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Riverdale, GA Tornado History — 133 Tornadoes Since 1950

Georgia · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Riverdale, GA had?

Riverdale has had 133 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 10 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Riverdale?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Riverdale was an EF2 on May 29, 2025.

When is tornado season in Riverdale?

March is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Riverdale, with 21 on record. April through June account for 38 of the 133 tornadoes on record near Riverdale.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
133
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
10
7.5% of total
Peak Month
March
21 on record
Per Year Avg
1.8
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Riverdale

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 60 total, averaging 3.0 per year over this window.

2026 0+1 prelim
2025 10
2024 5
2023 7
2022 0
2021 5
2020 4
2019 3
2018 2
2017 6
2016 2
2015 3
2014 4
2013 1
2012 0
2011 3
2010 0
2009 0
2008 4
2007 1

Striped bars mark preliminary reports not yet confirmed by NWS survey — excluded from the confirmed counts.

Preliminary tornado reports near Riverdale since December 29, 2025

This is a preliminary report, not confirmed tornadoes. It has not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and is not counted in the confirmed totals above.

Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.

Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.

Preliminary EF0° March 16, 2026
1 SSW Snapfinger, DeKalb County, GA
EF0 tornado with max winds of 75 MPH. On the ground for 2.7 miles at 135 yards max width. Numerous trees snapped or uprooted including 3 onto homes narrowly missing res (FFC)

Within 25 miles of Riverdale. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

What storm spotters reported near Riverdale

5 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Riverdale and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 6, 2025 and the most recent on May 29, 2025. They are already counted in the Riverdale totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.

May 29, 2025
3 NE Luella, Henry County, GA
Multiple videos of a tornado crossing Interstate 75. (FFC)
EF1° May 27, 2025
2 S Madras, Coweta County, GA
An EF1 touched down on the northside of the city of Newnan GA. Trees were snapped and uprooted along its 2.65mi path through a mostly industrial region. Some minor wall (FFC)
EF0° May 4, 2025
1 W Oak Hill, Newton County, GA
NWS storm survey confirms EF0 tornado with max winds 75mph. Trees downed along Buckingham Drive... hwy 20... hwy 212 east to Oak Hill Road. (FFC)
EF0° April 7, 2025
3 NW Locust Grove, Henry County, GA
NWS Storm Survey confirms EF0 tornado with max winds of 75 mph. Tornado crossed I75 near Bethlehem Road. (FFC)
April 7, 2025
1 ENE Vaughn, Spalding County, GA
Survey crews noted significant tree damage along the north side of Heads Creek Reservoir associated with a tornado early Monday morning. (FFC)

Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 4
1960s 12
1970s 14
1980s 20
1990s 12
2000s 16
2010s 24
2020s 31

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 49
EF1 51
EF2 22
EF3 9
EF4 1
Unrated 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 13
Feb 8
Mar 21
Apr 18
May 17
Jun 3
Jul 11
Aug 5
Sep 4
Oct 10
Nov 11
Dec 12

Casualties on Record Near Riverdale

11 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Riverdale since 1950, across 7 events. 493 injuries have been reported across all events. 1975 was the deadliest year on record near Riverdale.

The deadliest single event was an F3 on March 24, 1975, which caused 3 fatalities along a 14.8-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Riverdale

Deadliest Tornado
F3 on March 24, 1975 — 3 fatalities, 14.8 mi path, 500 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F3 on March 24, 1975 — est. ~$275.0M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
EF3 on January 12, 2023 — 2,200 yards wide.
Longest Path
F3 on December 24, 1964 — 75.4 mile track.
Most Recent
EF2 on May 29, 2025.

What the record shows near Riverdale

The 2020s are the busiest decade on record so far near Riverdale, with 31 of the 133 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles. The Riverdale record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Riverdale, 100 reached EF0 or EF1 and 32 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Riverdale is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged. A further 1 near Riverdale is unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.

Across the last 20 years Riverdale has averaged 3.0 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 60 in total. 2025 was the busiest of them with 10, and 5 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Riverdale, GA had?
Since 1950, 133 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Riverdale. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Riverdale?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Riverdale was an F3 on March 24, 1975, which caused 3 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Riverdale?
March is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Riverdale, with 21 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 Riverdale been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Riverdale, there has been 0 EF5 and 1 EF4 tornado 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 Riverdale?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Riverdale was an EF2 on May 29, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Riverdale?
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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