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Tornado in Washington County, Mississippi
32 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 32 tornado events in Washington County, Mississippi, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 26 years.
April is the busiest month, with 10 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 7 events against 11 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.9% of the 3,532 tornado events recorded in Mississippi; its 4.4 per 100 square miles compares with 7.5 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 11 at (E)F0, 7 at (E)F1, 8 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 3 at (E)F4, 1 at (E)F5 and 2 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Mississippi
| Measure | Washington County | Mississippi | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 32 | 3,532 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.4 | 7.5 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 7.3 | 12.0 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 537 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
4Feb
5Mar
1Apr
10May
1Jun
3Jul
0Aug
0Sep
2Oct
2Nov
3Dec
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 32 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Apr 2026 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jan 2020 | Tornado | EF2 | $120K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jan 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 2013 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Oct 2009 | Tornado | EF1 | $225K | — | 1 | 2 | County |
| 2 May 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2006 | Tornado | F0 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Nov 2005 | Tornado | F0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Sep 2005 | Tornado | F2 | $680K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Sep 2005 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Nov 2001 | Tornado | F4 | $3.5M | — | — | 12 | County |
| 24 Feb 2001 | Tornado | F0 | — | $3K | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F1 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Mar 1992 | Tornado | F4 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 19 Apr 1991 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 1989 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Oct 1980 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 1978 | Tornado | F4 | $2.5M | — | — | 3 | County |
| 17 Feb 1976 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 1974 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 4 Dec 1973 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 6 | County |
| 21 Apr 1972 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Feb 1971 | Tornado | F5 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1970 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1969 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 10 Nov 1966 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1966 | Tornado | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Feb 1965 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1957 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 4 | County |
| 20 Feb 1953 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 2 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Washington County had?
32 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 Washington County?
28 Apr 2026 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Washington County?
The tornado of 24 Nov 2001, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $3.5M.
How does Washington County compare with Mississippi for tornado?
4.4 events per 100 square miles against 7.5 statewide; the county holds 32 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.