32 2013: 3 2014: 20 2015: 35 2016: 44 2017: 13 2018: 33 2019: 38 2020: 15 2021: 7 2022: 5 2023: 5 2024: 5 2025: 8 19761986199620062016
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 19.1.
Snowfall by winter 1976: 2.0 in 1977: 3.0 in 1978: 17.0 in 17.0 1979: 11.0 in 1980: 3.1 in 1981: 10.0 in 1982: 8.0 in 1983: 4.0 in 1984: 1.5 in 1985: 0.3 in 1986: 1.5 in 1987: 10.0 in 1988: 9.0 in 1989: 0.0 in 1990: 0.0 in 1991: 0.0 in 1992: 5.0 in 1993: 1.5 in 1994: 0.5 in 1995: 4.0 in 1996: 1.5 in 1997: 3.0 in 1998: 0.0 in 1999: 5.6 in 2000: 0.5 in 2001: 4.0 in 2002: 1.3 in 2003: 14.9 in 2004: 0.4 in 2005: 0.0 in 2006: 0.1 in 2007: 0.4 in 2008: 6.0 in 2009: 8.1 in 2011: 0.1 in 2012: 1.3 in 2013: 10.5 in 2014: 6.7 in 2015: 3.2 in 2016: 5.5 in 2017: 5.4 in 2018: 4.3 in 2019: 0.5 in 2020: 0.6 in 2021: 3.9 in 2022: 0.0 in 2023: 0.0 in 2024: 1.2 in 2025: 10.9 in 19761986199620062017
Total snowfall each winter (July to June), last 50 winters.

Median first snow

January 17

Earliest: November 20, 2000

Median last snow

February 14

Latest: March 28, 1947

15 of 89 winters had no measurable snow.

Station Concord (USC00311975), 670 ft elevation, 4.3 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1891 to October 28, 2026; 99.5% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.

NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.

Federal disaster declarations

19 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Winter Storm, January 24, 2026.

Declarations for Cabarrus County.

Federal disaster declarations
Jan 24, 2026Winter StormSevere Winter StormEmergencyEM-3637-NC
Sep 28, 2024Tropical StormTropical Storm HeleneMajor disasterDR-4827-NC
Sep 26, 2024Tropical StormHurricane HeleneEmergencyEM-3617-NC
Aug 6, 2024Tropical StormTropical Storm DebbyEmergencyEM-3608-NC
Oct 1, 2022HurricaneHurricane IanEmergencyEM-3586-NC
Aug 2, 2020HurricaneHurricane IsaiasEmergencyEM-3534-NC
Mar 25, 2020BiologicalCovid-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4487-NC
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCovid-19EmergencyEM-3471-NC
Sep 3, 2019HurricaneHurricane DorianEmergencyEM-3423-NC
Sep 14, 2018HurricaneHurricane FlorenceMajor disasterDR-4393-NC
Sep 10, 2018HurricaneHurricane FlorenceEmergencyEM-3401-NC
Sep 5, 2005HurricaneHurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3222-NC
Sep 10, 2004HurricaneTropical Storm FrancesMajor disasterDR-1546-NC
Dec 12, 2002Severe Ice StormSevere Ice StormMajor disasterDR-1448-NC
Jan 31, 2000Severe StormSevere Winter StormMajor disasterDR-1312-NC
Jan 13, 1996SnowstormBlizzard of 96Major disasterDR-1087-NC
Sep 25, 1989HurricaneHurricane HugoMajor disasterDR-844-NC
Aug 11, 1977DroughtDroughtEmergencyEM-3049-NC
Mar 2, 1977SnowstormDrought & FreezingEmergencyEM-3033-NC

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.

Sources and vintage

Every number on this page comes from these public records.

  • Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
  • Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
  • Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
  • Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
  • Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
  • Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USC00311975.
  • River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
  • Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.

Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.