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Alexandria, LA Tornado History — 101 Tornadoes Since 1950

Louisiana · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Alexandria, LA had?

Alexandria has had 101 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 6 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Alexandria?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Alexandria was an EF1 on May 26, 2025.

When is tornado season in Alexandria?

December is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Alexandria, with 18 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
101
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
6
5.9% of total
Peak Month
December
18 on record
Per Year Avg
1.3
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Alexandria

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 52 total, averaging 2.6 per year over this window.

2026 0+3 prelim
2025 2
2024 2
2023 2
2022 2
2021 1
2020 5
2019 3
2018 6
2017 11
2016 0
2015 3
2014 1
2013 0
2012 5
2011 3
2010 1
2009 1
2008 4
2007 0

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

Preliminary tornado reports near Alexandria since December 29, 2025

These are 3 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.

Preliminary March 11, 2026
2 NNE Cheneyville, Rapides County, LA
Preliminary February 15, 2026
2 N Cheneyville, Rapides County, LA
Preliminary February 15, 2026
8 SSE Colfax, Grant County, LA

Within 25 miles of Alexandria. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 5
1960s 3
1970s 8
1980s 12
1990s 13
2000s 13
2010s 33
2020s 14

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 48
EF2 21
EF3 5
EF4 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 15
Feb 2
Mar 10
Apr 16
May 4
Jun 7
Jul 2
Aug 1
Sep 3
Oct 11
Nov 12
Dec 18

Casualties on Record Near Alexandria

16 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Alexandria since 1950, across 6 events. 110 injuries have been reported across all events. 1953 was the deadliest year on record.

The deadliest single event was a F4 on December 3, 1953, which caused 9 fatalities along a 85.5-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Alexandria

Deadliest Tornado
F4 on December 3, 1953 — 9 fatalities, 85.5 mi path, 300 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
EF3 on December 16, 2019 — $25.0M in reported property damage.
Widest Tornado
EF2 on April 2, 2017 — 2,252 yards wide.
Longest Path
F4 on December 3, 1953 — 85.5 mile track.
Most Recent
EF1 on May 26, 2025.

About Tornadoes in Alexandria

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.

Deep moisture from the Gulf of Mexico rarely has far to travel to reach central Louisiana, and when it arrives beneath strong jet-stream winds and advancing cold fronts, the atmosphere over Alexandria can turn dangerous quickly. Wind shear along these clashing airmasses tilts and rotates thunderstorm updrafts, and because Gulf warmth lingers deep into winter, tornadoes here are as much a cool-season hazard as a springtime threat, with December and January boundaries every bit as capable as April's.

The NOAA Storm Prediction Center's files for the Alexandria area span generations of storms. An F3 tornado injured eleven people on January 6, 1951, and on December 3, 1953 an F4 carved a track roughly 85 miles long, killing nine and injuring about fifty. Another F3 arrived on November 8, 1957, claiming three lives, and an F3 in June 1981 injured ten more.

Later generations have faced the same sky. On December 16, 2019, an EF3 traveled some 62 miles through the region and killed one person. An EF2 followed on April 23, 2020, also taking a life, and an EF1 touched down in May 2025. Residents whose grandparents remember the mid-century storms now watch the same winter fronts with the same respect.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Alexandria, LA had?
Since 1950, 101 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Alexandria. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Alexandria?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Alexandria was a F4 on December 3, 1953, which caused 9 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Alexandria?
December is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Alexandria, with 18 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 Alexandria been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Alexandria, 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 Alexandria?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Alexandria was an EF1 on May 26, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Alexandria?
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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