Chattanooga, Tennessee tornadoes

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24confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chattanooga since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: April 12, 2020, 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.

Recent warnings

Recent warnings near Chattanooga

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The record

At a glance

Total24within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.3average since 1950
Peak monthApril14 of 24
StrongestEF4Apr 27, 2011
Deaths16whole paths, see note
Injuries162whole paths, see note

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

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

140 Jan: 0Feb: 2Mar: 3Apr: 14May: 0Jun: 1Jul: 0Aug: 1Sep: 0Oct: 3Nov: 0Dec: 0JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

April is the peak month, with 14 of 24 tornadoes.

By time of day

50 12 AM: 4: 0: 03 AM: 0: 1: 06 AM: 3: 3: 09 AM: 0: 0: 112 PM: 1: 2: 03 PM: 2: 5: 06 PM: 1: 0: 09 PM: 1: 0: 012 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

120 1950: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01960: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01970: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 01980: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01990: 1: 0: 0: 0: 1: 3: 0: 1: 0: 02000: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02010: 2: 12: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02020: 1: 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
11
EF2
3
EF3
3
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

EF4, April 27, 2011

14 deaths, 50 injuries Strongest

EF4, April 27, 2011

46.98 mile path Longest path

46.98 miles, EF4

April 27, 2011, whole path Widest

1,500 yards, EF3

April 12, 2020
Every tornado

All 24 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Apr 12, 2020EF319.34 mi1,500 yd218
Mar 2, 2012EF341 mi400 yd044
Apr 27, 2011EF13.6 mi200 yd00
Apr 27, 2011EF14 mi90 yd00
Apr 27, 2011EF00.1 mi70 yd00
Apr 27, 2011EF13.8 mi125 yd00
Apr 27, 2011EF446.98 mi1,260 yd1450
Apr 27, 2011EF12.2 mi200 yd00
Apr 27, 2011EF00.5 mi100 yd00
Apr 27, 2011EF12.5 mi250 yd00
Apr 27, 2011EF10.7 mi80 yd00
Apr 27, 2011EF22.3 mi500 yd00
Feb 28, 2011EF12.6 mi150 yd00
Feb 28, 2011EF12.2 mi90 yd00
Oct 26, 2010EF21.2 mi100 yd06
Oct 25, 2010EF00.1 mi40 yd00
Mar 29, 1997F38 mi100 yd044
Apr 21, 1995F11 mi300 yd00
Apr 21, 1995F25 mi330 yd00
Apr 21, 1995F00.1 mi30 yd00
Mar 27, 1994F11 mi40 yd00
Oct 4, 1990F11.8 mi23 yd00
Jun 24, 1980F00.1 mi10 yd00
Aug 12, 1977F00.1 mi17 yd00
Nearby

Chattanooga and its county

Chattanooga is in Hamilton 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.