Fairmont, WV Tornado History — 29 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Fairmont, WV had?
Fairmont has had 29 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 1 violent (EF3+) tornado.
When was the most recent tornado near Fairmont?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Fairmont was an EF0 on June 26, 2024.
When is tornado season in Fairmont?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Fairmont, with 13 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 Fairmont
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 12 total, averaging 0.6 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Fairmont since December 29, 2025
These are 4 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 Fairmont. 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 Fairmont
1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Fairmont since 1950, across 1 event. 20 injuries have been reported across all events. 1982 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F1 on June 16, 1982, which caused 1 fatality along a 2.5-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Fairmont
About Tornadoes in Fairmont
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.
Since 1950, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Storm Prediction Center has documented 29 tornadoes within 25 miles of Fairmont, West Virginia. These events span seven decades, with notable variation in frequency over time. The 1950s recorded just one tornado in the area, while activity increased to five tornadoes in both the 1970s and 1980s. The 2010s saw the highest concentration with nine tornadoes, followed by a decrease to three events so far in the 2020s.
The majority of tornadoes near Fairmont have been relatively weak on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which rates tornado intensity from EF0 to EF5 based on damage indicators. Of the 29 recorded events, 10 were rated EF0 and 15 were rated EF1, representing the lower end of the intensity spectrum. Three tornadoes reached EF2 strength, and only one achieved EF3 status. This distribution is consistent with national patterns, where weaker tornadoes significantly outnumber violent ones.
June stands out as the peak month for tornado activity in the Fairmont area, accounting for 13 of the 29 documented events. This seasonal concentration aligns with typical springtime severe weather patterns across the eastern United States, when warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico collides with cooler air masses. The most recent tornado occurred on June 27, 2024, an EF0 event that traveled 0.3 miles with a maximum width of 65 yards and caused $50,000 in property damage.
The most significant tornado on record struck on June 3, 1980, an F3-rated storm that carved a 29.8-mile path with a maximum width of 150 yards. This event caused $2,750,000 in property damage but resulted in no fatalities. The widest tornado recorded near Fairmont was an EF1 on June 23, 2017, which reached 400 yards across during its 4.4-mile track. The area's only tornado-related fatality occurred on June 16, 1982, when an F1 tornado with a 2.5-mile path caused one death and $275,000 in property damage.