Mississippi recorded 2,758 tornadoes from 1950 through 2024, an average of 37 a year, in NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center database. They killed 524 people. The busiest year was 2022, with 120.
Tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950: none under 10 10 to 25 25 to 50 50 to 75 75 to 100 over 100. Tap a county for its history.
Tornadoes by year
1450
8
7
22
15
6
6
26
13
21
860
18
13
8
5
21
36
22
21
27
2770
41
31
44
34
34
34
35
11
6
3280
7
17
22
16
21
35
42
62
36
2390
12
54
12
34
45
27
34
14
44
2700
60
29
51
54
105
33
33
109
45
4110
97
48
31
40
45
45
69
59
114
8320
76
120
63
78
The rise since the 1990s is mostly better detection of weak tornadoes, not a jump in strong ones.
Tornado season in Mississippi
200Jan
250Feb
360Mar
598Apr
252May
132Jun
46Jul
102Aug
136Sep
119Oct
296Nov
267Dec
April is the peak, with 598 tornadoes since 1950 (22% of the total).
How strong
Rating
Estimated 3-second gust
Tornadoes
F0 / EF0
Light damage: 65 to 85 mph (EF scale)
820
F1 / EF1
Moderate: 86 to 110 mph
1,249
F2 / EF2
Considerable: 111 to 135 mph
495
F3 / EF3
Severe: 136 to 165 mph
153
F4 / EF4
Devastating: 166 to 200 mph
32
F5 / EF5
Incredible: over 200 mph
5
EF-U
Unknown: no damage to rate (mostly since 2016)
4
Mississippi has had 5 F5 or EF5 tornadoes, the top of the scale.
Big counties collect more tornadoes simply because they are big. By area, the most tornado-dense counties are Smith County (143 per 1,000 sq mi), Harrison County (141 per 1,000 sq mi), Hinds County (139 per 1,000 sq mi), Rankin County (135 per 1,000 sq mi), Leake County (128 per 1,000 sq mi).
When a tornado warning is issued, act at once. Go to a basement, storm shelter or safe room. With none, use a small windowless room on the lowest floor, as far from outside walls as you can, and cover your head and neck. Mobile homes and cars are not safe places to ride out a tornado: leave early for a sturdy building or shelter. Read the full tornado safety guide and the National Weather Service advice linked below.