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Garner, NC Tornado History — 74 Tornadoes Since 1950

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

How many tornadoes has Garner, NC had?

Garner has had 74 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 4 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Garner?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Garner was an EF0 on May 4, 2025.

When is tornado season in Garner?

May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Garner, with 15 on record. April through June account for 32 of the 74 tornadoes on record near Garner.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
74
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
4
5.4% of total
Peak Month
May
15 on record
Per Year Avg
1.0
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Garner

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 31 total, averaging 1.6 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 1
2024 1
2023 1
2022 2
2021 0
2020 0
2019 5
2018 1
2017 0
2016 0
2015 0
2014 3
2013 2
2012 1
2011 4
2010 1
2009 3
2008 1
2007 5

What storm spotters reported near Garner

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Garner and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 3, 2025 and the most recent on May 3, 2025. It is already counted in the Garner totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.

EF0° May 4, 2025
4 SW Four Oaks, Johnston County, NC
UPDATED INFORMATION: A brief EF-0 tornado occurred during the early morning hours of Sunday May 4 2025. A car port and a portion of an outbuilding roof were displaced 1 (RAH)

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

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 6
1960s 3
1970s 6
1980s 9
1990s 13
2000s 15
2010s 17
2020s 5

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 35
EF1 25
EF2 10
EF3 3
EF4 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 1
Feb 3
Mar 13
Apr 11
May 15
Jun 6
Jul 6
Aug 3
Sep 8
Oct 1
Nov 4
Dec 3

Casualties on Record Near Garner

13 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Garner since 1950, across 4 events. 525 injuries have been reported across all events. 2011 was the deadliest year on record near Garner.

The deadliest single event was an EF3 on April 16, 2011, which caused 6 fatalities along a 65.2-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Garner

Deadliest Tornado
EF3 on April 16, 2011 — 6 fatalities, 65.2 mi path, 500 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F4 on November 28, 1988 — est. ~$275.0M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
EF3 on April 16, 2011 — 800 yards wide.
Longest Path
F3 on November 23, 1992 — 160.0 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on May 4, 2025.

What the record shows near Garner

The 2010s were the busiest decade near Garner, with 17 of the 74 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 5 so far. The Garner record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Garner, 60 reached EF0 or EF1 and 14 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Garner is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged.

Across the last 20 years Garner has averaged 1.6 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 31 in total. 2007 was the busiest of them with 5, and 6 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Garner, NC had?
Since 1950, 74 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Garner. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Garner?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Garner was an EF3 on April 16, 2011, which caused 6 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Garner?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Garner, with 15 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.
Has Garner been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Garner, there has been 0 EF5 and 1 EF4 tornado recorded since 1950. EF4 and EF5 tornadoes are the most destructive ratings on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with winds above 166 mph.
When was the most recent tornado near Garner?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Garner was an EF0 on May 4, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Garner?
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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