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Jacksonville, NC Tornado History — 94 Tornadoes Since 1950

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

How many tornadoes has Jacksonville, NC had?

Jacksonville has had 94 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 2 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Jacksonville?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Jacksonville was an EF0 on September 16, 2024.

When is tornado season in Jacksonville?

April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Jacksonville, with 24 on record. April through June account for 41 of the 94 tornadoes on record near Jacksonville.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
94
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
2
2.1% of total
Peak Month
April
24 on record
Per Year Avg
1.2
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Jacksonville

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 33 total, averaging 1.6 per year over this window.

2026 0+3 prelim
2025 0
2024 3
2023 4
2022 0
2021 0
2020 4
2019 4
2018 4
2017 1
2016 1
2015 0
2014 0
2013 1
2012 2
2011 2
2010 0
2009 1
2008 6
2007 0

Striped bars mark preliminary reports not yet confirmed by NWS survey — excluded from the confirmed counts.

Preliminary tornado reports near Jacksonville 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.

Preliminary EF0° September 5, 2026
3 NW Sea View Pier, Onslow County, NC
Storm survey team found evidence of an EF0 tornado with estimated peak winds of 85 mph. The tornado touched down near the Mill Creek neighborhood... then crossed NC 210 (MHX)
Preliminary EF1° March 12, 2026
2 W Maysville, Onslow County, NC
Tornado survey found evidence of an EF 1 tornado in Onslow County near Maysville... with estimated peak winds of 90 mph. (MHX)
Preliminary EF0° March 12, 2026
3 NNW New River Station, Onslow County, NC
A brief EF-0 tornado touched down in Jacksonville... with estimated peak winds of 85 mph. The path length was around 792 ft... with a width of around 20 yards. The most (MHX)

Within 25 miles of Jacksonville. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 2
1960s 4
1970s 8
1980s 7
1990s 20
2000s 27
2010s 15
2020s 11

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 58
EF1 24
EF2 10
EF3 2

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 1
Feb 2
Mar 4
Apr 24
May 9
Jun 8
Jul 9
Aug 14
Sep 13
Oct 7
Nov 3
Dec 0

Casualties on Record Near Jacksonville

5 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Jacksonville since 1950, across 2 events. 168 injuries have been reported across all events. 1986 was the deadliest year on record near Jacksonville.

The deadliest single event was an F2 on July 2, 1986, which caused 3 fatalities along a 1.5-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Jacksonville

Deadliest Tornado
F2 on July 2, 1986 — 3 fatalities, 1.5 mi path, 33 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
EF3 on April 16, 2011 — $9.4M in reported property damage.
Widest Tornado
F2 on April 15, 1999 — 900 yards wide.
Longest Path
F3 on March 17, 1965 — 41.3 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on September 16, 2024.

What the record shows near Jacksonville

The 2000s were the busiest decade near Jacksonville, with 27 of the 94 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 11 so far. The Jacksonville record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Jacksonville, 82 reached EF0 or EF1 and 12 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Jacksonville is rated EF3, of which 2 are logged.

Across the last 20 years Jacksonville has averaged 1.6 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 33 in total. 2008 was the busiest of them with 6, and 8 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Jacksonville, NC had?
Since 1950, 94 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Jacksonville. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Jacksonville?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Jacksonville was an F2 on July 2, 1986, which caused 3 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Jacksonville?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Jacksonville, with 24 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 Jacksonville?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Jacksonville was an EF0 on September 16, 2024.
How do I get tornado warnings for Jacksonville?
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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