Independence, Missouri tornadoes

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23confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Independence since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: June 3, 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 Independence

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The record

At a glance

Total23within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.3average since 1950
Peak monthMay8 of 23
StrongestF5May 20, 1957
Deaths46whole paths, see note
Injuries235whole paths, see note

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

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

80 Jan: 1Feb: 0Mar: 0Apr: 2May: 8Jun: 8Jul: 1Aug: 0Sep: 2Oct: 0Nov: 1Dec: 0JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May is the peak month, with 8 of 23 tornadoes.

By time of day

30 12 AM: 3: 1: 13 AM: 0: 0: 06 AM: 0: 0: 09 AM: 1: 0: 012 PM: 2: 2: 13 PM: 0: 1: 26 PM: 1: 2: 39 PM: 1: 2: 012 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 12:00 AM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

30 1950: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 2: 0: 01960: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 2: 0: 01970: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 2: 1: 01980: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01990: 0: 0: 2: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02000: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 02010: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 1: 0: 0: 3: 02020: 1: 0: 1: 0: 1: 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
8
EF1
8
EF2
4
EF3
1
EF4
1
EF5
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

F5, May 20, 1957

44 deaths, 207 injuries Strongest

F5, May 20, 1957

69.4 mile path Longest path

69.4 miles, F5

May 20, 1957, whole path Widest

500 yards, F2

May 26, 1965
Every tornado

All 23 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Jun 3, 2025EF13.71 mi50 yd00
Jun 3, 2025EF00.84 mi40 yd00
May 6, 2024EF15.83 mi50 yd00
Jun 8, 2022EF29.56 mi200 yd00
Jun 4, 2020EF05.69 mi40 yd00
Jun 26, 2018EF03.39 mi100 yd00
May 2, 2018EF01.29 mi25 yd00
May 2, 2018EF01.61 mi25 yd00
May 16, 2015EF210.03 mi250 yd00
Jun 30, 2014EF10.8 mi200 yd00
Sep 12, 2008EF00.04 mi25 yd00
Sep 20, 1992F12 mi100 yd01
Jul 9, 1992F00.2 mi20 yd00
Apr 2, 1982F16.8 mi300 yd00
Apr 5, 1978F10.1 mi50 yd00
Nov 20, 1977F00.1 mi10 yd00
May 4, 1977F412 mi400 yd05
May 31, 1971F10.1 mi17 yd00
Jun 12, 1967F11 mi50 yd00
Jan 24, 1967F314.5 mi200 yd218
May 26, 1965F24.9 mi500 yd04
Jun 22, 1957F219.8 mi10 yd00
May 20, 1957F569.4 mi440 yd44207
Nearby

Independence and its county

Independence spans 2 counties, each with its own record since 1950: Jackson County (49 tornadoes) and Clay County (38). 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.