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Harrisonburg, VA Tornado History — 25 Tornadoes Since 1950

Virginia · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Harrisonburg, VA had?

Harrisonburg has had 25 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.

When was the most recent tornado near Harrisonburg?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Harrisonburg was an EF0 on August 6, 2020.

When is tornado season in Harrisonburg?

April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Harrisonburg, with 9 on record. April through June account for 14 of the 25 tornadoes on record near Harrisonburg.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
25
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
0
0.0% of total
Peak Month
April
9 on record
Per Year Avg
0.3
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Harrisonburg

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 9 total, averaging 0.5 per year over this window.

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

Striped bars mark preliminary reports not yet confirmed by NWS survey — excluded from the confirmed counts.

Preliminary tornado reports near Harrisonburg 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.

Preliminary July 22, 2026
3 N Timberville, Rockingham County, VA
Multidirectional tree damage. Large trees uprooted... large limbs snapped on the 19300 block of Mechanicsville Rd near Timberville VA... consistent with rotation signat (LWX)

Within 25 miles of Harrisonburg. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 3
1960s 1
1970s 3
1990s 4
2000s 7
2010s 6
2020s 1

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 4
EF1 15
EF2 6

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 0
Mar 0
Apr 9
May 2
Jun 3
Jul 2
Aug 5
Sep 2
Oct 2
Nov 0
Dec 0

Have any tornadoes near Harrisonburg been fatal?

No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Harrisonburg from any of the 25 tornadoes since 1950, though 4 injuries have been reported, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.

Notable Tornadoes Near Harrisonburg

Costliest Tornado
F1 on June 10, 1995 — est. ~$2.8M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
EF1 on June 3, 2009 — 600 yards wide.
Longest Path
EF2 on April 28, 2011 — 33.5 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on August 6, 2020.

What the record shows near Harrisonburg

The 2000s were the busiest decade near Harrisonburg, with 7 of the 25 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 1 so far. The Harrisonburg record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Harrisonburg, 19 reached EF0 or EF1 and 6 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Harrisonburg is rated EF2, of which 6 are logged.

Across the last 20 years Harrisonburg has averaged 0.5 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 9 in total. 2011 was the busiest of them with 4, and 14 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Harrisonburg, VA had?
Since 1950, 25 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Harrisonburg. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
When is tornado season in Harrisonburg?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Harrisonburg, with 9 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.
When was the most recent tornado near Harrisonburg?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Harrisonburg was an EF0 on August 6, 2020.
How do I get tornado warnings for Harrisonburg?
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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