Montgomery County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot North Carolina Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Montgomery County is about the same as North Carolina average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Montgomery County is lower than North Carolina average and is lower than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #52
| Montgomery County | 0.02 |
| North Carolina | 0.18 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #1
| Montgomery County | 0.0000 |
| North Carolina | 0.0000 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #58
| Montgomery County | 103.80 |
| North Carolina | 115.21 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 15,299 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Montgomery County were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 2 | Cold: | 27 | Dense Fog: | 8 | Drought: | 97 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 1,245 | Hail: | 4,650 | Heat: | 7 | Heavy Snow: | 189 |
| High Surf: | 2 | Hurricane: | 21 | Ice Storm: | 54 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 131 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 7,794 | Tropical Storm: | 16 | Wildfire: | 2 | Winter Storm: | 113 | Winter Weather: | 180 |
| Other: | 761 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Montgomery County.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Montgomery County.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Montgomery County.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 33 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Montgomery County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 3.7 | 1976-05-15 | 2 | 35°16'N / 79°58'W | 35°31'N / 79°50'W | 18.80 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 7 | 2.5M | 0 | Montgomery |
| 14.6 | 1982-04-27 | 2 | 35°13'N / 80°07'W | 0.10 Mile | 27 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Stanly | |
| 16.9 | 1963-05-17 | 2 | 35°18'N / 80°12'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Stanly | |
| 17.7 | 1999-09-29 | 2 | 35°22'N / 80°13'W | 35°22'N / 80°13'W | 6.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3.0M | 0 | Stanly |
| Brief Description: A second tornado, spawned by another thunderstorm, dropped a tornado 6 miles west of Albemarle. It destroyed a modular home, then did serious damage to the roof of a church. Several large trees were also taken down in the area. This was near the community of Lambert. The tornado then produced sporadic tree and roof damage on its way to the southern part of Albemarle. Several businesses were then heavily damaged and a lock and store facility was destroyed. The tornado then apparently dissipated. | |||||||||||
| 20.8 | 1975-03-24 | 2 | 34°59'N / 80°22'W | 35°20'N / 80°02'W | 30.60 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Union |
| 21.9 | 1965-10-07 | 3 | 35°39'N / 79°50'W | 1.00 Mile | 33 Yards | 1 | 4 | 25K | 0 | Randolph | |
| 25.6 | 1969-04-18 | 2 | 35°06'N / 80°32'W | 35°18'N / 80°07'W | 27.30 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Union |
| 28.5 | 1991-03-29 | 2 | 35°38'N / 80°01'W | 35°51'N / 79°35'W | 28.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Randolph |
| 29.3 | 1981-02-11 | 2 | 35°05'N / 79°30'W | 35°08'N / 79°26'W | 5.20 Miles | 700 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Moore |
| 29.6 | 1976-05-15 | 2 | 34°50'N / 80°03'W | 35°00'N / 79°57'W | 12.80 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 4 | 25K | 0 | Anson |
| 30.2 | 1999-09-29 | 2 | 35°16'N / 80°26'W | 35°16'N / 80°26'W | 0.10 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Stanly |
| Brief Description: A tornado touched down briefly and took the entire roof off a brick ranch. No other damage was noted in the area. A spotter was tracking the funnel. | |||||||||||
| 31.2 | 2005-01-14 | 2 | 35°34'N / 80°23'W | 35°34'N / 80°23'W | 0.30 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 0 | Rowan |
| Brief Description: Two metal industrial buildings sustained major damage and a barn was flattened. A home next to the barn also received minor roof damage. Several trees were snapped or uprooted. | |||||||||||
| 32.6 | 1980-05-18 | 2 | 35°06'N / 80°26'W | 35°07'N / 80°23'W | 3.30 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Union |
| 33.6 | 1981-02-11 | 2 | 35°12'N / 79°23'W | 35°15'N / 79°16'W | 7.60 Miles | 800 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Moore |
| 33.8 | 1964-08-29 | 3 | 34°52'N / 79°32'W | 34°55'N / 79°47'W | 14.60 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Richmond |
| 35.6 | 1977-10-01 | 2 | 35°48'N / 79°50'W | 35°53'N / 79°42'W | 9.40 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Randolph |
| 36.6 | 1954-08-17 | 2 | 35°47'N / 79°33'W | 2.10 Miles | 110 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Randolph | |
