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Tornado in Rutherford County, North Carolina
12 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 12 tornado events in Rutherford County, North Carolina, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 11 years.
May is the busiest month, with 5 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 6 events against 3 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.7% of the 1,691 tornado events recorded in North Carolina; its 2.1 per 100 square miles compares with 3.5 statewide.
By rating: 6 at (E)F0, 3 at (E)F1, 2 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 1 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with North Carolina
| Measure | Rutherford County | North Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 12 | 1,691 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 2.1 | 3.5 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 1.9 | 1.6 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 137 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
0Mar
0Apr
1May
5Jun
1Jul
1Aug
0Sep
1Oct
2Nov
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 12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Sep 2024 | Tornado | EF0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 2021 | Tornado | EF0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2019 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Oct 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jan 2012 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | 10 | County |
| 26 Oct 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2005 | Tornado | F1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2000 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 1989 | Tornado | F4 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1975 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1975 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 1973 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Rutherford County had?
12 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 Rutherford County?
25 Sep 2024 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Rutherford County?
The tornado of 5 May 1989, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $250K.
How does Rutherford County compare with North Carolina for tornado?
2.1 events per 100 square miles against 3.5 statewide; the county holds 12 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.