Raleigh, North Carolina tornadoes

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14confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Raleigh since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: December 10, 2023, 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 Raleigh

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The record

At a glance

Total14within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.2average since 1950
Peak monthMarch5 of 14
StrongestF4Nov 27, 1988
Deaths10whole paths, see note
Injuries271whole paths, see note

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

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

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

March is the peak month, with 5 of 14 tornadoes.

By time of day

30 12 AM: 0: 0: 03 AM: 1: 0: 06 AM: 0: 0: 09 AM: 1: 0: 112 PM: 3: 0: 33 PM: 1: 0: 36 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

20 1950: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 2: 0: 0: 01960: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 01970: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 01980: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 1: 01990: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 2: 02000: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 02010: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02020: 0: 0: 0: 1: 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
3
EF2
4
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

800 yards, F2

February 11, 1981
Every tornado

All 14 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Dec 10, 2023EF11.88 mi250 yd00
Apr 16, 2011EF365.23 mi500 yd6103
Sep 14, 2007EF00.1 mi25 yd00
Jun 1, 2001F00.1 mi25 yd00
Mar 20, 1998F00.2 mi30 yd00
Mar 20, 1998F21.5 mi100 yd02
Jul 12, 1996F04.5 mi100 yd00
Nov 27, 1988F483 mi400 yd4154
Mar 14, 1986F10.5 mi50 yd00
Feb 11, 1981F21.9 mi800 yd02
May 7, 1977F01 mi23 yd00
Nov 2, 1966F264.5 mi77 yd09
Mar 18, 1956F20.3 mi100 yd00
Mar 18, 1956F10.3 mi50 yd01
Nearby

Raleigh and its county

Raleigh spans 2 counties, each with its own record since 1950: Wake County (40 tornadoes) 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.