Rocky Mount, NC Tornado History — 64 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Rocky Mount, NC had?
Rocky Mount has had 64 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 9 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Rocky Mount?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Rocky Mount was an EF1 on May 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in Rocky Mount?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Rocky Mount, with 13 on record. April through June account for 27 of the 64 tornadoes on record near Rocky Mount.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Rocky Mount
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 27 total, averaging 1.4 per year over this window.
What storm spotters reported near Rocky Mount
2 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Rocky Mount and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 12, 2025 and the most recent on May 12, 2025. They are already counted in the Rocky Mount totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
Confirmed with TDS. (RAH)
An EF-1 tornado occurred in the Southern Terrace area of Princeville... NC... then traveled northward into Tarboro. Several large trees were snapped along the way befor (RAH)
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 Rocky Mount
9 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Rocky Mount since 1950, across 5 events. 321 injuries have been reported across all events. 1988 was the deadliest year on record near Rocky Mount.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on November 28, 1988, which caused 4 fatalities along a 83.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Rocky Mount
What the record shows near Rocky Mount
The 2000s were the busiest decade near Rocky Mount, with 13 of the 64 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 9 so far. The Rocky Mount record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Rocky Mount, 45 reached EF0 or EF1 and 19 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Rocky Mount is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged.
Across the last 20 years Rocky Mount has averaged 1.4 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 27 in total. 2019 was the busiest of them with 5, and 10 of those years passed with none at all.