Bristol, TN Tornado History — 27 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Bristol, TN had?
Bristol has had 27 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 2 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Bristol?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Bristol was an EF0 on May 12, 2017.
When is tornado season in Bristol?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Bristol, with 12 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 Bristol
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 16 total, averaging 0.8 per year over this window.
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 Bristol
6 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Bristol since 1950, across 3 events. 69 injuries have been reported across all events. 2011 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was an EF3 on April 28, 2011, which caused 3 fatalities along a 19.6-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Bristol
About Tornadoes in Bristol
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.
Bristol, Tennessee has experienced 27 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. The frequency of these events has increased notably in recent decades, with 12 tornadoes recorded during the 2010s alone—more than the combined total of the 1950s through 1980s. This uptick may reflect improvements in detection technology and reporting practices rather than necessarily indicating a change in actual tornado occurrence.
April stands out as the most active month for tornado activity in the Bristol area, accounting for 12 of the 27 recorded events. This aligns with the broader pattern of springtime severe weather across the southeastern United States, when warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico collides with cooler air masses, creating atmospheric instability conducive to supercell thunderstorm development. The Enhanced Fujita scale, which rates tornado intensity based on damage, shows that most tornadoes near Bristol have been relatively weak, with 14 rated EF0 and 9 rated EF1. However, the area has also experienced 2 EF2 tornadoes and 2 EF3 tornadoes.
The most significant tornado event on record occurred on April 28, 2011, when an EF3 tornado carved a 19.6-mile path with a maximum width of 1,320 yards. This tornado resulted in 3 fatalities and caused $5.25 million in property damage, making it simultaneously the deadliest, costliest, and longest-tracked tornado in the Bristol area's documented history. The widest tornado on record was an F0 that touched down on April 4, 1974, reaching a maximum width of 2,500 yards along an 18-mile path and causing $275,000 in damage with no fatalities.
The most recent tornado near Bristol was an EF0 that occurred on May 12, 2017. This brief event traveled just 0.1 miles with a maximum width of 40 yards and caused no injuries or property damage.