Cape Girardeau, MO Tornado History — 136 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Cape Girardeau, MO had?
Cape Girardeau has had 136 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 6 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Cape Girardeau?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Cape Girardeau was an EF1 on June 7, 2025.
When is tornado season in Cape Girardeau?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Cape Girardeau, with 41 on record. April through June account for 78 of the 136 tornadoes on record near Cape Girardeau.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Cape Girardeau
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 62 total, averaging 3.1 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Cape Girardeau since December 29, 2025
These are 2 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
EF1: 97 mph A brief tornado produced damage in Grand Tower. Minor structural damage to roofs and awnings was noted. A few trees were uprooted with trunks/branches snapp (PAH)
A brief EF1 tornado touched down just east of I-55 along County Road 510. A couple mobile homes suffered significant roof damage along with one being shifted off its fo (PAH)
Within 25 miles of Cape Girardeau. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Cape Girardeau
12 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Cape Girardeau and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 2, 2025 and the most recent on June 7, 2025. They are already counted in the Cape Girardeau totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
An EF-1 tornado with estimated peak winds of 107 mph did considerable tree damage along a west to east path along State Highway Y east of Jackson... MO. Several trees w (PAH)
An EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 100 mph damaged two pole barns... destroyed a large barn... and shifted a manufactured home several feet off its foundation along an (PAH)
Tornado debris signature noted on radar here. (PAH)
An EF1 tornado touched down initially at the Cape Splash Aquatic Center... where it did some damage to overhead umbrella structures and a few trees. It continued east a (PAH)
tornado on the ground crossed I 55 mile marker 77. (PAH)
Structural damage to a home. (PAH)
debris spotted. (PAH)
Spotter confirms a tornado heading toward Gordonville. (PAH)
A brief EF-0 tornado caused damage to tree limbs and uprooted a couple trees along US Highway 51 north of Anna. (PAH)
An EF-1 tornado impacted rural parts of southwest Union County... Illinois. Damage was limited to uprooted or snapped trees and downed tree limbs along its path. The to (PAH)
The tornado began near the Dalhousie Golf Club and moved northeast into the southwest side of the city of Cape Girardeau north of Shawnee Parkway. The tornado caused tr (PAH)
*** 1 FATAL *** EF2... 125 mph... The tornado began just northeast of Advance... running northeast along Highway 25. The tornado damaged approximately 200 structures as (PAH)
Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
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 Cape Girardeau
17 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Cape Girardeau since 1950, across 8 events. 127 injuries have been reported across all events. 2023 was the deadliest year on record near Cape Girardeau.
The deadliest single event was an EF2 on April 5, 2023, which caused 5 fatalities along a 20.7-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Cape Girardeau
What the record shows near Cape Girardeau
The 2010s were the busiest decade near Cape Girardeau, with 36 of the 136 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 23 so far. The Cape Girardeau record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Cape Girardeau, 96 reached EF0 or EF1 and 40 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Cape Girardeau is rated EF3, of which 6 are logged.
Across the last 20 years Cape Girardeau has averaged 3.1 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 62 in total. 2025 was the busiest of them with 14, and 5 of those years passed with none at all.