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Charleston, WV Tornado History — 26 Tornadoes Since 1950

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

How many tornadoes has Charleston, WV had?

Charleston has had 26 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.

When was the most recent tornado near Charleston?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Charleston was an EF0 on May 26, 2024.

When is tornado season in Charleston?

April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Charleston, with 7 on record. April through June account for 14 of the 26 tornadoes on record near Charleston.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
26
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
0
0.0% of total
Peak Month
April
7 on record
Per Year Avg
0.3
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Charleston

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 14 total, averaging 0.7 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 0
2024 7
2023 0
2022 0
2021 0
2020 0
2019 2
2018 0
2017 0
2016 3
2015 0
2014 0
2013 0
2012 1
2011 0
2010 0
2009 0
2008 1
2007 0

Tornadoes by Decade

1960s 2
1970s 3
1980s 2
1990s 4
2000s 2
2010s 6
2020s 7

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 10
EF1 15
EF2 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 0
Mar 2
Apr 7
May 1
Jun 6
Jul 3
Aug 3
Sep 2
Oct 1
Nov 0
Dec 1

Have any tornadoes near Charleston been fatal?

No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Charleston from any of the 26 tornadoes since 1950, though 4 injuries have been reported, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.

Notable Tornadoes Near Charleston

Costliest Tornado
EF1 on June 24, 2019 — $500K in reported property damage.
Widest Tornado
EF1 on June 24, 2019 — 350 yards wide.
Longest Path
F1 on September 29, 1972 — 20.9 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on May 26, 2024.

What the record shows near Charleston

The 2020s are the busiest decade on record so far near Charleston, with 7 of the 26 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles. The Charleston record runs from the 1960s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Charleston, 25 reached EF0 or EF1 and 1 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Charleston is rated EF2, of which 1 is logged.

Across the last 20 years Charleston has averaged 0.7 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 14 in total. 2024 was the busiest of them with 7, and 15 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Charleston, WV had?
Since 1950, 26 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Charleston. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
When is tornado season in Charleston?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Charleston, with 7 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 Charleston?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Charleston was an EF0 on May 26, 2024.
How do I get tornado warnings for Charleston?
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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