Gastonia, NC Tornado History — 106 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Gastonia, NC had?
Gastonia has had 106 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 2 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Gastonia?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Gastonia was an EF0 on May 3, 2025.
When is tornado season in Gastonia?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Gastonia, with 30 on record. April through June account for 47 of the 106 tornadoes on record near Gastonia.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Gastonia
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 36 total, averaging 1.8 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Gastonia 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Brief touchdown of EF0 tornado with maximum winds of 85 mph... tracked from West 28th St to Atando Ave before lifting near Derita Creek Park. (GSP)
Within 25 miles of Gastonia. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Gastonia
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Gastonia 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 Gastonia totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.
A very brief and weak EF-0 tornado touched down just west of Killian Farm Road. The tornado snapped a tree along with multiple large limbs. The tornado continued southe (GSP)
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 Gastonia
1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Gastonia since 1950, across 1 event. 105 injuries have been reported across all events. 1974 was the deadliest year on record near Gastonia.
The deadliest single event was an F1 on April 2, 1974, which caused 1 fatality along a 9.7-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Gastonia
What the record shows near Gastonia
The 2000s were the busiest decade near Gastonia, with 24 of the 106 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 13 so far. The Gastonia record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Gastonia, 90 reached EF0 or EF1 and 15 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Gastonia is rated EF3, of which 2 are logged. A further 1 near Gastonia is unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Gastonia has averaged 1.8 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 36 in total. 2008 was the busiest of them with 5, and 5 of those years passed with none at all.