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Tornado in Pontotoc County, Mississippi
25 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
NCEI records 25 tornado events in Pontotoc County, Mississippi, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 21 years.
April is the busiest month, with 6 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 9 events against 10 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.7% of the 3,532 tornado events recorded in Mississippi; its 5.0 per 100 square miles compares with 7.5 statewide.
NCEI attributes 8 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 8 at (E)F0, 7 at (E)F1, 7 at (E)F2, 3 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Mississippi
| Measure | Pontotoc County | Mississippi | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 25 | 3,532 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 5.0 | 7.5 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 8.0 | 12.0 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 8 | 537 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
2Feb
3Mar
3Apr
6May
5Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
1Nov
4Dec
1
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 25 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Apr 2025 | Tornado | EF2 | $300K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 1 Apr 2023 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | 1 | 5 | County |
| 31 Mar 2023 | Tornado | EF2 | $3.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2021 | Tornado | EF0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2021 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Nov 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Nov 2015 | Tornado | EF0 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Oct 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2006 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2002 | Tornado | F0 | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2001 | Tornado | F3 | $28M | — | 6 | 43 | County |
| 1 Mar 1997 | Tornado | F3 | $650K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 1997 | Tornado | F1 | $100K | — | 1 | 4 | County |
| 18 Jan 1996 | Tornado | F0 | $30K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 30 Apr 1995 | Tornado | F0 | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Dec 1990 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 1990 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 19 Nov 1988 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1983 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 12 May 1978 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Feb 1971 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Nov 1966 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1959 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 20 Feb 1953 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | 1 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Pontotoc County had?
25 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Pontotoc County?
5 Apr 2025 (Tornado, EF2). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Pontotoc County?
The tornado of 24 Feb 2001, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $28M; 6 deaths recorded.
How does Pontotoc County compare with Mississippi for tornado?
5.0 events per 100 square miles against 7.5 statewide; the county holds 25 of the state's 3,532 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.