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Jackson, MS Tornado History — 265 Tornadoes Since 1950

Mississippi · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Jackson, MS had?

Jackson has had 265 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 19 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Jackson?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Jackson was an EF0 on November 25, 2025.

When is tornado season in Jackson?

April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Jackson, with 65 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
265
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
19
7.2% of total
Peak Month
April
65 on record
Per Year Avg
3.5
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Jackson

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 132 total, averaging 6.6 per year over this window.

2026 0+3 prelim
2025 5
2024 9
2023 8
2022 20
2021 4
2020 2
2019 20
2018 10
2017 7
2016 3
2015 2
2014 6
2013 1
2012 3
2011 9
2010 5
2009 3
2008 14
2007 1

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

Preliminary tornado reports near Jackson 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 May 22, 2026
5 SSE Raymond, Hinds County, MS
Preliminary EF1° April 25, 2026
2 WSW Braxton, Simpson County, MS
Preliminary EF1° April 25, 2026
Clear Branch, Rankin County, MS

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

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 14
1960s 22
1970s 23
1980s 25
1990s 20
2000s 47
2010s 66
2020s 48

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 77
EF1 133
EF2 36
EF3 13
EF4 5
EF5 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 17
Feb 27
Mar 40
Apr 65
May 16
Jun 10
Jul 4
Aug 6
Sep 8
Oct 7
Nov 34
Dec 31

Casualties on Record Near Jackson

118 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Jackson since 1950, across 9 events. 1,308 injuries have been reported across all events. 1966 was the deadliest year on record.

The deadliest single event was a F5 on March 3, 1966, which caused 58 fatalities along a 202.5-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Jackson

Deadliest Tornado
F5 on March 3, 1966 — 58 fatalities, 202.5 mi path, 900 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
EF2 on April 4, 2008 — $46.0M in reported property damage.
Widest Tornado
EF1 on April 30, 2017 — 1,800 yards wide.
Longest Path
F5 on March 3, 1966 — 202.5 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on November 25, 2025.

About Tornadoes in Jackson

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.

Hinds County and the surrounding Pearl River lowlands that hold Jackson, Mississippi sit on gently rolling terrain that opens a clear corridor to the Gulf of Mexico, letting warm, humid marine air stream north across the coastal plain. When jet-stream energy and sharp cold fronts sweep in from the west — chiefly in early spring and again in late autumn — the region's low relief allows supercells to organize and hold together across long distances. The NOAA Storm Prediction Center's archive for the Jackson area reflects that geography, with entries stretching from the 1950s into the 2020s.

The county's history shows what those long tracks can do. An F5 tornado on March 4, 1966 carved a 202.5-mile path through the Jackson area, killing 58 people and injuring 518. An F4 on January 23, 1969 followed a 117.8-mile track and killed 32. Twin F4 tornadoes struck on March 29, 1976, one of them injuring 177 people. Cool-season outbreaks are a local hallmark as well: paired F3 tornadoes moved through on February 26, 1958, an F4 on November 22, 1992 caused 12 deaths and 122 injuries, and another F4 arrived on November 24, 2001. An EF3 on April 28, 2014 tracked 29.72 miles near the city, and an EF0 touched down on November 25, 2025 — a reminder that the season here spans much of the calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Jackson, MS had?
Since 1950, 265 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Jackson. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Jackson?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Jackson was a F5 on March 3, 1966, which caused 58 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Jackson?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Jackson, with 65 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 Jackson been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Jackson, there have been 1 EF5 and 5 EF4 tornadoes 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 Jackson?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Jackson was an EF0 on November 25, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Jackson?
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.

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