Joplin, MO Tornado History — 153 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Joplin, MO had?
Joplin has had 153 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 13 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Joplin?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Joplin was an EF0 on April 29, 2025.
When is tornado season in Joplin?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Joplin, with 50 on record. April through June account for 100 of the 153 tornadoes on record near Joplin.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Joplin
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 45 total, averaging 2.3 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Joplin 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
The National Weather Service storm survey determined that an EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 90mph touched down 1 mile east southeast of Fidelity. The tornado lifted an (SGF)
An NWS survey concluded an EF1 tornado with peak winds of 95 mph damaged an outdoor maintenance storage building at the golf course at West 2nd Street and South Schiffe (SGF)
Within 25 miles of Joplin. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Joplin
2 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Joplin 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 Joplin totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
An EF 0 tornado touched down in south-central Barton County in Missouri at 229 PM on April 20... 2025... tracking northeast through the city of Lamar before finally lif (SGF)
An EF 1 tornado touched down near Empire Lake to the north of Galena... KS... downing hundreds of trees and damaging multiple roofs before crossing the Missouri border (SGF)
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 Joplin
202 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Joplin since 1950, across 11 events. 1,828 injuries have been reported across all events. 2011 was the deadliest year on record near Joplin.
The deadliest single event was an EF5 on May 22, 2011, which caused 158 fatalities along a 21.6-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Joplin
What the record shows near Joplin
The 2010s were the busiest decade near Joplin, with 28 of the 153 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 11 so far. The Joplin record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Joplin, 121 reached EF0 or EF1 and 32 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Joplin is rated EF5, of which 1 is logged.
Across the last 20 years Joplin has averaged 2.3 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 45 in total. 2019 was the busiest of them with 7, and 4 of those years passed with none at all.