Chapel Hill, NC Tornado History — 52 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Chapel Hill, NC had?
Chapel Hill has had 52 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 3 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Chapel Hill?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Chapel Hill was an EF1 on July 6, 2025.
When is tornado season in Chapel Hill?
March is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Chapel Hill, with 11 on record. April through June account for 17 of the 52 tornadoes on record near Chapel Hill.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Chapel Hill
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 17 total, averaging 0.8 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Chapel Hill since December 29, 2025
These are 3 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
(RAH)
Numerous mature hardwood and pine trees downed... snapped and twisted on Beaver Creek Road... just south of Pea Ridge Road. Damage was coincident with a radar TDS. (RAH)
(RAH)
Within 25 miles of Chapel Hill. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Chapel Hill
3 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Chapel Hill 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 Chapel Hill totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
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)
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)
WNCN meteorologist observed multiple trees down... including at least one large pine snapped... in the 4000 block of Moncure Pittsboro Rd. (RAH)
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 Chapel Hill
12 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Chapel Hill since 1950, across 3 events. 274 injuries have been reported across all events. 2011 was the deadliest year on record near Chapel Hill.
The deadliest single event was an EF3 on April 16, 2011, which caused 6 fatalities along a 65.2-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Chapel Hill
What the record shows near Chapel Hill
The 2020s are the busiest decade on record so far near Chapel Hill, with 11 of the 52 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles. The Chapel Hill record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Chapel Hill, 41 reached EF0 or EF1 and 11 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Chapel Hill is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged.
Across the last 20 years Chapel Hill has averaged 0.8 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 17 in total. 2025 was the busiest of them with 4, and 9 of those years passed with none at all.