Springfield, MO Tornado History — 142 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Springfield, MO had?
Springfield has had 142 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 7 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Springfield?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Springfield was an EF0 on April 29, 2025.
When is tornado season in Springfield?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Springfield, with 32 on record. April through June account for 72 of the 142 tornadoes on record near Springfield.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Springfield
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 80 total, averaging 4.0 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Springfield since December 29, 2025
These are 4 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Sentinel-2 satellite data analysis in conjunction with radar analysis revealed a brief EF0 tornado with estimated max winds of 70 mph occurred within a forested area so (SGF)
An NWS survey team concluded that a tornado developed just east of Sparta and moved to the northeast. A wide tract of uprooted trees and large tree limbs fell in a cycl (SGF)
An NWS survey team confirmed a short... narrow path of tree damage consistent with an EF0 tornado between Spokane and Highlandville in Christian County. Additional modi (SGF)
Tree debris from a EF0 tornado was visible along Farm Road 131 southeast of Battlefield... MO. Eyewitness account depicted the tornado as it crossed Plainview Road at J (SGF)
Within 25 miles of Springfield. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Springfield
6 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Springfield and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 18, 2025 and the most recent on April 29, 2025. They are already counted in the Springfield totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
An EF-0 tornado touched down west of Fair Grove around 9:40 AM. It progressed southeast for approximately 5 miles before dissipating southwest of Fair Grove just west o (SGF)
Corrects previous tornado report from 3 NE Ebenezer. An EF-0 tornado touched down west of Fair Grove around 9:40 AM. It progressed southeast for approximately 5 miles b (SGF)
A NWS survey found that a brief... weak EF-0 tornado began at 9:30 AM near Eaglecrest St. with maximum wind speeds of 85 mph... a path length of 0.53 miles... and a pat (SGF)
A brief EF-1 tornado occurred approximately 3 miles southwest of Elwood around 9:24 AM. It progressed northeast for a little over a minute before dissipating to strong (SGF)
An NWS survey found that an EF-0 tornado began at 9:09 AM near the Lawrence County and Stone County line along CR 2210... about 2 miles west of Bradfield. The tornado h (SGF)
A National Weather Service survey found a brief EF-0 tornado touched down in far southeastern Greene County. Damage included broken branches and damage to a few outbuil (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 Springfield
19 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Springfield since 1950, across 9 events. 275 injuries have been reported across all events. 2003 was the deadliest year on record near Springfield.
The deadliest single event was an F3 on May 4, 2003, which caused 7 fatalities along a 49.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Springfield
What the record shows near Springfield
The 2000s were the busiest decade near Springfield, with 40 of the 142 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 12 so far. The Springfield record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Springfield, 117 reached EF0 or EF1 and 25 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Springfield is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged.
Across the last 20 years Springfield has averaged 4.0 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 80 in total. 2008 was the busiest of them with 13, and 3 of those years passed with none at all.