Wind and Hail Storms

Wind and Hail Storms [1]

Wind and Hail Storms in Mecklenburg Before 1878 [2]

See also

The entire list is available in chronological order [7] and by day of the month [8], to make anniversaries easier to discover.

October 11, 1830, Violent Hail Storm – A violent hail storm destroyed the cotton crop which would probably result in only a fourth of the usual production. The Miners and Farmers’ Journal (October 18, 1830) mentioned that some of the hail stones were as large as hens’ eggs.
May 23, 1832 Wind, Rain and Hail Storm – The Miners and Farmers’ Journal (May 29, 1832) reported that a storm with wind, rain and hail did considerable damage to the wheat crop which would probably be reduced to only a fourth of the usual production.
April 28, 1848, Hail as Large as Partridge Eggs – Brevard Davidson wrote in his diary that there was heavy rain and hail on April 28^th which was largest he had ever seen with some of it as large as partridge eggs. (Williams, Ann. The Rural Hill Farm Journals of Adam Brevard Davidson 1834-1856. Antebellum Books, 2017)
August 20, 1848, Heavy Rains and Tornado - A tornado 40 yards wide and heavy rains swept across parts of the county causing damage to trees, crops, fences and roofs. The Charlotte Journal (August 23, 1848)
August 24, 1850, Tremendous Wind and Rain Storm – The Charlotte Journal (August 28, 1850) reported a severe storm of wind and rain in some areas. "The Catawba River and nearly every creek was swollen to a tremendous height. . . . The whole expanse of water was covered with rafts of floating timber wartermelons &c. The river was about 10 feet above normal."
July 1, 1856, Wind, Hail and Rain Storm – A wind, hail and rainstorm passed over parts of the western part of the county and did much damage to crops. Western Democrat (July 08, 1856)

November 3, 1856, Tornado – The Western Democrat (November 18, 1856) reported a tornado that went across Mecklenburg County from the Catawba River to Cabarrus County. There was great property damage but no serious human injuries. (See also J. B. Alexander, Reminiscences of the Past Sixty Years (Charlotte, 1908) pp.335-336)
May 14, 1857, Destructive Hail Storm – A wind and hail storm hit portions of the county destroying crops, killing pigs and chickens and damaging fences and houses. According to one witness, the wind had drifted the hail to a depth of one foot in places.The Western Democrat (May 19, 1857)

June 19, 1860, Dreadful Hail Storm – The Western Democrat (June 26, 1860) "One of the most terrible hail storms ever witnessed passed over the southern part of Mecklenburg." It left some places covered with several inches of hail stones, some measuring eight inches in circumference [2.5 inches in diameter]. It damaged crops and even peeled bark from trees.
October 2, 1863, Wind Storm – The Western Democrat (October 6, 1863) reported a heavy wind storm in the Steele Creek neighborhood did considerable damage to a dwelling, stables, barns and fences. It (the paper calls it a hurricane) covered a space of about 150 yards in width and carried some ears of corn for 200 yards.
May 9, 1867, Wind, Rain and Hail Storm – The Western Democrat (May 14, 1867) reported that there was "a heavy storm of rain and wind accompanied by hail. . . . The hail was quite heavy and did considerable damage to growing cotton and wheat" especially in the Steele Creek and Providence neighborhoods.
May 12, 1869, Severe Storm – According to The Western Democrat (May 18, 1869) one of the heaviest wind and rain storms within the past 10 years visited the area. Damage was done to the crops, out buildings and fences. "It seems that a hurricane or tornado, covering a breadth of not over 300 yards, accompanied the general storm." The Steele Creek and Paw Creek neighborhoods had the most damage.
August 30, 1870, Destructive Storm – The Western Democrat (September 6, 1870) reported that there was a "terrific storm of wind, rain and hail" that covered a width of 1.5 miles. It damaged crops and buildings.
April 18, 1872, Destructive Storm – The Charlotte Democrat (April 23, 1872) reported that a storm and tornado went from Chester, S.C. up the Steele Creek neighborhood in Mecklenburg County doing considerable damage to several farms. There was also a "terrific hail storm" but it did not do much damage. The storm moved in an east direction and was about a mile wide. Houses, trees, fences and out buildings were blown down.
September 30-October 1, 1874, Hurricane on the Coast – A hurricane was reported in September30-October 1, 1874 along the coast with Wilmington, Charleston and Savanah seeing the most damage. There was no report of any impact in Mecklenburg County. According to The Wilmington Journal (October 2, 1874) “The blow could hardly have extended very far to the interior, as yesterday’s Raleigh papers seem to have been unaware of the fact that there had been a heavy storm on the coast.” There was no mention of any weather related to the hurricane in Charlotte from local newspapers.
May 1, 1875, Heavy Wind and Rain – The Charlotte Democrat (May 03, 1875) Reported a heavy wind and rain storm blew down a few houses, trees and fences. The storm was more severe in Cabarrus County.