| 36.9 | 2010-03-28 | 2 | 35°43'N / 80°22'W | 35°44'N / 80°21'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 5 | 1.3M | 0K | Davidson |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: An EF1 tornado exited Rowan County, crossing the Yadkin River and entered into Davidson County. Numerous hardwood trees were either sheared off or uprooted in a wooded area south of Seven Oaks Drive. A carport was ripped from a brick home on Seven Oaks Drive. Two out buildings were also destroyed. The tornado tracked northeast across an open field before it damaged a vacant steel framed flea market building. The tornado glanced the southeastern corner of the main flea market building, tearing it away from the remainder of the building. Debris from the metal building was found approximately one mile downstream from the site. Sections of sheet metal from the building were found twisted around several tree and high tension power lines. In the adjacent Chestnut Grove Mobile Home Park, located at the intersection of Clark Road and Wind Hill Drive, three mobile homes were completely destroyed with three other mobile homes sustaining significant damage. The tornado reached EF2 intensity here with wind of 110 to 120 mph. The tornado dissipated in a wooded area northeast of Clark Road. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Convection developed ahead of an amplified upper trough across the Tennessee Valley while a strong southerly mid and upper level jet provided strong shear across the region. Tornadoes formed and track ahead of a developing surface low across Georgia and along a wedge front located across the western Piedmont of NC. | |||||||||||
| 38.5 | 1965-10-07 | 2 | 35°39'N / 79°24'W | 35°41'N / 79°18'W | 6.10 Miles | 27 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Chatham |
| 40.3 | 1969-04-18 | 2 | 35°52'N / 79°36'W | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Randolph | |||
| 42.2 | 1964-08-29 | 3 | 34°48'N / 79°26'W | 34°52'N / 79°32'W | 7.30 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 15 | 250K | 0 | Scotland |
| 42.8 | 1957-04-08 | 4 | 34°44'N / 79°52'W | 34°44'N / 79°37'W | 14.20 Miles | 133 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Marlboro |
| 43.9 | 1983-03-06 | 2 | 34°59'N / 80°33'W | 2.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 9 | 2.5M | 0 | Union | |
| 44.1 | 1990-10-18 | 3 | 34°59'N / 80°41'W | 35°01'N / 80°27'W | 12.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Union |
| 46.0 | 1968-06-07 | 2 | 35°00'N / 80°35'W | 35°12'N / 80°45'W | 16.70 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Mecklenburg |
| 46.4 | 1989-05-05 | 4 | 34°59'N / 80°44'W | 35°06'N / 80°33'W | 13.00 Miles | 500 Yards | 1 | 6 | 25.0M | 0 | Union |
| 46.8 | 1976-10-09 | 2 | 34°46'N / 79°26'W | 34°50'N / 79°22'W | 6.10 Miles | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Scotland |
| 47.0 | 1957-04-08 | 4 | 34°39'N / 80°28'W | 34°44'N / 79°52'W | 34.50 Miles | 133 Yards | 0 | 16 | 250K | 0 | Chesterfield |
| 47.3 | 2010-03-28 | 3 | 36°00'N / 80°02'W | 36°02'N / 80°00'W | 3.00 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 0 | 10.0M | 0K | Guilford |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The tornado initially touched down as an EF1 with winds around 100 mph near Old Plank Road in southwest Guilford County. It was in this area where the Apple Tree Academy sustained significant damage and two vehicles including a small bus were rolled 50 yards across the street. From this point the tornado continued northeast across Highway 311. The next area to experience damage was just north of Highway 311 and south of Old Mill Road along Langdale, Imperial and Impala Drives. Tornado damage in this area continued to indicate EF1 winds with numerous trees down along with a number of home with roof and siding damage. The tornado intensified to an EF2 as it crossed Old Mill Road towards Johnson Street. The EF2 tornado severely damaged numerous homes along Brandon Drive. In on instance, an entire bedroom was blown off a single story home. Three individuals who were taking shelter in a bedroom closet were carried 50 feet and were buried under the debris. One individual experienced several broken bones but overall injuries were not serious. The remainder of the house was shifted off the foundation approximately 8 inches. EF2 tornado damage continued north of Old Mill Road to Skeet Club Road along either side of Johnson Road with winds around 130 mph for most of its duration but briefly reached EF3 intensity with winds of 138 mph near Hampton Park Drive at 1278 Silverstone Court where the upper level of a two story home was blown off. Fifty to sixty homes along Hampton Park Drive, Scarlet Drive, Ruskin Drive and Johnson Road were severely damaged. The tornado crossed Johnson Road as an EF2 crossing Elmwood Avenue, Oakforest Drive and Maplewood Avenue. Nearly every home in this highly urbanized area experienced minor to moderate damage. The upper floor of a two story home on Elmwood Avenue was blown off. The tornado weakened to an EF1 as it crossed Maplewood Avenue and Wellingham Lane, where numerous homes experienced roof and siding damage. The tornado finally lifted off the ground north of Kendale Road. In total 603 single family homes were damaged with 21 homes being completely destoryed. Thirty-one multifamily homes were damaged with 16 reported destroyed. Finally, eleven businesses sustained damage, with 3 businesses completely destroyed. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Convection developed ahead of an amplified upper trough across the Tennessee Valley while a strong southerly mid and upper level jet provided strong shear across the region. Tornadoes formed and track ahead of a developing surface low across Georgia and along a wedge front located across the western Piedmont of NC. | |||||||||||
| 47.6 | 1991-03-29 | 2 | 35°42'N / 79°28'W | 35°52'N / 79°03'W | 25.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Chatham |
| 48.3 | 1957-04-08 | 4 | 34°44'N / 79°37'W | 34°45'N / 79°18'W | 18.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 8 | 250K | 0 | Scotland |
| 49.5 | 1984-03-28 | 4 | 34°39'N / 79°45'W | 34°40'N / 79°30'W | 14.00 Miles | 700 Yards | 7 | 100 | 25.0M | 0 | Marlboro |
| 49.8 | 1950-05-14 | 2 | 35°00'N / 80°41'W | 2.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 5 | 0K | 0 | Union | |
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.