Lafayette County, Missouri tornadoes

Checking live National Weather Service warnings for Lafayette County...

30confirmed tornadoes since NOAA records began in 1950 (the first here in 1958). Most recent: May 6, 2024, EF0. 2026 so far: 0 preliminary reports preliminary

Join the free alerts waiting list
Map

Every tornado path in the county

Tornado paths, 1950 to 2025
Use two fingers to move the map
(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 in Lafayette County

Loading warnings...

The record

At a glance

Total301950 to 2025
Per year0.4average since 1950
Peak monthMay15 of 30
StrongestF3May 4, 1977
Deaths1whole paths, see note
Injuries17whole paths, see note

Deaths and injuries are NOAA's totals for each tornado's whole path, which can extend beyond Lafayette County.

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

150 Jan: 0Feb: 0Mar: 2Apr: 3May: 15Jun: 8Jul: 1Aug: 0Sep: 1Oct: 0Nov: 0Dec: 0JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May is the peak month, with 15 of 30 tornadoes.

By time of day

40 12 AM: 0: 0: 03 AM: 0: 0: 06 AM: 0: 0: 09 AM: 0: 0: 212 PM: 1: 3: 23 PM: 3: 3: 26 PM: 4: 1: 39 PM: 3: 2: 112 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

40 1950: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 3: 01960: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 2: 2: 01970: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 01980: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01990: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 2: 1: 0: 0: 02000: 2: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 02010: 0: 4: 0: 1: 1: 0: 0: 3: 0: 12020: 0: 0: 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
16
EF1
7
EF2
5
EF3
2

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

F3, May 4, 1977

1 deaths, 5 injuries Strongest

F3, May 4, 1977

26.2 mile path Longest path

26.2 miles, F3

May 4, 1977, whole path Widest

440 yards, F2

June 13, 1958
Every tornado

All 30 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
May 6, 2024EF04.43 mi50 yd00
May 24, 2019EF02.72 mi40 yd00
Jun 17, 2017EF04.75 mi50 yd00
Mar 6, 2017EF11.75 mi50 yd00
Mar 6, 2017EF317.74 mi400 yd012
Apr 27, 2014EF02.38 mi50 yd00
Jul 26, 2013EF00.05 mi25 yd00
May 25, 2011EF00.05 mi40 yd00
May 22, 2011EF00.13 mi50 yd00
May 22, 2011EF00.09 mi50 yd00
May 22, 2011EF00.25 mi40 yd00
Jun 5, 2008EF00.25 mi25 yd00
May 9, 2003F210 mi300 yd00
Jun 20, 2000F01 mi50 yd00
May 21, 2000F11 mi70 yd00
May 26, 1996F00.2 mi20 yd00
May 27, 1995F04.5 mi40 yd00
May 27, 1995F04 mi30 yd00
Apr 2, 1982F11.3 mi30 yd00
May 4, 1977F326.2 mi100 yd15
May 1, 1973F20.5 mi50 yd00
May 15, 1968F212.3 mi50 yd00
May 15, 1968F14.9 mi50 yd00
Jun 10, 1967F00.2 mi17 yd00
Apr 21, 1967F00.1 mi10 yd00
Nearby

Nearby counties

Coming soon

Free tornado alerts for Lafayette County

We are building free email alerts for tornado warnings. Join the waiting list and we will email you once when they are ready. Until then, please rely on the National Weather Service and your phone's emergency alerts.

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025, and SPC preliminary reports for 2026. Page built October 13, 2026.