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Tornado in Harnett County, North Carolina
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.
Harnett County, North Carolina, has 25 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 18 different years.
May is the busiest month, with 4 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 4 events against 13 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.5% of the 1,691 tornado events recorded in North Carolina; its 4.2 per 100 square miles compares with 3.5 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 10 at (E)F0, 10 at (E)F1, 4 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 | Harnett County | North Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 25 | 1,691 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.2 | 3.5 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 1.8 | 1.6 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 137 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
2Feb
1Mar
0Apr
2May
4Jun
2Jul
3Aug
3Sep
2Oct
1Nov
3Dec
2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Jan 2022 | Tornado | EF0 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 2019 | Tornado | EF0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF2 | $16M | — | 1 | 24 | County |
| 14 Sep 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2005 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2004 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | 4 | County |
| 2 May 2004 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Dec 2000 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Dec 2000 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 1994 | Tornado | F1 | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 1994 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Nov 1992 | Tornado | F3 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Nov 1992 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Oct 1990 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 1989 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1986 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1986 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1982 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1975 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 6 | County |
| 17 May 1973 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jan 1971 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Nov 1966 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Feb 1960 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Harnett 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 Harnett County?
3 Jan 2022 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Harnett County?
The tornado of 16 Apr 2011, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $16M; 1 death recorded.
How does Harnett County compare with North Carolina for tornado?
4.2 events per 100 square miles against 3.5 statewide; the county holds 25 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.