Matthews, NC Tornado History — 76 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Matthews, NC had?
Matthews has had 76 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 3 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Matthews?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Matthews was an EF1 on March 5, 2025.
When is tornado season in Matthews?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Matthews, with 17 on record. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Matthews
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 22 total, averaging 1.1 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Matthews since December 29, 2025
These 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Within 25 miles of Matthews. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
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 Matthews
1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Matthews since 1950, across 1 event. 61 injuries have been reported across all events. 1989 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F4 on May 5, 1989, which caused 1 fatality along a 13.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Matthews
About Tornadoes in Matthews
This overview was written April 23, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Matthews, North Carolina, sits in a region where tornadoes occur with moderate regularity. According to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, 68 tornadoes have been documented within 25 miles of the city since 1950, when systematic record-keeping began. The distribution across decades shows considerable variation, with the 1970s recording the highest activity at 15 events, while the 1950s saw only 3. The current decade through 2025 has already logged 5 tornadoes, including an EF1 event on March 5, 2025, that caused $150,000 in property damage along a 2.3-mile path.
The majority of tornadoes near Matthews have been relatively weak. Of the 68 recorded events, 23 were rated EF0 and 28 were rated EF1, meaning they caused light to moderate damage. Thirteen tornadoes reached EF2 intensity, while stronger events have been rare: only two EF3 tornadoes and one EF4 have occurred in the area since 1950. The Enhanced Fujita scale, which replaced the original Fujita scale in 2007, estimates tornado intensity based on damage to structures and vegetation, ranging from EF0 (winds 65–85 mph) to EF5 (winds over 200 mph).
May stands out as the peak month for tornado activity in the Matthews area, with 14 events on record. This aligns with broader patterns across the southeastern United States, where springtime atmospheric conditions—including the collision of warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico with cooler, drier air masses—create favorable environments for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.
The most significant tornado in the area's recorded history was an F4 event on May 6, 1989, which remains both the deadliest and widest on record. That tornado claimed one life, caused $27.5 million in property damage, carved a 13-mile path, and reached a maximum width of 500 yards. Another notable event occurred on March 27, 1994, when an F3 tornado traveled 18.5 miles and tied the 1989 storm's damage total at $27.5 million, though fortunately it caused no fatalities. The longest-tracked tornado was an F2 that covered 30.6 miles on March 24, 1975.