Tornado History
Shelby Tornado History
This county-level tornado history page focuses on Shelby, Tennessee. The records below identify 54 tornadoes from 1950 through 2019, including a highest listed rating of F3 (Severe damage). NOAA damage estimates in this group total at least $128.4M, with 4 deaths and 106 injuries recorded across the listed events.
Free address preview
Were any of these tornadoes close to your property?
Enter a street address in or near Shelby, Tennessee to see the number of recorded tornadoes within 5 miles, the nearest track distance, and a property-centered preview.
No account or email required. Full detailed report: $15 one time.
Key Tornado Statistics
Key Tornado Facts for Shelby, Tennessee
Top local patterns from the historical tornado records in this group.
Average 0.8 tornadoes per year (0.1/yr in last decade)
April is the peak tornado month with 13 recorded events
Deadliest tornado: EF2 in Shelby, Tennessee with 3 deaths
1968 was the most active year with 6 tornadoes
The 1960s had the most tornado activity (14 events)
Longest tornado: 17 miles in Shelby, Tennessee
Widest tornado: 1,760.0 yards in Shelby, Tennessee
Most tornadoes in one day: 3 on Apr 24, 1970
Monthly Distribution
Shows tornado frequency across months of the year, highlighting seasonal patterns and peak tornado periods.
Summary: In Shelby, Tennessee, April is the most active month with 13 tornadoes.
Annual Tornado Trend
Shows year-by-year tornado counts, making active years and quiet stretches easier to spot.
Summary: 1968 was the most active year with 6 recorded tornadoes.
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.
Summary: The highest reported property damage year in this group is 2008 with at least $101.0M in NOAA-listed property damage.
Historical Track Sketch
This map covers the wider location—not your exact property.Measure the closest recorded track to a street address in or near Shelby, Tennessee.
Measure distance free
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.
| Date | Rating | Area | Length | Width | Deaths | Injuries | Min. property damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 3, 1968 | F3 | Shelby, Tennessee | 4.5 mi | 1760 yd | 0 | 4 | $2.5M |
| April 24, 1970 | F3 | Shelby, Tennessee | 17 mi | 50 yd | 0 | 5 | $2.5M |
| April 24, 1970 | F3 | Shelby, Tennessee | 10.4 mi | 50 yd | 0 | 13 | $2.5M |
| April 24, 1970 | F3 | Shelby, Tennessee | 10.4 mi | 50 yd | 0 | 3 | $2.5M |
| April 21, 1984 | F3 | Shelby, Tennessee | 3 mi | 20 yd | 0 | 3 | $2.5M |
| December 14, 1987 | F3 | Shelby, Tennessee | 13 mi | 200 yd | 0 | 21 | $2.5M |
| February 5, 2008 | EF2 | Shelby, Tennessee | 8.43 mi | 440 yd | 3 | 13 | $100.0M |
| August 29, 1978 | F2 | Shelby, Tennessee | 2 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 26 | $2.5M |
| February 5, 2008 | EF2 | Shelby, Tennessee | 7.12 mi | 150 yd | 0 | 1 | $1.0M |
| October 28, 1955 | F2 | Shelby, Tennessee | 0.2 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| April 19, 1970 | F2 | Shelby, Tennessee | 0.3 mi | 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| December 25, 1982 | F2 | Shelby, Tennessee | 2 mi | 77 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K |
Did any of these records occur near a property you care about?Use an exact street address for a property-centered preview around Shelby, Tennessee.
Check a Shelby, Tennessee address
Related Location Pages
Source And Limits
Data sourced from NOAA Storm Prediction Center and the NCEI Storm Events Database. TornadoTrace summarizes reported weather events for screening and research; it is not a damage assessment, inspection, or insurance determination. Coordinates and records can be approximate, incomplete, revised, or missing. No warranty of completeness or accuracy.