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Tornado History

Cape Girardeau Tornado History

This county-level tornado history page focuses on Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The records below identify 48 tornadoes from 1952 through 2025, including a highest listed rating of F3 (Severe damage). NOAA damage estimates in this group total at least $18.6M, with 1 deaths and 8 injuries recorded across the listed events.

Key Tornado Statistics

Total Tornadoes48
Total Deaths1
Total Injuries8
Property Damage$18.6M
Avg Length2.7 mi
Avg Width144 yd

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Key Tornado Facts for Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Top local patterns from the historical tornado records in this group.

Average 0.6 tornadoes per year (0.7/yr in last decade)
May is the peak tornado month with 15 recorded events
Deadliest tornado: F2 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri with 1 deaths
2012 was the most active year with 4 tornadoes
The 2010s had the most tornado activity (13 events)
Longest tornado: 12.09 miles in Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Widest tornado: 700.0 yards in Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Most tornadoes in one day: 3 on May 6, 2003

Monthly Distribution

Shows tornado frequency across months of the year, highlighting seasonal patterns and peak tornado periods.

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Summary: In Cape Girardeau, Missouri, May is the most active month with 15 tornadoes.

Annual Tornado Trend

Shows year-by-year tornado counts, making active years and quiet stretches easier to spot.

4320

Summary: 2012 was the most active year with 4 recorded tornadoes.

Tornado Intensity Distribution

Shows the breakdown of tornadoes by EF/F rating.

F0
EF0
F1
EF1
F2
EF2
F3

Summary: EF1 tornadoes are the most common in this group, with 10 recorded events.

Property Damage Trends

Visualizes reported property damage over time. Bars use a log-like scale so very large damage years do not flatten the rest of the chart.

$12.0M$1.2M$120K$0

Summary: The highest reported property damage year in this group is 2003 with at least $12.0M in NOAA-listed property damage.

Historical Track Sketch

F3 May 6, 20032003F2 May 24, 19811981EF2 January 11, 20202020F2 April 22, 19551955F2 December 18, 19571957F2 December 18, 19571957F2 March 14, 19711971EF2 May 16, 20252025EF2 February 29, 20122012EF2 February 29, 20122012F2 March 18, 19521952F2 May 21, 19571957F2 April 29, 19631963F2 April 24, 20042004F1 February 13, 1991EF1 January 29, 2013EF1 May 20, 2025EF1 October 31, 2013EF1 January 29, 2013EF1 January 29, 2008EF1 March 8, 2009F1 July 13, 1962F1 December 24, 1982F1 November 9, 1984EF1 May 31, 2018EF1 May 25, 2011F1 May 18, 1966EF1 April 5, 2023F1 June 2, 1973F1 July 25, 1988F1 May 6, 2003F1 May 6, 2003EF1 March 23, 2012F0 November 14, 1993EF0 April 9, 2015F0 November 9, 2002EF0 April 19, 2011F0 April 15, 1998EF0 March 23, 2012EF0 May 8, 2024EF0 April 9, 2015F0 May 25, 1994EF0 April 2, 2024F0 May 29, 1970EF0 May 23, 2011F0 October 24, 1967F0 May 7, 1973F0 June 26, 2000© OpenStreetMap contributors

Notable Tornado Records

The table highlights the strongest and most damaging records in this page's local dataset. Damage totals are NOAA-reported minimum estimates where available.

DateRatingAreaLengthWidthDeathsInjuriesMin. property damage
May 6, 2003F3Cape Girardeau, Missouri2 mi50 yd02$12.0M
May 24, 1981F2Cape Girardeau, Missouri2.7 mi400 yd00$2.5M
January 11, 2020EF2Cape Girardeau, Missouri9.13 mi300 yd00$750K
April 22, 1955F2Cape Girardeau, Missouri4.1 mi50 yd01$250K
December 18, 1957F2Cape Girardeau, Missouri8 mi700 yd00$250K
December 18, 1957F2Cape Girardeau, Missouri7.8 mi700 yd01$250K
March 14, 1971F2Cape Girardeau, Missouri6.6 mi23 yd00$250K
May 16, 2025EF2Cape Girardeau, Missouri1.39 mi225 yd00$175K
February 29, 2012EF2Cape Girardeau, Missouri12.09 mi300 yd01$150K
February 29, 2012EF2Cape Girardeau, Missouri5.33 mi120 yd00$100K
April 29, 1963F2Cape Girardeau, Missouri1.3 mi50 yd13$25K
March 18, 1952F2Cape Girardeau, Missouri6.2 mi500 yd00$25K

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Source And Limits

Data source: NOAA/NCEI. TornadoTrace summarizes historical records for screening and research. Coordinates, damage estimates, narratives, and event details can be approximate, incomplete, revised, or missing. Do not use this page as legal, insurance, engineering, real estate, emergency management, or safety advice.