Kannapolis, NC Tornado History — 75 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Kannapolis, NC had?
Kannapolis has had 75 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 1 strong to violent (EF3+) tornado.
When was the most recent tornado near Kannapolis?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Kannapolis was an EF0 on May 3, 2025.
When is tornado season in Kannapolis?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Kannapolis, with 18 on record. April through June account for 29 of the 75 tornadoes on record near Kannapolis.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Kannapolis
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 25 total, averaging 1.3 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Kannapolis 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 Kannapolis. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Kannapolis
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Kannapolis 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 Kannapolis 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 Kannapolis
1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Kannapolis since 1950, across 1 event. 21 injuries have been reported across all events. 2006 was the deadliest year on record near Kannapolis.
The deadliest single event was an F1 on November 15, 2006, which caused 1 fatality along a 6.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Kannapolis
What the record shows near Kannapolis
The 1990s were the busiest decade near Kannapolis, with 15 of the 75 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 11 so far. The Kannapolis record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Kannapolis, 63 reached EF0 or EF1 and 12 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Kannapolis is rated EF3, of which 1 is logged.
Across the last 20 years Kannapolis has averaged 1.3 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 25 in total. 2010 was the busiest of them with 5, and 9 of those years passed with none at all.