Ashe County

Severe thunderstorms and heat advisories were active across multiple counties in the Charlotte region on July 28, 2026, with alerts expiring by 8 p.m. Flash flood and severe thunderstorm warnings expired earlier that day. The storms posed risks of damaging winds, hail, flooding, and potential tornadoes.

Severe thunderstorm and flash flood warnings were issued for Ashe County on July 28. The National Weather Service in Blacksburg reported 0.5-1.5 inches of rain with potential for 2-4 inches more, and wind gusts up to 60 mph from storms moving from Twin Oaks, Virginia.

A man from Crumpler was killed in a rollover crash on Idlewild Road in Ashe County, North Carolina, on July 27. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol cited speed as a contributing factor to the accident.

A flood watch was issued for multiple counties in the Charlotte region starting July 22, with heavy rains expected through Thursday evening. Counties under the watch include Anson, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Richmond, Rowan, and Stanly. The watch will expire Thursday evening for most areas but remain through Friday morning for Anson, Richmond, and Stanly counties.

Deanna Loper, a 30-year-old Wilkesboro woman, was arrested in Ashe County for allegedly trafficking 8.4 grams of buprenorphine, a lethal opioid, and faces two felony charges. Her bond was set at $500,000, and she is being held at Catawba County Jail.

A breaking and entering incident in Ashe County led to a police chase, resulting in the arrest of a local man and two deputies sustaining minor injuries, according to the Ashe County Sheriff's Office.

Joseph Patrick O'Conner, a 57-year-old man from Ashe County, North Carolina, was arrested and charged with allegedly posting private images of a woman online. The Ashe County Sheriff's Office reported that a resident contacted detectives in June about the incident.

New Trump rules increase costs for electrifying homes in North Carolina, particularly affecting residents in Ashe County who rely on affordable heating methods like woodstoves and propane. The impact is exacerbated for families still recovering from Hurricane Helene nearly two years later.

Showers and thunderstorms, including potential severe storms with damaging winds and hail, are affecting the Carolinas through July 27, 2026. Severe weather warnings were issued for specific counties in North Carolina, with safety advisories from Duke Energy and the National Weather Service.

Ashe County parents were charged after their four-month-old child suffered broken ribs, as reported by the sheriff. The parents each posted a $250,000 bond, according to court documents.