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Tornado in Smith County, Tennessee
15 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.
Smith County, Tennessee, has 15 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 11 different years.
March is the busiest month, with 6 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 9 events against 2 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.9% of the 1,704 tornado events recorded in Tennessee; its 4.8 per 100 square miles compares with 4.1 statewide.
By rating: 5 at (E)F0, 8 at (E)F1, 2 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 Tennessee
| Measure | Smith County | Tennessee | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 15 | 1,704 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.8 | 4.1 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 7.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 408 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | March | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
0Mar
6Apr
3May
2Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
1Nov
0Dec
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 15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Dec 2021 | Tornado | EF0 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Mar 2020 | Tornado | EF1 | $5.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Dec 2015 | Tornado | EF2 | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Oct 2012 | Tornado | EF1 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | $5K | $11K | — | — | County |
| 28 Mar 1997 | Tornado | F1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jan 1997 | Tornado | F2 | $1.0M | — | — | 6 | County |
| 11 May 1973 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 1970 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 5 Mar 1955 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 22 Mar 1952 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 1 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Smith County had?
15 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 Smith County?
11 Dec 2021 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Smith County?
The tornado of 3 Mar 2020, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $5.0M.
How does Smith County compare with Tennessee for tornado?
4.8 events per 100 square miles against 4.1 statewide; the county holds 15 of the state's 1,704 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.