Charlotte, North Carolina tornadoes

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23confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charlotte since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: December 29, 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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Recent warnings near Charlotte

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The record

At a glance

Total23within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.3average since 1950
Peak monthMay6 of 23
StrongestF3Mar 27, 1994
Deaths0whole paths, see note
Injuries25whole paths, see note

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

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

60 Jan: 0Feb: 2Mar: 5Apr: 2May: 6Jun: 2Jul: 0Aug: 1Sep: 2Oct: 0Nov: 2Dec: 1JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May is the peak month, with 6 of 23 tornadoes.

By time of day

40 12 AM: 1: 1: 03 AM: 0: 1: 16 AM: 1: 0: 19 AM: 0: 0: 212 PM: 1: 3: 13 PM: 1: 1: 46 PM: 2: 1: 19 PM: 0: 0: 012 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 5:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

20 1950: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 01960: 1: 1: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 1: 01970: 0: 0: 0: 2: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 01980: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 1: 0: 0: 0: 01990: 1: 0: 1: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 1: 12000: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 1: 02010: 0: 0: 1: 0: 1: 0: 1: 0: 0: 02020: 1: 0: 1: 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
5
EF1
11
EF2
6
EF3
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

Strongest

F3, March 27, 1994

18.5 mile path Longest path

56.4 miles, F1

April 6, 1956, whole path Widest

267 yards, F0

June 6, 1985
Every tornado

All 23 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Dec 29, 2024EF01.67 mi20 yd00
May 23, 2022EF19.76 mi100 yd00
Feb 6, 2020EF117.15 mi150 yd00
Nov 30, 2016EF12.37 mi150 yd00
May 15, 2014EF00.5 mi40 yd00
Mar 3, 2012EF22.94 mi200 yd04
May 9, 2008EF218.21 mi75 yd00
Mar 8, 2005F13 mi50 yd00
Aug 1, 1999F00.2 mi10 yd00
Mar 20, 1998F00.1 mi30 yd00
Mar 27, 1994F318.5 mi200 yd02
Mar 10, 1992F23.4 mi180 yd018
Nov 28, 1990F10.1 mi20 yd00
Jun 6, 1985F01 mi267 yd00
May 3, 1984F120 mi100 yd00
Sep 16, 1977F10.2 mi10 yd00
May 28, 1973F10.1 mi50 yd01
May 28, 1973F29.6 mi100 yd00
Jun 7, 1968F216.7 mi200 yd00
Sep 12, 1965F20.3 mi70 yd00
Apr 12, 1961F11 mi200 yd00
Feb 18, 1960F123.7 mi10 yd00
Apr 6, 1956F156.4 mi100 yd00
Nearby

Charlotte and its county

Charlotte is in Mecklenburg County, where NOAA has recorded 29 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.