Columbus, IN Tornado History — 100 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Columbus, IN had?
Columbus has had 100 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 12 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Columbus?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Columbus was an Unrated on July 16, 2025.
When is tornado season in Columbus?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Columbus, with 25 on record. April through June account for 60 of the 100 tornadoes on record near Columbus.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Columbus
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 26 total, averaging 1.3 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Columbus since December 29, 2025
These are 5 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
A EF0 tornado with estimated peak wind 85 mph... 0.49 miles path length... and path width of 85 yards. The tornado began east of US 31 and continued northeast through a (IND)
An EF-1 tornado with path length of 6.35 miles and a maximum width of 325 yards began at this location. The peak winds were 110 mph with the tornado impacting mostly he (IND)
Late report of an EF-1 tornado with path length 1.37 miles and maximum width 100 yards. The peak winds were 100 mph with the tornado causing extensive tree damage and m (IND)
An EF-1 tornado with path length of 2.16 miles and path width of 100 yards began at this location. The peak winds were 105 mph with damage including snapped trees and t (IND)
An EF-U tornado with a path length of 0.92 miles began at this location. The path width was 25 yards. The tornado produced no damage and was identified by video footage (IND)
Within 25 miles of Columbus. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Columbus
2 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Columbus and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 16, 2025 and the most recent on July 16, 2025. They are already counted in the Columbus totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
An EFU tornado with path length of 0.17 miles and path width of 10 yards began at this location. (IND)
CONE SHAPED TORNADO VISIBLE FROM SOUTH SIDE OF COLUMBUS. (IND)
Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
Tornadoes by Decade
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.
Tornadoes by Month
Casualties on Record Near Columbus
9 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Columbus since 1950, across 5 events. 122 injuries have been reported across all events. 1974 was the deadliest year on record near Columbus.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 3, 1974, which caused 4 fatalities along a 35.6-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Columbus
What the record shows near Columbus
The 1970s were the busiest decade near Columbus, with 23 of the 100 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 14 so far. The Columbus record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Columbus, 68 reached EF0 or EF1 and 31 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Columbus is rated EF4, of which 2 are logged. A further 1 near Columbus is unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Columbus has averaged 1.3 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 26 in total. 2022 was the busiest of them with 6, and 9 of those years passed with none at all.