Meridian, MS Tornado History — 159 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Meridian, MS had?
Meridian has had 159 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 14 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Meridian?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Meridian was an EF1 on May 26, 2025.
When is tornado season in Meridian?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Meridian, with 33 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
Recent Tornado Activity Near Meridian
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 78 total, averaging 3.9 per year over this window.
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 Meridian
24 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Meridian since 1950, across 7 events. 328 injuries have been reported across all events. 2020 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was an EF4 on April 12, 2020, which caused 7 fatalities along a 67.4-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Meridian
About Tornadoes in Meridian
This overview was written July 24, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Meridian sits in east-central Mississippi, close to the Alabama line, in the rolling, wooded terrain of the Deep South. Tornadoes are a genuine and recurring hazard across this region, and the forested landscape can make them difficult to see coming, which raises the premium on early warning.
The area's tornado risk is tied closely to the Gulf of Mexico. Abundant Gulf moisture is available through much of the year, so with the wind shear of a strong jet stream the atmosphere can support severe storms during a spring peak and again in a second cool-season maximum in late fall and winter. Deep South tornadoes also form after dark more often than on the plains and frequently ride within fast squall lines, shortening the time people have to react.
Tornado intensity is described on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, which runs from EF0 to EF5 based on a damage survey rather than a measured wind speed. Most tornadoes are weak, though the climate here can produce rare, violent, long-track events. The tornado history for the Meridian area — counts, the decade and rating breakdowns, and the most significant events on record — comes from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center and is displayed in the figures elsewhere on this page.