Tennessee tornadoes

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1,478 confirmed tornadoes since 1950. Most recent: August 20, 2025, EF0. 2026 so far: 11 preliminary reports preliminary

Counties with the most tornadoes

CountyTornadoes since 1950Per 1,000 sq mi
Shelby County5674
Davidson County53105
Rutherford County4674
Sumner County4687
Wilson County4579
Lawrence County4471
Lincoln County4477
Franklin County3665
Madison County3563
Montgomery County3565
Gibson County3456
Dyer County3262
Coffee County2968
Hamilton County2953
Robertson County2961

When tornadoes hit here

By month

3650 Jan: 90Feb: 117Mar: 207Apr: 365May: 286Jun: 100Jul: 43Aug: 32Sep: 15Oct: 46Nov: 110Dec: 67JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

April is the peak month, with 365 of 1478 tornadoes.

By time of day

1570 12 AM: 35: 47: 553 AM: 48: 29: 396 AM: 22: 26: 149 AM: 15: 24: 3812 PM: 63: 71: 713 PM: 102: 157: 1376 PM: 120: 118: 719 PM: 53: 64: 5912 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 4:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

1010 1950: 3: 1: 23: 15: 2: 15: 9: 18: 2: 31960: 2: 3: 1: 12: 6: 12: 6: 15: 13: 21970: 15: 17: 10: 24: 44: 13: 9: 15: 9: 61980: 18: 8: 7: 6: 33: 10: 5: 1: 11: 131990: 10: 9: 8: 10: 28: 39: 17: 36: 32: 232000: 27: 14: 30: 45: 15: 23: 26: 10: 43: 452010: 34: 101: 29: 43: 17: 19: 10: 34: 26: 212020: 35: 67: 5: 40: 19: 5119501960197019801990200020102020

The line is the five-year average. Tornadoes before about 1953 were under-reported, and better radar since the 1990s finds more weak ones. This year so far: 11 preliminary reports.

By rating

EF0
479
EF1
586
EF2
273
EF3
103
EF4
34
EF5
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.

Notable tornadoes

Deadliest

EF5, April 27, 2011

72 deaths Longest path

202.1 miles, F4

February 21, 1971

Most recent tornadoes

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Aug 20, 2025EF00.26 mi100 yd00
Jun 18, 2025EF06.94 mi175 yd00
Jun 18, 2025EF04.34 mi300 yd00
Jun 6, 2025EF02.63 mi175 yd00
May 30, 2025EF02.45 mi200 yd05
May 25, 2025EF16.78 mi100 yd00
May 20, 2025EF14.79 mi150 yd00
May 20, 2025EF01.13 mi150 yd00
May 20, 2025EF03.2 mi200 yd00
May 20, 2025EF09.34 mi100 yd00
May 20, 2025EF02.67 mi50 yd00
May 20, 2025EF01.29 mi75 yd00
May 20, 2025EF10.49 mi100 yd00
May 20, 2025EF01.42 mi300 yd00
Apr 5, 2025EF16.38 mi400 yd00
Apr 5, 2025EF18.71 mi350 yd00
Apr 5, 2025EF00.35 mi50 yd00
Apr 5, 2025EF12.63 mi150 yd00
Apr 5, 2025EF12.62 mi350 yd00
Apr 5, 2025EF01.96 mi100 yd00

Every Tennessee county

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Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025. A tornado that crossed a state line counts in each state it touched.