St. Joseph, MO Tornado History — 89 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has St. Joseph, MO had?
St. Joseph has had 89 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 4 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near St. Joseph?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of St. Joseph was an EF0 on May 19, 2025.
When is tornado season in St. Joseph?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near St. Joseph, with 26 on record. April through June account for 66 of the 89 tornadoes on record near St. Joseph.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near St. Joseph
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 12 total, averaging 0.6 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near St. Joseph 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Preliminary NWS Damage Survey results have confirmed an EF0 Tornado developed just west of Fillmore... MO Monday (5/18/2026) at 811 PM CDT. EF0 damage to trees and stru (EAX)
Within 25 miles of St. Joseph. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near St. Joseph
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of St. Joseph and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 19, 2025 and the most recent on May 19, 2025. It is already counted in the St. Joseph totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.
Storm survey found evidence of a 4 mile long EF-0 tornado in northern Buchanan County. (EAX)
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 St. Joseph
1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of St. Joseph since 1950, across 1 event. 72 injuries have been reported across all events. 1994 was the deadliest year on record near St. Joseph.
The deadliest single event was an F2 on June 25, 1994, which caused 1 fatality along a 0.8-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near St. Joseph
What the record shows near St. Joseph
The 2000s were the busiest decade near St. Joseph, with 26 of the 89 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 5 so far. The St. Joseph record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near St. Joseph, 73 reached EF0 or EF1 and 16 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near St. Joseph is rated EF3, of which 4 are logged.
Across the last 20 years St. Joseph has averaged 0.6 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 12 in total. 2009 was the busiest of them with 2, and 11 of those years passed with none at all.