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Cordova, TN Tornado History — 122 Tornadoes Since 1950

Tennessee · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Cordova, TN had?

Cordova has had 122 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 12 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Cordova?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Cordova was an EF1 on May 18, 2025.

When is tornado season in Cordova?

May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Cordova, with 23 on record. April through June account for 63 of the 122 tornadoes on record near Cordova.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
122
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
12
9.8% of total
Peak Month
May
23 on record
Per Year Avg
1.6
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Cordova

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 29 total, averaging 1.4 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 2
2024 0
2023 5
2022 0
2021 3
2020 2
2019 2
2018 0
2017 1
2016 0
2015 0
2014 1
2013 2
2012 0
2011 1
2010 2
2009 4
2008 4
2007 0

What storm spotters reported near Cordova

2 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Cordova and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 2, 2025 and the most recent on May 18, 2025. They are already counted in the Cordova totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.

EF1° May 19, 2025
2 ENE Hernando, DeSoto County, MS
EF1 tornado with 95 mph winds occurred in Hernando... MS. (MEG)
April 3, 2025
1 SSE Slayden, Marshall County, MS
*** 1 INJ *** Extensive damage across the northern part of Marshall County. Multiple homes damaged with numerous trees and powerlines down. (MEG)

Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 4
1960s 23
1970s 22
1980s 13
1990s 23
2000s 16
2010s 9
2020s 12

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.

EF0 37
EF1 48
EF2 25
EF3 11
EF4 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 11
Feb 8
Mar 15
Apr 22
May 23
Jun 18
Jul 6
Aug 2
Sep 1
Oct 3
Nov 10
Dec 3

Casualties on Record Near Cordova

44 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Cordova since 1950, across 11 events. 557 injuries have been reported across all events. 1952 was the deadliest year on record near Cordova.

The deadliest single event was an F4 on March 21, 1952, which caused 16 fatalities along a 29.6-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Cordova

Deadliest Tornado
F4 on March 21, 1952 — 16 fatalities, 29.6 mi path, 427 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
EF3 on March 31, 2023 — $150.6M in reported property damage.
Widest Tornado
EF3 on March 31, 2023 — 2,000 yards wide.
Longest Path
EF3 on March 31, 2023 — 72.5 mile track.
Most Recent
EF1 on May 18, 2025.

What the record shows near Cordova

The 1960s were the busiest decade near Cordova, with 23 of the 122 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 12 so far. The Cordova record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Cordova, 85 reached EF0 or EF1 and 37 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Cordova is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged.

Across the last 20 years Cordova has averaged 1.4 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 29 in total. 2023 was the busiest of them with 5, and 8 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Cordova, TN had?
Since 1950, 122 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Cordova. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Cordova?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Cordova was an F4 on March 21, 1952, which caused 16 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Cordova?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Cordova, with 23 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
Has Cordova been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Cordova, there has been 0 EF5 and 1 EF4 tornado recorded since 1950. EF4 and EF5 tornadoes are the most destructive ratings on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with winds above 166 mph.
When was the most recent tornado near Cordova?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Cordova was an EF1 on May 18, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Cordova?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

Official Resources

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