Columbia, MO Tornado History — 79 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Columbia, MO had?
Columbia has had 79 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 3 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Columbia?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Columbia was an EF2 on April 20, 2025.
When is tornado season in Columbia?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Columbia, with 17 on record. April through June account for 32 of the 79 tornadoes on record near Columbia.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Columbia
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 9 total, averaging 0.5 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Columbia 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 3 WSW Fulton. Part of a hangar roof was torn off at the Fulton Airport. (LSX)
Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 2 SSE Marion. Tree limb down near 179 and Sunflower Road. Time estimated from radar. (LSX)
Within 25 miles of Columbia. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Columbia
2 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Columbia and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 20, 2025 and the most recent on April 20, 2025. They are already counted in the Columbia totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
Corrects previous tornado report from 5 WSW Murry. An NWS survey team found high-end EF1 tornado damage along a path extending from Highway 763 and northeast through Co (LSX)
An NWS survey team found EF2 tornado damage on County Road 362 northwest of New Bloomfield. This track continued north-northeast until it intersected County Road 347 an (LSX)
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 Columbia
1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Columbia since 1950, across 1 event. 33 injuries have been reported across all events. 2001 was the deadliest year on record near Columbia.
The deadliest single event was an F1 on April 10, 2001, which caused 1 fatality along a 3.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Columbia
What the record shows near Columbia
The 1990s were the busiest decade near Columbia, with 19 of the 79 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 3 so far. The Columbia record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Columbia, 64 reached EF0 or EF1 and 15 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Columbia is rated EF3, of which 3 are logged.
Across the last 20 years Columbia has averaged 0.5 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 9 in total. 2025 was the busiest of them with 3, and 14 of those years passed with none at all.