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Central, LA Tornado History — 129 Tornadoes Since 1950

Louisiana · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Central, LA had?

Central has had 129 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 5 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Central?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Central was an EF0 on March 31, 2025.

When is tornado season in Central?

June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Central, with 23 on record. April through June account for 56 of the 129 tornadoes on record near Central.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
129
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
5
3.9% of total
Peak Month
June
23 on record
Per Year Avg
1.7
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Central

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 56 total, averaging 2.8 per year over this window.

2026 0+1 prelim
2025 1
2024 3
2023 1
2022 0
2021 2
2020 5
2019 6
2018 9
2017 3
2016 4
2015 2
2014 2
2013 3
2012 4
2011 3
2010 1
2009 2
2008 3
2007 2

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

Preliminary tornado reports near Central 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 12, 2026
3 SSE Montpelier, Livingston County, LA
A 65 MPH EF0 tornado touched down north of Albany... LA and tracked southeast. (LIX)

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

What storm spotters reported near Central

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Central and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 24, 2025 and the most recent on April 24, 2025. It is already counted in the Central totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.

April 24, 2025
1 SW Walker, Livingston County, LA
[Landspout] Video of what appears to be a landspout/gustnado on Lakeview Dr in Walker. Mainly displaced trash can and flung light debris. Did not break branches of sma (LIX)

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

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 7
1960s 5
1970s 18
1980s 19
1990s 12
2000s 19
2010s 37
2020s 12

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 40
EF1 68
EF2 15
EF3 5
Unrated 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 7
Feb 10
Mar 11
Apr 18
May 15
Jun 23
Jul 5
Aug 4
Sep 4
Oct 13
Nov 11
Dec 8

Casualties on Record Near Central

5 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Central since 1950, across 3 events. 151 injuries have been reported across all events. 1989 was the deadliest year on record near Central.

The deadliest single event was an F3 on February 6, 1953, which caused 2 fatalities along a 15.6-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Central

Deadliest Tornado
F3 on February 6, 1953 — 2 fatalities, 15.6 mi path, 400 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F1 on October 22, 1991 — est. ~$2.8M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
EF2 on February 23, 2016 — 625 yards wide.
Longest Path
F1 on February 8, 1956 — 45.5 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on March 31, 2025.

What the record shows near Central

The 2010s were the busiest decade near Central, with 37 of the 129 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 12 so far. The Central record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Central, 108 reached EF0 or EF1 and 20 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Central is rated EF3, of which 5 are logged. A further 1 near Central is unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.

Across the last 20 years Central has averaged 2.8 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 56 in total. 2018 was the busiest of them with 9, and 2 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Central, LA had?
Since 1950, 129 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Central. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Central?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Central was an F3 on February 6, 1953, which caused 2 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Central?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Central, with 23 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.
When was the most recent tornado near Central?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Central was an EF0 on March 31, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Central?
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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