Bedford County, Virginia tornadoes

Checking live National Weather Service warnings for Bedford County...

12 confirmed tornadoes since NOAA records began in 1950 (the first here in 1996). Most recent: September 27, 2024, EF1. 2026 so far: 0 preliminary reports preliminary

Join the free alerts waiting list

Every tornado path in the county

Use two fingers to move the map
(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.

At a glance

Total121950 to 2025
Per year0.2average since 1950
Peak monthApril4 of 12
StrongestF2Jul 15, 1996
Deaths0whole paths, see note
Injuries15whole paths, see note

Deaths and injuries are NOAA's totals for each tornado's whole path, which can extend beyond Bedford County.

When tornadoes hit here

By month

40 Jan: 0Feb: 0Mar: 0Apr: 4May: 3Jun: 1Jul: 2Aug: 0Sep: 2Oct: 0Nov: 0Dec: 0JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

April is the peak month, with 4 of 12 tornadoes.

By time of day

40 12 AM: 0: 0: 13 AM: 0: 0: 16 AM: 0: 0: 09 AM: 1: 0: 112 PM: 0: 2: 43 PM: 0: 1: 06 PM: 0: 1: 09 PM: 0: 0: 012 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

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

By year, 1950 to 2025

30 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: 0: 0: 01980: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01990: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 3: 0: 0: 02000: 0: 0: 2: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02010: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 2: 12020: 0: 0: 1: 0: 1: 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
1
EF1
7
EF2
4

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

Strongest

F2, July 15, 1996

0.5 mile path Longest path

10 miles, F2

April 28, 2002, whole path Widest

330 yards, EF2

May 27, 2022

All 12 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Sep 27, 2024EF11.24 mi150 yd00
May 27, 2022EF26.3 mi330 yd03
Apr 19, 2019EF12.22 mi60 yd00
May 19, 2018EF11 mi100 yd00
Apr 15, 2018EF10.7 mi100 yd00
May 5, 2017EF00.3 mi100 yd00
Sep 17, 2004F23 mi300 yd00
Apr 28, 2002F210 mi150 yd012
Apr 28, 2002F10.5 mi100 yd00
Jul 15, 1996F20.5 mi30 yd00
Jul 15, 1996F10.1 mi25 yd00
Jun 9, 1996F11 mi15 yd00

Nearby counties

Coming soon

Free tornado alerts for Bedford County

We are building free email alerts for tornado warnings. Join the waiting list and we will email you once when they are ready. Until then, please rely on the National Weather Service and your phone's emergency alerts.

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025, and SPC preliminary reports for 2026. Page built October 12, 2026.