Poplar Bluff, MO Tornado History — 108 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Poplar Bluff, MO had?
Poplar Bluff has had 108 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 11 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Poplar Bluff?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Poplar Bluff was an EF1 on April 2, 2025.
When is tornado season in Poplar Bluff?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Poplar Bluff, with 29 on record. April through June account for 53 of the 108 tornadoes on record near Poplar Bluff.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Poplar Bluff
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 62 total, averaging 3.1 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Poplar Bluff since December 29, 2025
This is a preliminary report, not confirmed tornadoes. It has not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and is 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
A brief EF0 tornado touched down near the intersection of CR 339 and CR 321 northwest of Pollard. When the tornado touched down... a large tree was uprooted... damaging (MEG)
Within 25 miles of Poplar Bluff. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Poplar Bluff
2 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Poplar Bluff and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 2, 2025 and the most recent on April 2, 2025. They are already counted in the Poplar Bluff totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
Power poles down and roof damage to 2 structures. (PAH)
Evidence of an EF1 Tornado started where Ripley County Highway K-6 dead ends and then the track continues northeast crossing Highway K between K-6 and K-7. Considerable (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 Poplar Bluff
9 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Poplar Bluff since 1950, across 7 events. 107 injuries have been reported across all events. 2025 was the deadliest year on record near Poplar Bluff.
The deadliest single event was an EF3 on March 14, 2025, which caused 3 fatalities along a 81.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Poplar Bluff
What the record shows near Poplar Bluff
The 2010s were the busiest decade near Poplar Bluff, with 37 of the 108 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 21 so far. The Poplar Bluff record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Poplar Bluff, 75 reached EF0 or EF1 and 32 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Poplar Bluff is rated EF4, of which 4 are logged. A further 1 near Poplar Bluff is unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Poplar Bluff has averaged 3.1 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 62 in total. 2025 was the busiest of them with 10, and 6 of those years passed with none at all.