Durham, North Carolina tornadoes
11confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Durham since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: May 23, 2022, EF0.
Every tornado path within 10 miles
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 near Durham
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At a glance
Deaths and injuries are NOAA's totals for each tornado's whole path, which can run well beyond Durham.
When tornadoes hit here
By month
May is the peak month, with 4 of 11 tornadoes.
By time of day
Most often around 4:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.
By year, 1950 to 2025
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
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.
Notable tornadoes
All 11 tornadoes, newest first
| Date | Rating | Path length | Width | Deaths | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2022 | EF0 | 1.53 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 31, 2022 | EF1 | 0.22 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 24, 2016 | EF1 | 0.43 mi | 30 yd | 0 | 0 |
| May 15, 2014 | EF1 | 0.76 mi | 150 yd | 0 | 0 |
| May 14, 2006 | F0 | 0.5 mi | 50 yd | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 16, 1989 | F1 | 0.1 mi | 30 yd | 0 | 0 |
| May 5, 1989 | F2 | 8.7 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 4, 1984 | F2 | 1.7 mi | 67 yd | 0 | 4 |
| Dec 31, 1975 | F0 | 0.1 mi | 10 yd | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 18, 1956 | F2 | 0.3 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 5, 1952 | F2 | 6.9 mi | 300 yd | 0 | 0 |
Durham and its county
Durham spans 3 counties, each with its own record since 1950: Durham County (11 tornadoes), Wake County (40), and Orange County (12). 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.