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Tornado in Pitt County, North Carolina
33 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 33 tornado events in Pitt County, North Carolina, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 21 years.
April is the busiest month, with 8 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 9 events against 12 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 2% of the 1,691 tornado events recorded in North Carolina; its 5.1 per 100 square miles compares with 3.5 statewide.
NCEI attributes 9 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 16 at (E)F0, 12 at (E)F1, 3 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 1 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with North Carolina
| Measure | Pitt County | North Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 33 | 1,691 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 5.1 | 3.5 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 1.9 | 1.6 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 9 | 137 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
2Mar
3Apr
8May
6Jun
6Jul
2Aug
2Sep
2Oct
1Nov
1Dec
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 33 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Jun 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 2014 | Tornado | EF2 | $600K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $1.0M | — | — | 5 | County |
| 5 May 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Mar 2009 | Tornado | EF1 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Sep 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Feb 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2004 | Tornado | F0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Nov 2003 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2003 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Oct 2002 | Tornado | F1 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Sep 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1996 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1996 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Mar 1984 | Tornado | F4 | $25M | — | 9 | 153 | County |
| 23 Feb 1980 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 1973 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1972 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | 4 | County |
| 31 Aug 1964 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 4 Jun 1959 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Mar 1956 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 1955 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 1953 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 1950 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 1950 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 1950 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Pitt County had?
33 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 Pitt County?
5 Jun 2017 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Pitt County?
The tornado of 28 Mar 1984, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25M; 9 deaths recorded.
How does Pitt County compare with North Carolina for tornado?
5.1 events per 100 square miles against 3.5 statewide; the county holds 33 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.