South Bend, Indiana tornadoes

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24confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Bend since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: September 24, 2024, EF0.

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Map

Every tornado path within 10 miles

Tornado paths, 1950 to 2025
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(E)F0(E)F1(E)F2(E)F3(E)F4(E)F5Unrated

Each path is a straight line from where the tornado started to where it ended, which is all most NOAA records hold. Tap a path for its details.

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The record

At a glance

Total24within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.3average since 1950
Peak monthJune10 of 24
StrongestF4Apr 11, 1965
Deaths37whole paths, see note
Injuries375whole paths, see note

Deaths and injuries are NOAA's totals for each tornado's whole path, which can run well beyond South Bend.

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

100 Jan: 0Feb: 0Mar: 0Apr: 2May: 1Jun: 10Jul: 3Aug: 1Sep: 2Oct: 5Nov: 0Dec: 0JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

June is the peak month, with 10 of 24 tornadoes.

By time of day

60 12 AM: 1: 2: 03 AM: 0: 0: 06 AM: 0: 1: 09 AM: 0: 1: 012 PM: 2: 1: 23 PM: 4: 3: 16 PM: 6: 0: 09 PM: 0: 0: 012 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 6:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

30 1950: 1: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 2: 0: 1: 01960: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 1: 11970: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01980: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 11990: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02000: 0: 3: 0: 1: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02010: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 2: 0: 0: 22020: 0: 1: 0: 0: 1: 019501960197019801990200020102020

The line is the five-year average. Tornadoes before about 1953 were under-reported, and better radar since the 1990s finds more weak ones.

By rating

EF0
11
EF1
5
EF2
5
EF3
2
EF4
1

Ratings before February 2007 use the original F scale; the numbers line up with today's EF scale. Unknown means NOAA could not assign a rating.

The record

Notable tornadoes

Deadliest

F4, April 11, 1965

36 deaths, 321 injuries Strongest

F4, April 11, 1965

37 mile path Longest path

47 miles, F3

October 24, 2001, whole path Widest

1,320 yards, F3

October 24, 2001
Every tornado

All 24 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Sep 24, 2024EF00.29 mi125 yd00
Jun 21, 2021EF11.05 mi100 yd00
Jun 23, 2019EF02.01 mi250 yd00
Jun 23, 2019EF00.48 mi10 yd00
Oct 12, 2016EF00.05 mi40 yd00
Oct 12, 2016EF01.25 mi30 yd00
Jul 3, 2004F00.1 mi25 yd00
Aug 26, 2003F10.1 mi33 yd00
Oct 24, 2001F15.4 mi50 yd00
Oct 24, 2001F24.6 mi1,320 yd03
Oct 24, 2001F347 mi1,320 yd12
May 31, 1991F00.2 mi10 yd00
Jun 3, 1989F04 mi20 yd00
Sep 9, 1985F11.3 mi40 yd00
Jun 28, 1980F20.1 mi10 yd00
Jun 30, 1969F10.1 mi10 yd00
Jun 23, 1968F00.1 mi10 yd00
Apr 11, 1965F437 mi333 yd36321
Apr 30, 1962F336.5 mi10 yd049
Jun 24, 1958F27.3 mi10 yd00
Jul 22, 1956F00.1 mi10 yd00
Jun 26, 1956F20.1 mi17 yd00
Jun 12, 1954F20.1 mi10 yd00
Jul 3, 1950F00.1 mi10 yd00
Nearby

South Bend and its county

South Bend is in St. Joseph County, where NOAA has recorded 33 tornadoes since 1950. A county's record counts every tornado inside its borders, while this page counts every path within 10 miles of the city, so the two overlap without matching.

Nearby cities

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Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025. City point and population: US Census Bureau, 2024. Each path is a straight line between NOAA's start and end points.