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Alpharetta, GA Tornado History — 103 Tornadoes Since 1950

Georgia · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Alpharetta, GA had?

Alpharetta has had 103 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 8 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Alpharetta?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Alpharetta was an EF0 on May 20, 2025.

When is tornado season in Alpharetta?

April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Alpharetta, with 26 on record. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
103
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
8
7.8% of total
Peak Month
April
26 on record
Per Year Avg
1.4
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Alpharetta

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 31 total, averaging 1.6 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 1
2024 2
2023 1
2022 0
2021 2
2020 2
2019 1
2018 0
2017 2
2016 3
2015 1
2014 4
2013 2
2012 1
2011 1
2010 2
2009 2
2008 4
2007 0

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 7
1960s 6
1970s 16
1980s 14
1990s 19
2000s 16
2010s 17
2020s 8

Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating

F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.

EF0 26
EF1 46
EF2 23
EF3 5
EF4 3

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 3
Feb 9
Mar 12
Apr 26
May 11
Jun 8
Jul 5
Aug 4
Sep 3
Oct 6
Nov 9
Dec 7

Casualties on Record Near Alpharetta

16 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Alpharetta since 1950, across 7 events. 413 injuries have been reported across all events. 1974 was the deadliest year on record.

The deadliest single event was a F4 on April 3, 1974, which caused 6 fatalities along a 17.7-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Alpharetta

Deadliest Tornado
F4 on April 3, 1974 — 6 fatalities, 17.7 mi path, 200 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F3 on March 24, 1975 — est. ~$275.0M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
EF1 on May 20, 2008 — 1,760 yards wide.
Longest Path
F2 on April 3, 1974 — 65.9 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on May 20, 2025.

About Tornadoes in Alpharetta

This overview was written August 10, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.

North Georgia's Piedmont, where rolling terrain begins rising toward the southern Appalachians, lies in the seasonal collision zone between warm, humid air streaming north from the Gulf of Mexico and cold fronts driven south by a vigorous jet stream — a pairing that makes the region a reliable breeding ground for supercell thunderstorms. Alpharetta, on the high ground north of Atlanta, shares fully in that exposure. Tornado threats here concentrate in late winter and spring, when strong upper-level winds overspread an unstable airmass, though autumn systems have struck the area as well. The NOAA Storm Prediction Center's database anchors the local record.

That record spans generations. An F2 tornado tracked 46.8 miles across the area on April 15, 1956. During the Super Outbreak of April 3 and 4, 1974, an F2 killed a person and injured 20, and an F4 followed the next day, killing 6 people and injuring 30. An F3 on March 24, 1975 injured 152 people and killed 3. The next generation faced an F4 that carved a 20-mile track on November 22, 1992, injuring 46. Another F4 on March 27, 1994 killed 3 people along a 49-mile path. In the modern era, an EF2 crossed the area on March 15, 2008, claiming a life and injuring 30, and an EF0 touchdown on May 21, 2025 carried the threat into the present generation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Alpharetta, GA had?
Since 1950, 103 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Alpharetta. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Alpharetta?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Alpharetta was a F4 on April 3, 1974, which caused 6 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Alpharetta?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Alpharetta, with 26 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
Has Alpharetta been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Alpharetta, there have been 0 EF5 and 3 EF4 tornadoes recorded since 1950. EF4 and EF5 tornadoes are the most destructive ratings on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with winds above 166 mph.
When was the most recent tornado near Alpharetta?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Alpharetta was an EF0 on May 20, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Alpharetta?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

Official Resources

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