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Tornado in Washington 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.
Washington County, North Carolina, has 12 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 12 different years.
May is the busiest month, with 3 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 4 events against 5 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 3.5 per 100 square miles compares with 3.5 statewide.
By rating: 7 at (E)F0, 2 at (E)F1, 3 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with North Carolina
| Measure | Washington County | North Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 12 | 1,691 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 3.5 | 3.5 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 11.0 | 1.6 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 137 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
1Apr
2May
3Jun
0Jul
0Aug
2Sep
3Oct
0Nov
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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Apr 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Mar 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Sep 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2006 | Tornado | F0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2003 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | $1.4M | — | — | County |
| 15 Sep 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 1998 | Tornado | F0 | $65K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 1988 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 15 Apr 1984 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1983 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 5 | County |
| 14 Sep 1973 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Washington 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 Washington County?
13 Apr 2020 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Washington County?
The tornado of 9 May 2003, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $250K and crop damage at $1.4M.
How does Washington County compare with North Carolina for tornado?
3.5 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.