Leland, NC Tornado History — 99 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Leland, NC had?
Leland has had 99 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 2 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Leland?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Leland was an EF0 on July 6, 2025.
When is tornado season in Leland?
September is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Leland, with 28 on record. April through June account for 35 of the 99 tornadoes on record near Leland.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Leland
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 55 total, averaging 2.8 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Leland 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Damage in the vicinity of 1225 Fertilizer Road. 2 houses with roofs blown off. 1 shop roof blown off. (ILM)
Within 25 miles of Leland. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Leland
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Leland and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on July 5, 2025 and the most recent on July 5, 2025. It is already counted in the Leland totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.
An NWS Survey Team found damage consistent with a weak tornado near the Kings Grant subdivision in Wilmington... NC and along Cornelius Moor Avenue and Acorn Branch Roa (ILM)
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 Leland
14 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Leland since 1950, across 3 events. 68 injuries have been reported across all events. 2006 was the deadliest year on record near Leland.
The deadliest single event was an F3 on November 16, 2006, which caused 8 fatalities along a 2.1-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Leland
What the record shows near Leland
The 2010s were the busiest decade near Leland, with 35 of the 99 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 18 so far. The Leland record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Leland, 93 reached EF0 or EF1 and 6 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Leland is rated EF3, of which 2 are logged.
Across the last 20 years Leland has averaged 2.8 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 55 in total. 2019 was the busiest of them with 12, and 6 of those years passed with none at all.