Beckley, WV Tornado History — 14 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Beckley, WV had?
Beckley has had 14 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 2 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Beckley?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Beckley was an EF2 on April 2, 2024.
When is tornado season in Beckley?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Beckley, 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 Beckley
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 3 total, averaging 0.1 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Beckley since December 29, 2025
These 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Within 25 miles of Beckley. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
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 Beckley
1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Beckley since 1950, across 1 event. 48 injuries have been reported across all events. 1974 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F3 on April 4, 1974, which caused 1 fatality along a 32.2-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Beckley
About Tornadoes in Beckley
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.
Beckley, West Virginia has experienced 14 documented tornadoes within 25 miles of the city since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. While tornadoes are less frequent in the mountainous terrain of southern West Virginia compared to the Great Plains, the region has seen periodic tornado activity, with the majority of events occurring during the spring months when atmospheric conditions favor severe weather development.
The 1970s marked the most active decade for tornado activity near Beckley, with 5 recorded events, followed by the 1960s with 3 tornadoes. Activity has been more sporadic in recent decades, with 2 tornadoes in the 2010s and 1 in the 2020s. April stands out as the peak month for tornado occurrence, accounting for 8 of the 14 total events. This seasonal pattern aligns with the typical springtime clash of warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico with cooler air masses across the Appalachian region.
In terms of intensity, the tornadoes near Beckley have ranged from EF0 to EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which rates tornado strength based on damage indicators. The distribution includes 3 EF0 tornadoes, 6 EF1 tornadoes, 3 EF2 tornadoes, and 2 EF3 tornadoes. The most significant event on record occurred on April 4, 1974, when an F3 tornado tracked 32.2 miles with a maximum width of just 10 yards. This tornado resulted in 1 fatality and caused $2,750,000 in property damage, making it both the deadliest and costliest tornado in the area's recorded history.
The most recent tornado near Beckley occurred on April 2, 2024, when an EF2 tornado with a path length of 5.3 miles and a maximum width of 325 yards caused $100,000 in property damage. This event was also the widest tornado on record for the area. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported from this storm, reflecting improvements in warning systems and public preparedness over the decades.