Radford, VA Tornado History — 11 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Radford, VA had?
Radford has had 11 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Radford?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Radford was an EF1 on August 31, 2021.
When is tornado season in Radford?
August is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Radford, with 3 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 Radford
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 8 total, averaging 0.4 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
Have any tornadoes near Radford been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Radford from any of the 11 tornadoes since 1950, though 9 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Radford
About Tornadoes in Radford
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.
Radford, Virginia has experienced 11 tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since comprehensive record-keeping began in 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. The distribution of these events shows considerable variation by decade, with the 2010s accounting for nearly half of all recorded tornadoes in the area. Earlier decades saw minimal activity, with just one tornado in the 1980s, two in the 1990s, and one in the 2000s, while the 2020s have recorded two events through recent years.
The intensity of tornadoes near Radford has remained relatively modest. Of the 11 recorded events, eight were rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado strength based on damage to structures and vegetation. Two tornadoes were classified as EF0, the weakest category, while only one reached EF2 intensity. Notably, none of the tornadoes on record in the Radford area resulted in fatalities, though several caused significant property damage.
The most destructive tornado occurred on April 8, 2011, when an EF2 tornado carved a 1.9-mile path with a maximum width of 400 yards, causing $3.9 million in property damage. That same day, another tornado—an EF1—traveled 3.1 miles with a maximum width of 480 yards, making it both the widest and longest-path tornado on record for the area. This event caused an additional $1.4 million in damage. The coincidence of multiple tornadoes on the same date reflects the nature of severe weather outbreaks, which can spawn several tornadoes from the same atmospheric conditions.
August has been the most active month for tornado activity near Radford, with three recorded events, though tornadoes have occurred during other months as well. The most recent tornado touched down on August 31, 2021, as an EF1 that traveled 1.9 miles and reached a maximum width of 75 yards, causing approximately $20,000 in property damage. While tornado activity in southwestern Virginia is less frequent than in the nation's central plains, these records demonstrate that the region experiences periodic severe weather capable of producing damaging tornadoes.