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Burlington, NC Tornado History — 45 Tornadoes Since 1950

North Carolina · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Burlington, NC had?

Burlington has had 45 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 1 strong to violent (EF3+) tornado.

When was the most recent tornado near Burlington?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Burlington was an EF1 on July 6, 2025.

When is tornado season in Burlington?

May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Burlington, with 10 on record. April through June account for 21 of the 45 tornadoes on record near Burlington.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
45
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
1
2.2% of total
Peak Month
May
10 on record
Per Year Avg
0.6
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Burlington

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 18 total, averaging 0.9 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 2
2024 1
2023 0
2022 2
2021 3
2020 2
2019 2
2018 1
2017 0
2016 0
2015 0
2014 0
2013 0
2012 0
2011 1
2010 2
2009 0
2008 2
2007 0

What storm spotters reported near Burlington

2 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Burlington and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on July 6, 2025 and the most recent on July 6, 2025. They are already counted in the Burlington totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.

July 6, 2025
2 NE Mebane, Orange County, NC
Tree snapped and fell on a home in the cul-de-sac of Casey Ln. Other minor tree damage evident on Saddle Club Rd. (RAH)
July 6, 2025
5 SSE Alamance, Alamance County, NC
A tornado touched down along Mount Hermon Rock Creek Rd in Southwest Alamance County... just north of Russell McPherson Rd. It then tracked south a short distance befor (RAH)

Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 2
1960s 6
1970s 4
1980s 2
1990s 9
2000s 6
2010s 6
2020s 10

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.

EF0 11
EF1 24
EF2 9
EF3 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 2
Feb 1
Mar 8
Apr 7
May 10
Jun 4
Jul 5
Aug 2
Sep 2
Oct 3
Nov 1
Dec 0

Casualties on Record Near Burlington

2 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Burlington since 1950, across 1 event. 22 injuries have been reported across all events. 1992 was the deadliest year on record near Burlington.

The deadliest single event was an F3 on November 23, 1992, which caused 2 fatalities along a 5.5-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Burlington

Deadliest Tornado
F3 on November 23, 1992 — 2 fatalities, 5.5 mi path, 1,200 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
EF2 on April 15, 2018 — $67.2M in reported property damage.
Widest Tornado
F3 on November 23, 1992 — 1,200 yards wide.
Longest Path
F1 on March 30, 1960 — 56.2 mile track.
Most Recent
EF1 on July 6, 2025.

What the record shows near Burlington

The 2020s are the busiest decade on record so far near Burlington, with 10 of the 45 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles. The Burlington record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Burlington, 35 reached EF0 or EF1 and 10 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Burlington is rated EF3, of which 1 is logged.

Across the last 20 years Burlington has averaged 0.9 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 18 in total. 2021 was the busiest of them with 3, and 10 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Burlington, NC had?
Since 1950, 45 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Burlington. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Burlington?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Burlington was an F3 on November 23, 1992, which caused 2 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Burlington?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Burlington, with 10 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
When was the most recent tornado near Burlington?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Burlington was an EF1 on July 6, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Burlington?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

Official Resources

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