Memphis, Tennessee tornadoes

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33confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Memphis since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: October 21, 2019, 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.

Recent warnings

Recent warnings near Memphis

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The record

At a glance

Total33within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.4average since 1950
Peak monthApril7 of 33
StrongestF3Dec 14, 1987
Deaths13whole paths, see note
Injuries280whole paths, see note

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

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

70 Jan: 0Feb: 1Mar: 1Apr: 7May: 7Jun: 5Jul: 2Aug: 1Sep: 1Oct: 1Nov: 6Dec: 1JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

April is the peak month, with 7 of 33 tornadoes.

By time of day

50 12 AM: 0: 1: 13 AM: 3: 0: 16 AM: 1: 0: 09 AM: 1: 1: 112 PM: 4: 1: 23 PM: 1: 3: 56 PM: 1: 0: 29 PM: 2: 1: 112 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 5:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

60 1950: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01960: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 3: 3: 11970: 6: 0: 0: 4: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 01980: 0: 0: 0: 1: 1: 0: 0: 1: 0: 11990: 0: 2: 0: 0: 3: 1: 0: 0: 0: 02000: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 12010: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 12020: 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
3
EF1
19
EF2
5
EF3
6

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, December 14, 1987

6 deaths, 121 injuries Strongest

F3, December 14, 1987

25 mile path Longest path

25 miles, F3

December 14, 1987, whole path Widest

440 yards, EF2

February 5, 2008
Every tornado

All 33 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Oct 21, 2019EF17.42 mi250 yd00
May 25, 2011EF12.52 mi100 yd00
Jun 12, 2009EF10.1 mi30 yd00
Feb 5, 2008EF210.24 mi440 yd313
May 15, 1995F00.5 mi23 yd00
Nov 27, 1994F316 mi200 yd325
Jun 9, 1994F15 mi100 yd00
Jun 9, 1994F00.5 mi10 yd00
Nov 19, 1991F110 mi50 yd00
Mar 27, 1991F10.5 mi50 yd00
Nov 7, 1989F00.5 mi17 yd00
Dec 14, 1987F325 mi200 yd6121
Apr 21, 1984F33 mi20 yd03
Nov 23, 1983F12 mi80 yd00
Aug 29, 1978F22 mi100 yd026
Nov 27, 1973F24.1 mi10 yd150
Nov 27, 1973F18.4 mi10 yd015
May 22, 1973F10.3 mi100 yd00
May 11, 1973F10.5 mi100 yd00
Jun 19, 1970F10.1 mi10 yd01
Apr 24, 1970F310.4 mi50 yd03
Apr 24, 1970F312.3 mi50 yd018
Apr 24, 1970F317 mi50 yd05
Apr 19, 1970F20.3 mi50 yd00
Apr 1, 1970F10.1 mi10 yd00
Nearby

Memphis and its county

Memphis is in Shelby County, where NOAA has recorded 56 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.