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Tornado in Craven County, North Carolina
39 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 39 tornado events in Craven County, North Carolina, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 21 years.
April is the busiest month, with 13 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 14 events against 19 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 2.3% of the 1,691 tornado events recorded in North Carolina; its 5.5 per 100 square miles compares with 3.5 statewide.
By rating: 25 at (E)F0, 10 at (E)F1, 3 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with North Carolina
| Measure | Craven County | North Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 39 | 1,691 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 5.5 | 3.5 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 3.9 | 1.6 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 137 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
1Mar
2Apr
13May
5Jun
2Jul
5Aug
2Sep
5Oct
3Nov
0Dec
0
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 39 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Jan 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2022 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Oct 2019 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Sep 2019 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Sep 2019 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Sep 2018 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF2 | $4.0M | — | — | 7 | County |
| 16 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Oct 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2003 | Tornado | F0 | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2000 | Tornado | F1 | $700K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 17 Mar 2000 | Tornado | F0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Sep 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Oct 1996 | Tornado | F1 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Sep 1996 | Tornado | F1 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 1996 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 1994 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 1994 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1979 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Feb 1977 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 1971 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1969 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 1968 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Mar 1965 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | 40 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Craven County had?
39 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 Craven County?
10 Jan 2024 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Craven County?
The tornado of 16 Apr 2011, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $4.0M.
How does Craven County compare with North Carolina for tornado?
5.5 events per 100 square miles against 3.5 statewide; the county holds 39 of the state's 1,691 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.