Fayetteville, North Carolina tornadoes

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17confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fayetteville since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: April 16, 2011, EF3.

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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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The record

At a glance

Total17within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.2average since 1950
Peak monthMarch3 of 17
StrongestF3Feb 22, 1971
Deaths5whole paths, see note
Injuries245whole paths, see note

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

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

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

March is the peak month, with 3 of 17 tornadoes.

By time of day

30 12 AM: 0: 0: 33 AM: 0: 0: 16 AM: 0: 0: 19 AM: 0: 0: 212 PM: 1: 2: 33 PM: 2: 1: 06 PM: 0: 0: 09 PM: 0: 0: 112 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 2:00 AM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

20 1950: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 11960: 1: 0: 0: 1: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 11970: 0: 2: 0: 0: 1: 1: 0: 0: 0: 01980: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 01990: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02000: 2: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 12010: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02020: 0: 0: 0: 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
6
EF1
5
EF2
3
EF3
3

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, February 22, 1971

2 deaths, 60 injuries Strongest

F3, February 22, 1971

85.7 mile path Longest path

85.7 miles, F3

February 22, 1971, whole path Widest

847 yards, F2

February 11, 1981
Every tornado

All 17 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Apr 16, 2011EF352.86 mi800 yd2176
Mar 27, 2009EF14.75 mi50 yd00
Sep 8, 2004F00.5 mi50 yd00
Dec 16, 2000F00.1 mi20 yd00
May 28, 2000F00.1 mi20 yd00
Nov 4, 1992F00.2 mi10 yd00
May 19, 1986F219 mi100 yd05
Feb 11, 1981F212.4 mi847 yd10
Mar 24, 1975F111 mi33 yd00
Aug 2, 1974F00.1 mi10 yd00
Mar 15, 1971F164 mi50 yd00
Feb 22, 1971F385.7 mi500 yd260
Apr 18, 1969F377.3 mi440 yd03
Dec 26, 1964F10.1 mi10 yd01
Sep 29, 1963F211 mi200 yd00
Oct 4, 1960F10.5 mi200 yd00
Jun 2, 1959F00.1 mi10 yd00
Nearby

Fayetteville and its county

Fayetteville is in Cumberland County, where NOAA has recorded 25 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.