Asheville, North Carolina – Twelve years ago today, a line of severe thunderstorms tore through western North Carolina, leaving behind downed trees, large hail, and a tornado that injured a hiker in the Great Smoky Mountains.
According to the National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg, the June 13, 2013 storms produced an EF1 tornado in the Big Creek area of Haywood County, within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The twister caused significant tree damage and injured a person on the trail, highlighting the dangers of backcountry hiking during fast-moving summer storms.
The storms also delivered damaging winds and hail across multiple counties in western North Carolina, snapping power lines and blocking trails and remote roadways. Cleanup crews spent days clearing debris in the national park and surrounding forest areas.
This event remains one of the most memorable early-summer outbreaks in the region in the past two decades. Park visitors and hikers are reminded to always check for thunderstorm risks and seek shelter immediately when warnings are issued.
