Cary, North Carolina tornadoes

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11confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cary since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: March 31, 2022, 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.

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Recent warnings near Cary

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The record

At a glance

Total11within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.1average since 1950
Peak monthMarch4 of 11
StrongestF4Nov 27, 1988
Deaths10whole paths, see note
Injuries257whole paths, see note

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

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

40 Jan: 0Feb: 0Mar: 4Apr: 2May: 0Jun: 1Jul: 2Aug: 0Sep: 1Oct: 0Nov: 1Dec: 0JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

March is the peak month, with 4 of 11 tornadoes.

By time of day

30 12 AM: 1: 0: 03 AM: 0: 0: 06 AM: 0: 0: 09 AM: 0: 0: 012 PM: 3: 2: 23 PM: 0: 0: 26 PM: 0: 0: 09 PM: 0: 0: 112 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

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

By year, 1950 to 2025

10 1950: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 01960: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 01970: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01980: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 01990: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 1: 0: 1: 02000: 0: 1: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02010: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02020: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 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
5
EF1
2
EF2
2
EF3
1
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

EF3, April 16, 2011

6 deaths, 103 injuries Strongest

F4, November 27, 1988

83 mile path Longest path

83 miles, F4

November 27, 1988, whole path Widest

500 yards, EF3

April 16, 2011
Every tornado

All 11 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Mar 31, 2022EF10.22 mi100 yd00
Apr 16, 2011EF365.23 mi500 yd6103
Sep 27, 2004F04 mi50 yd00
Jun 1, 2001F00.1 mi25 yd00
Mar 20, 1998F00.2 mi30 yd00
Jul 12, 1996F04.5 mi100 yd00
Mar 27, 1993F00.5 mi30 yd00
Nov 27, 1988F483 mi400 yd4154
Jul 11, 1967F11 mi27 yd00
Mar 18, 1956F20.3 mi100 yd00
Apr 5, 1952F26.9 mi300 yd00
Nearby

Cary and its county

Cary spans 3 counties, each with its own record since 1950: Wake County (40 tornadoes), Chatham County (12), and Durham County (11). 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.