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Weather & Climate in Horse Shoe, NC

Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.

Horse Shoe experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 55°F (13°C). Winters average 37°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. The area gets 301 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 51.4 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40. The city sits at an elevation of 2,648 feet.

Temperature

37°F Jan (3°C) 73°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average55.4°F
3% above US avg
January Average37°F (3°C)
July Average73°F (23°C)
Sunny Days301 days/yr

Geography

Elevation2,648 ft (807 m)
Area7.6 sq mi (19.6 km²)
Population Density228/sq mi
Coordinates35.3324°N, 82.5627°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyHenderson County County
Nearest AirportAsheville Regional (AVL)
7 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 51.4"
35% above US avg
Wettest Month (Mar) 6.34"
Driest Month (Apr) 4.65"

Air Quality

AQI Median40.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score83.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability69.3 / 100
Community Resilience40.1 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Moderate
Hurricane Relatively Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Very Low
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Very High
Drought Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively High
Landslide Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

93 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.1.

May 10, 2025 21 km SE of Greenback, Tennessee M4.1 131 km 25 km
Jul 5, 1995 12 km ESE of Tellico Plains, Tennessee M3.7 145 km 10 km
Jun 16, 2006 9 km W of Maggie Valley, North Carolina M3.4 61 km 1 km
Apr 20, 2010 4 km SW of Maryville, Tennessee M3.3 137 km 2 km
Aug 31, 2009 2 km NNE of Friendsville, Tennessee M3.3 150 km 14 km
Jun 4, 2023 4 km NNW of West Canton, North Carolina M3.2 39 km 0 km
Jul 26, 2001 11 km S of New Market, Tennessee M3.2 116 km 17 km
Jul 26, 2001 11 km N of Sevierville, Tennessee M3.2 114 km 14 km
Apr 29, 2018 10 km WSW of Bean Station, Tennessee M3.1 131 km 21 km
Aug 23, 2025 3 km N of Coronaca, South Carolina M3.0 124 km 2 km
Sep 24, 1991 6 km NE of Greenback, Tennessee M3.0 147 km 13 km
Jan 1, 1993 4 km SSW of Spruce Pine, North Carolina M3.0 74 km 2 km
Aug 4, 2007 12 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M3.0 46 km 9 km
Nov 24, 2012 7 km NE of Sevierville, Tennessee M3.0 107 km 7 km
Jul 7, 1995 3 km NW of Mountain City, Tennessee M3.0 145 km 10 km
Nov 10, 1992 4 km ESE of Greenback, Tennessee M3.0 146 km 10 km
Apr 5, 2005 1 km SE of Blaine, Tennessee M2.9 136 km 10 km
Jul 11, 1990 1 km NW of Alcoa, Tennessee M2.9 139 km 17 km
Aug 25, 2013 3 km NNE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina M2.9 123 km 9 km
Aug 23, 2025 3 km NNW of Coronaca, South Carolina M2.9 123 km 7 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Hurricane History

1 hurricane (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 2.

Year Name Category Max Wind Closest
1989 Hugo Category 4 138 mph 151 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).

Tornado History

276 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 19 fatalities, 436 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
May 5, 1989 EF4 90 km 14.0 mi 4
May 5, 1989 EF4 64 km 15.0 mi 2
Apr 13, 2020 EF3 93 km 16.7 mi 1
Apr 27, 2011 EF3 87 km 13.6 mi 2
Apr 27, 2011 EF3 81 km 15.8 mi 6
Jul 10, 1980 EF3 98 km 1.9 mi 0
May 27, 1973 EF3 64 km 60.2 mi 0
May 10, 1952 EF3 66 km 22.7 mi 2
Mar 23, 2022 EF2 58 km 6.3 mi 0
Apr 25, 2020 EF2 51 km 5.5 mi 0
Apr 13, 2020 EF2 42 km 8.0 mi 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 66 km 3.0 mi 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 80 km 4.9 mi 0
Oct 8, 2017 EF2 66 km 8.4 mi 0
Jan 11, 2012 EF2 70 km 3.8 mi 0
Aug 26, 2008 EF2 87 km 5.5 mi 0
May 7, 1998 EF2 62 km 3.7 mi 0
Jan 7, 1998 EF2 59 km 1.5 mi 0
Feb 21, 1997 EF2 71 km 1.0 mi 0
Sep 16, 1996 EF2 82 km 6.0 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: ROCK MOUNTAIN (25,224 acres, 2016).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
2016 ROCK MOUNTAIN 25,224 95 km
2016 CHIMNEY TOPS 2 14,998 94 km
2016 TELLICO 14,172 93 km
2000 BRUSHY RIDGE 12,405 85 km
2016 PARTY ROCK 8,572 33 km
2016 PINNACLE MOUNTAIN 7,869 34 km
2007 LINVILLE COMPLEX (DOBSON KNOB) 7,151 80 km
2016 CHESTNUT KNOB 6,418 88 km
2016 SILVER MINE 6,082 67 km
2001 SHARP 6,039 83 km
1985 UNNAMED 4,610 98 km
2022 LOST BEAR RX FY2022 4,276 52 km
2017 WHITE CREEK 4,166 83 km
2016 CLEAR CREEK 3,493 59 km
2016 CAMP BRANCH 3,234 92 km
2023 PANTHER KNOB 3,170 94 km
2001 LARMAN 3,072 71 km
2016 UNNAMED 2,976 90 km
2000 TIPTON HILL 2,661 86 km
1998 FOURNEY CREEK 2,579 90 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 37°F (3°C) 5.3 in Coldest
February 39°F (4°C) 5.1 in
March 46°F (8°C) 6.3 in Wettest
April 54°F (12°C) 4.7 in Driest
May 61°F (16°C) 5.7 in
June 68°F (20°C) 5.5 in
July 73°F (23°C) 5.5 in Warmest
August 71°F (22°C) 5.6 in
September 66°F (19°C) 4.9 in
October 55°F (13°C) 5.0 in
November 47°F (8°C) 5.3 in
December 39°F (4°C) 5.2 in

Horse Shoe has a seasonal temperature swing of 36°F / from 37°F in January to 73°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 64.1 inches, with March being the wettest month (6.3") and April the driest (4.7").

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