South Bend, IN Tornado History — 124 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has South Bend, IN had?
South Bend has had 124 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 10 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near South Bend?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of South Bend was an EF1 on March 30, 2025.
When is tornado season in South Bend?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near South Bend, with 37 on record. April through June account for 62 of the 124 tornadoes on record near South Bend.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near South Bend
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 36 total, averaging 1.8 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near South Bend since December 29, 2025
These are 6 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 National Weather Service storm survey determined that an EF-2 tornado occurred in association with a line of severe thunderstorms across northern Elkhart County. The (IWX)
*** 1 INJ *** Update to the previously reported Bristol Tornado. The track has expanded both west and east. A National Weather Service storm survey determined that an E (IWX)
A brief tornado spun up south of 8A on King Rd... uprooting or snapping multiple trees and causing damage to a barn. The tornado continued northeast... flipping a cente (IWX)
A survey of damage near the Indiana/Michigan state line confirmed a disorganized tornado touched down on Adams Rd... between Mayflower and Portage Rd then quickly track (IWX)
Several trees snapped and damage to a home on Harris Street near M62. Photos on X. Time estimated via radar. (IWX)
*** 1 FATAL *** A disorganized circulation touched down northwest of the intersection of Runkle St and Conrad Rd... destroying an attached garage and damaging the front (IWX)
Within 25 miles of South Bend. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
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 South Bend
79 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of South Bend since 1950, across 5 events. 781 injuries have been reported across all events. 1965 was the deadliest year on record near South Bend.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 11, 1965, which caused 36 fatalities along a 37.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near South Bend
What the record shows near South Bend
The 1960s were the busiest decade near South Bend, with 24 of the 124 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 9 so far. The South Bend record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near South Bend, 87 reached EF0 or EF1 and 36 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near South Bend is rated EF4, of which 2 are logged. A further 1 near South Bend is unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years South Bend has averaged 1.8 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 36 in total. 2007 was the busiest of them with 5, and 6 of those years passed with none at all.