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Tornado in Jones County, North Carolina
22 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 22 tornado events in Jones County, North Carolina, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 15 years.
April is the busiest month, with 11 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 10 events against 9 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.3% of the 1,691 tornado events recorded in North Carolina; its 4.7 per 100 square miles compares with 3.5 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 14 at (E)F0, 3 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 | Jones County | North Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 22 | 1,691 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.7 | 3.5 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 23.8 | 1.6 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 137 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
2Apr
11May
3Jun
1Jul
1Aug
1Sep
2Oct
1Nov
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 22 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 |
| 22 Apr 2023 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Sep 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Sep 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF2 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | $50K | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2008 | Tornado | EF2 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Oct 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1999 | Tornado | F2 | $2.0M | — | — | 8 | County |
| 4 May 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1996 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1996 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Mar 1991 | Tornado | F1 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1978 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 1974 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Mar 1965 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | 1 | 5 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Jones County had?
22 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 Jones County?
22 Apr 2023 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Jones County?
The tornado of 17 Mar 1965, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M; 1 death recorded.
How does Jones County compare with North Carolina for tornado?
4.7 events per 100 square miles against 3.5 statewide; the county holds 22 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.