Staunton, VA Tornado History — 20 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Staunton, VA had?
Staunton has had 20 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Staunton?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Staunton was an EF0 on May 6, 2022.
When is tornado season in Staunton?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Staunton, with 8 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 Staunton
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 7 total, averaging 0.3 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 Staunton
2 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Staunton since 1950, across 1 event. 12 injuries have been reported across all events. 1990 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F2 on May 4, 1990, which caused 2 fatalities along a 7.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Staunton
About Tornadoes in Staunton
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.
Staunton, Virginia, situated in the Shenandoah Valley, has experienced 20 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records. While tornadoes are less frequent in this region compared to the Great Plains, the area's topography and position along the eastern slopes of the Appalachian Mountains create conditions that can occasionally support severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes.
The historical record shows considerable variation across decades. The 1950s saw three tornadoes, followed by just one in the 1960s and three in the 1970s. No tornadoes were recorded in the 1980s within the search radius. Activity resumed in the 1990s with three events, continued with three in the 2000s, increased to four in the 2010s, and has recorded three tornadoes so far in the 2020s. The intensity distribution reveals that most events have been relatively weak, with six rated EF0, ten rated EF1, and four reaching EF2 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado damage on a scale from EF0 to EF5.
April stands out as the peak month for tornado activity in the Staunton area, accounting for eight of the 20 recorded events. This aligns with broader national patterns, as spring months typically see increased tornado activity when warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico clashes with cooler air masses, creating the atmospheric instability necessary for severe thunderstorm development.
The deadliest tornado on record occurred on May 4, 1990, when an F2 tornado claimed two lives while causing $2,750,000 in property damage along a 7.0-mile path with a maximum width of 27 yards. The costliest and widest tornado struck on June 10, 1995—an F1 event that carved a 3.5-mile path up to 300 yards wide, resulting in $2,750,000 in damage but no fatalities. The longest-tracked tornado traveled 15.2 miles on April 4, 1974, as part of the historic Super Outbreak that affected multiple states. The most recent tornado, an EF0, touched down on May 7, 2022, causing $8,000 in damage along a brief 0.1-mile path.