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Beckley, WV Tornado History — 14 Tornadoes Since 1950

West Virginia · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Beckley, WV had?

Beckley has had 14 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 2 strong to 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. April through June account for 9 of the 14 tornadoes on record near Beckley.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
14
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
2
14.3% of total
Peak Month
April
8 on record
Per Year Avg
0.2
Across 76 years

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.

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

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

Preliminary tornado reports near Beckley 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 EF1° April 29, 2026
3 NE Fayetteville, Fayette County, WV
An EF1 tornado began in the Pine Grove community of Fayette County... skipping along a 5 mile path in an east-southeasterly direction... lifting near the intersection o (RLX)

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

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 1
1960s 3
1970s 5
1980s 1
1990s 1
2010s 2
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 3
EF1 6
EF2 3
EF3 2

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 1
Mar 1
Apr 8
May 0
Jun 1
Jul 1
Aug 0
Sep 0
Oct 2
Nov 0
Dec 0

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 near Beckley.

The deadliest single event was an F3 on April 4, 1974, which caused 1 fatality along a 32.2-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Beckley

Deadliest Tornado
F3 on April 4, 1974 — 1 fatality, 32.2 mi path, 10 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F3 on April 4, 1974 — est. ~$2.8M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
EF2 on April 2, 2024 — 325 yards wide.
Longest Path
F3 on April 4, 1974 — 32.2 mile track.
Most Recent
EF2 on April 2, 2024.

What the record shows near Beckley

The 1970s were the busiest decade near Beckley, with 5 of the 14 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 1 so far. The Beckley record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Beckley, 9 reached EF0 or EF1 and 5 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Beckley is rated EF3, of which 2 are logged.

Across the last 20 years Beckley has averaged 0.1 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 3 in total. 2014 was the busiest of them with 2, and 18 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Beckley, WV had?
Since 1950, 14 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Beckley. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Beckley?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Beckley was an F3 on April 4, 1974, which caused 1 fatality.
When is tornado season in Beckley?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Beckley, with 8 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 Beckley?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Beckley was an EF2 on April 2, 2024.
How do I get tornado warnings for Beckley?
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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