Tornado History

West Virginia Tornado History

This page summarizes tornado history for West Virginia. The local dataset contains 187 tornado records from 1950 through 2026, with a strongest listed rating of F3 (Severe damage) and at least $43.2M in reported property damage. The latest tornado record in this group is May 13, 2026. Across these records, NOAA lists 3 deaths and 122 injuries.

Key Tornado Statistics

Total Tornadoes187
Total Deaths3
Total Injuries122
Property Damage$43.2M
Avg Length2.8 mi
Avg Width111 yd

Key Tornado Facts for West Virginia

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

Average 2.4 tornadoes per year (4.4/yr in last decade)
June is the peak tornado month with 53 recorded events
Deadliest tornado: F3 in West Virginia with 1 deaths
2024 was the most active year with 21 tornadoes
The 2010s had the most tornado activity (36 events)
Longest tornado: 21.9 miles in West Virginia
Widest tornado: 1,000.0 yards in West Virginia
Most tornadoes in one day: 11 on Apr 2, 2024

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 West Virginia, June is the most active month with 53 tornadoes.

Annual Tornado Trend

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

211470

Summary: 2024 was the most active year with 21 recorded tornadoes.

Tornado Intensity Distribution

Shows the breakdown of tornadoes by EF/F rating.

F0
EF0
F1
EF1
F2
EF2
F3
EF3
Unknown
EFU

Summary: F1 tornadoes are the most common in this group, with 54 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.

$12.5M$1.3M$125K$0

Summary: The highest reported property damage year in this group is 1974 with at least $12.5M in NOAA-listed property damage.

Tornado Count By County

Compares the counties with the most tornado records in this state dataset.

Kanawha
Berkeley
Preston
Wood
Putnam
Monongalia
Marion
Raleigh
Greenbrier
Jefferson
Wayne
Harrison
Lincoln
Fayette
Randolph
Nicholas
Hampshire
Cabell
Tucker
Lewis

Summary: Kanawha County has the highest count in this state group with 15 tornado records.

Historical Track Sketch

F3 April 4, 19741974F3 April 4, 19741974F3 April 4, 19741974F3 June 3, 19801980F3 June 3, 19801980EF3 March 2, 20122012EF3 September 16, 20102010F3 April 8, 19651965F3 October 1, 19861986F3 April 4, 19741974F2 June 2, 19981998F2 August 22, 19701970F2 July 10, 20032003EF2 August 1, 20222022EF2 October 7, 2014F2 March 7, 1956F2 February 25, 1961F2 July 11, 1976F2 June 20, 1977F2 June 21, 1981F2 July 28, 1981F2 November 16, 1989F2 June 22, 1990F2 June 22, 1990F2 January 8, 1998F2 June 2, 1998EF2 April 2, 2024EF2 March 2, 2012EF2 April 2, 2024F2 April 8, 1965F2 May 7, 1967F2 April 24, 1975F2 July 9, 1980F2 May 26, 1990F2 September 17, 2004F2 April 12, 1965EF2 May 8, 2024F1 April 4, 1974F1 April 4, 1974F1 May 24, 1998EF1 June 24, 2019EF1 June 17, 2015EF1 June 23, 2017EF1 April 2, 2024EF1 May 11, 2024F1 August 9, 2000F1 June 29, 1957F1 March 21, 1962F1 July 19, 1963F1 March 14, 1967F1 June 27, 1978F1 October 2, 1979F1 June 16, 1982F1 June 16, 1982F1 October 4, 1986F1 September 17, 2004F1 August 9, 2000EF1 March 2, 2012EF1 October 7, 2014EF1 March 2, 2012F1 June 2, 1998F1 June 2, 1998F1 June 16, 1998F1 April 28, 2002EF1 May 3, 2021F1 May 23, 2000F1 July 30, 1998F1 October 13, 1999EF1 April 2, 2024F1 June 2, 1998F1 January 9, 1998EF1 September 16, 2010EF1 July 27, 2014EF1 April 2, 2024EF1 April 2, 2024EF1 April 2, 2024F1 July 30, 1996EF1 July 8, 2014EF1 April 2, 2024EF1 June 4, 2014© OpenStreetMap contributors
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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
April 4, 1974F3Fayette, West Virginia10.8 mi33 yd18$2.5M
April 4, 1974F3Raleigh, West Virginia9.2 mi33 yd012$2.5M
April 4, 1974F3Greenbrier, West Virginia18.1 mi33 yd03$2.5M
June 3, 1980F3Monongalia, West Virginia2.3 mi150 yd00$2.5M
June 3, 1980F3Preston, West Virginia21.9 mi33 yd015$2.5M
March 2, 2012EF3Wayne, West Virginia16.61 mi1000 yd00$1.9M
September 16, 2010EF3Wood, West Virginia6.53 mi500 yd110$1.0M
April 8, 1965F3Wayne, West Virginia3.6 mi220 yd03$250K
October 1, 1986F3Doddridge, West Virginia1 mi200 yd01$250K
April 4, 1974F3Raleigh, West Virginia3.3 mi33 yd00N/A
June 2, 1998F2Preston, West Virginia4 mi300 yd00$5.0M
August 22, 1970F2Harrison, West Virginia1 mi127 yd00$2.5M
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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.

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