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Tornado in Duplin 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.
Duplin County, North Carolina, has 39 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 24 different years.
April is the busiest month, with 14 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 13 events against 11 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 4.8 per 100 square miles compares with 3.5 statewide.
By rating: 9 at (E)F0, 14 at (E)F1, 13 at (E)F2, 2 at (E)F3, 1 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with North Carolina
| Measure | Duplin County | North Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 39 | 1,691 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.8 | 3.5 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 8.0 | 1.6 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 137 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
3Mar
3Apr
14May
3Jun
6Jul
5Aug
2Sep
3Oct
0Nov
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Apr 2023 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2021 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2016 | Tornado | EF0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2016 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 2014 | Tornado | EF2 | $200K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 3 Jul 2014 | Tornado | EF1 | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2006 | Tornado | F0 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2000 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1999 | Tornado | F2 | $4.0M | — | — | 11 | County |
| 26 Aug 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $85K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Sep 1996 | Tornado | F1 | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1996 | Tornado | F2 | $450K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1996 | Tornado | F2 | $70K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 15 Apr 1996 | Tornado | F2 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1996 | Tornado | F1 | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1996 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1996 | Tornado | F1 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 1985 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Mar 1984 | Tornado | F4 | $25M | — | — | 40 | County |
| 5 Jun 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1978 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1976 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 1975 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Mar 1975 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 1975 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 1974 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | 1 | County |
| 1 Jun 1974 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 1969 | Tornado | F3 | $25K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 15 Jul 1965 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1961 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Feb 1960 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 1957 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | 29 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Duplin 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 Duplin County?
22 Apr 2023 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Duplin County?
The tornado of 28 Mar 1984, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25M.
How does Duplin County compare with North Carolina for tornado?
4.8 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.