Columbia, Missouri tornadoes

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19confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: April 20, 2025, EF1.

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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.

Recent warnings

Recent warnings near Columbia

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The record

At a glance

Total19within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.3average since 1950
Peak monthApril6 of 19
StrongestF3Nov 27, 1990
Deaths0whole paths, see note
Injuries24whole paths, see note

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

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

60 Jan: 0Feb: 1Mar: 1Apr: 6May: 2Jun: 0Jul: 2Aug: 0Sep: 0Oct: 2Nov: 3Dec: 2JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

April is the peak month, with 6 of 19 tornadoes.

By time of day

50 12 AM: 0: 1: 13 AM: 0: 1: 06 AM: 1: 0: 09 AM: 0: 0: 212 PM: 0: 0: 03 PM: 2: 5: 46 PM: 0: 1: 09 PM: 1: 0: 012 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 4:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

20 1950: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 11960: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 01970: 0: 0: 0: 2: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01980: 1: 0: 1: 0: 2: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01990: 2: 0: 1: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 1: 22000: 1: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02010: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02020: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 219501960197019801990200020102020

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
6
EF1
7
EF2
3
EF3
3

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

Strongest

F3, November 27, 1990

1 mile path Longest path

42.7 miles, F2

May 12, 1980, whole path Widest

120 yards, F2

April 8, 1999
Every tornado

All 19 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Apr 20, 2025EF12.31 mi100 yd00
Apr 20, 2025EF13.31 mi100 yd00
May 17, 2001F00.1 mi50 yd00
Feb 25, 2000F07 mi70 yd00
Apr 8, 1999F210 mi120 yd00
Apr 8, 1999F24 mi120 yd05
Nov 10, 1998F32 mi70 yd016
Jul 8, 1995F00.2 mi80 yd00
Jul 2, 1992F10.5 mi50 yd00
Nov 27, 1990F312 mi50 yd03
Nov 27, 1990F31 mi50 yd00
Oct 16, 1984F14 mi50 yd00
Apr 29, 1984F10.3 mi10 yd00
Apr 16, 1982F00.3 mi50 yd00
May 12, 1980F242.7 mi50 yd00
Dec 4, 1973F00.1 mi10 yd00
Mar 13, 1973F16.1 mi50 yd00
Dec 8, 1966F12.5 mi73 yd00
Oct 4, 1959F00.2 mi10 yd00
Nearby

Columbia and its county

Columbia is in Boone County, where NOAA has recorded 34 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.