Tornado History

North Carolina Tornado History

This page summarizes tornado history for North Carolina. The local dataset contains 1,634 tornado records from 1950 through 2025, with a strongest listed rating of F4 (Devastating damage) and at least $2.0B in reported property damage. The latest tornado record in this group is July 6, 2025. Across these records, NOAA lists 136 deaths and 2,742 injuries.

Want to check tornado history for a specific address?Use the address lookup to see nearby historical tornado tracks, dates, ratings, and distance from the location.

Check any address
1,634recorded tornadoes
F4 (Devastating damage)highest rating
$2.0Bminimum property damage
July 6, 2025latest tornado
70.3 milongest listed path
2640 ydwidest listed path

Historical Track Sketch

F4 November 28, 19881988F4 April 3, 19741974F4 March 28, 19841984F4 March 28, 19841984F4 March 28, 19841984F4 March 28, 19841984F4 March 28, 19841984F4 March 28, 19841984F4 November 28, 19881988F4 May 5, 19891989F4 May 5, 19891989F4 May 5, 19891989F4 May 5, 19891989F4 March 28, 19841984F4 March 28, 1984F4 March 28, 1984F4 March 28, 1984F4 November 28, 1988F4 November 28, 1988F4 November 28, 1988F4 May 7, 1998F4 April 8, 1957F4 April 8, 1957F4 April 8, 1957F4 April 8, 1957F4 April 8, 1957F4 May 5, 1989EF3 July 19, 2023EF3 April 16, 2011EF3 April 16, 2011EF3 April 16, 2011F3 May 7, 1998F3 March 20, 1998EF3 April 16, 2011F3 March 28, 1984F3 March 28, 1984F3 March 28, 1984F3 March 28, 1984F3 March 28, 1984F3 May 5, 1989EF3 April 25, 2014EF3 March 28, 2010EF3 April 16, 2011F3 March 17, 1965F3 March 17, 1965F3 March 17, 1965F3 February 22, 1971F3 May 15, 1972F3 March 28, 1984F3 March 28, 1984F3 May 22, 1985F3 November 23, 1992F3 November 23, 1992EF3 May 8, 2008EF3 April 16, 2011EF3 August 8, 2024EF3 September 27, 2024EF3 November 15, 2008EF3 August 4, 2020F3 November 16, 2006F3 October 9, 1950F3 March 15, 1953F3 April 8, 1957F3 November 8, 1957F3 November 8, 1957F3 November 8, 1957F3 August 29, 1964F3 May 27, 1973F3 March 4, 1977F3 October 18, 1990F3 November 23, 1992F3 November 23, 1992F3 November 23, 1992F3 November 23, 1992F3 November 23, 1992EF3 July 19, 2023F3 September 17, 1952F3 October 7, 1965F3 April 18, 1969F3 February 22, 1971© OpenStreetMap contributors

Rating Breakdown

  • F4 (Devastating damage)27
  • F3 (Severe damage)44
  • EF3 (Severe damage)16
  • F2 (Considerable damage)169
  • EF2 (Considerable damage)73
  • F1 (Moderate damage)406
  • EF1 (Moderate damage)231
  • F0 (Light damage)355
  • EF0 (Light damage)308
  • Unknown rating1
  • Unknown rating4

Most Active Years

  • 201182
  • 200467
  • 199866
  • 200865
  • 199656
  • 201951
  • 202050
  • 202449

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
November 28, 1988F4Wake, North Carolina20 mi400 yd2105$250.0M
March 28, 1984F4Pitt, North Carolina20 mi1223 yd9153$25.0M
March 28, 1984F4Greene, North Carolina13 mi1223 yd70$25.0M
April 3, 1974F4Cherokee, North Carolina18.9 mi33 yd426$25.0M
May 5, 1989F4Lincoln, North Carolina3 mi800 yd419$25.0M
March 28, 1984F4Wayne, North Carolina8 mi1407 yd359$25.0M
May 5, 1989F4Union, North Carolina13 mi500 yd16$25.0M
March 28, 1984F4Sampson, North Carolina6 mi1407 yd050$25.0M
March 28, 1984F4Duplin, North Carolina7 mi1407 yd040$25.0M
March 28, 1984F4Lenoir, North Carolina5 mi1223 yd00$25.0M
November 28, 1988F4Franklin, North Carolina21 mi200 yd017$25.0M
May 5, 1989F4Cleveland, North Carolina5 mi800 yd030$25.0M

Want to check a home, business, or exact property?Search any address to compare nearby historical tornado tracks against that specific location.

Check any address

Top County Pages

Top Location Pages

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.