Tennessee recorded 1,424 tornadoes from 1950 through 2024, an average of 19 a year, in NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center database. They killed 396 people. The busiest year was 2011, with 101.
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
The rise since the 1990s is mostly better detection of weak tornadoes, not a jump in strong ones.
Tornado season in Tennessee
April is the peak, with 340 tornadoes since 1950 (24% of the total).
How strong
| Rating | Estimated 3-second gust | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| F0 / EF0 | Light damage: 65 to 85 mph (EF scale) | 463 |
| F1 / EF1 | Moderate: 86 to 110 mph | 560 |
| F2 / EF2 | Considerable: 111 to 135 mph | 264 |
| F3 / EF3 | Severe: 136 to 165 mph | 102 |
| F4 / EF4 | Devastating: 166 to 200 mph | 34 |
| F5 / EF5 | Incredible: over 200 mph | 1 |
Tennessee has had 1 F5 or EF5 tornado, the top of the scale.
The deadliest tornadoes in Tennessee
| Date | Rating | Deaths in Tennessee | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 21, 1952 | F4 | 38 | Chester County, Hardeman County, Henderson County |
| February 5, 2008 | EF3 | 22 | Macon County, Sumner County, Trousdale County |
| March 3, 2020 | EF4 | 19 | Putnam County |
| April 2, 2006 | F3 | 16 | Dyer County |
| April 27, 2011 | EF4 | 12 | Bradley County, Hamilton County, McMinn County, Polk County |
| April 3, 1974 | F4 | 11 | Franklin County, Lincoln County |
| May 4, 2003 | F4 | 11 | Henderson County, Madison County |
| March 21, 1952 | F3 | 10 | Dyer County |
| April 3, 1974 | F4 | 10 | Overton County, Putnam County, White County |
| February 13, 1950 | F2 | 9 | Lauderdale County |
Counties with the most tornadoes
| County | Tornadoes since 1950 | Per 1,000 sq mi | Strongest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby County | 56 | 72 | F3 |
| Davidson County | 53 | 100 | EF3 |
| Sumner County | 46 | 85 | F4 |
| Lincoln County | 45 | 79 | EF5 |
| Rutherford County | 45 | 73 | EF4 |
| Wilson County | 44 | 76 | EF3 |
| Lawrence County | 42 | 68 | F5 |
| Franklin County | 34 | 59 | EF5 |
| Madison County | 33 | 59 | EF4 |
| Montgomery County | 33 | 60 | F4 |
| Gibson County | 32 | 53 | F4 |
| Dyer County | 31 | 58 | F4 |
| Robertson County | 29 | 61 | F4 |
| Hamilton County | 29 | 50 | EF4 |
| Coffee County | 28 | 64 | F3 |
Big counties collect more tornadoes simply because they are big. By area, the most tornado-dense counties are Trousdale County (122 per 1,000 sq mi), Moore County (105 per 1,000 sq mi), Davidson County (100 per 1,000 sq mi), Sumner County (85 per 1,000 sq mi), Bradley County (85 per 1,000 sq mi).
Every county in Tennessee
Staying safe
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.
Sources
- NOAA Storm Prediction Center: Severe Weather Database, tornadoes 1950 to 2024 (public domain)
- NOAA Storm Prediction Center: The Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF scale)
- National Weather Service: Tornado safety
Sources last checked 1 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many tornadoes does Tennessee get a year?
About 19 on average from 1950 to 2024; recent years run higher because weak tornadoes are better detected.
When is tornado season in Tennessee?
April has had the most. Spring is the main season, with a second, smaller peak in late fall in the South.
What was the deadliest tornado in Tennessee?
March 21, 1952: 38 deaths in Tennessee.