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Wheeling, WV Tornado History — 30 Tornadoes Since 1950

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

How many tornadoes has Wheeling, WV had?

Wheeling has had 30 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.

When was the most recent tornado near Wheeling?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Wheeling was an EF0 on May 21, 2025.

When is tornado season in Wheeling?

October is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Wheeling, with 6 on record. April through June account for 11 of the 30 tornadoes on record near Wheeling.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
30
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
0
0.0% of total
Peak Month
October
6 on record
Per Year Avg
0.4
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Wheeling

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 17 total, averaging 0.8 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 2
2024 1
2023 2
2022 2
2021 8
2020 0
2019 0
2018 1
2017 0
2016 1
2015 0
2014 0
2013 0
2012 0
2011 0
2010 0
2009 0
2008 0
2007 0

What storm spotters reported near Wheeling

2 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Wheeling and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 16, 2025 and the most recent on May 21, 2025. They are already counted in the Wheeling totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.

EF0° May 21, 2025
2 N Buffalo, Washington County, PA
Based on damage reports provided to NWS... a brief EF0 tornado (max wind 65 mph) began near Oakleaf Rd... crossed Willow Rd and likely weakened toward Lynn Portal Rd. D (PBZ)
EF0° May 16, 2025
6 ENE West Finley, Washington County, PA
EF0 tornado determined with max wind of 65 mph. (PBZ)

Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 1
1960s 1
1970s 3
1980s 4
1990s 2
2000s 2
2010s 2
2020s 15

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 7
EF1 17
EF2 5
Unrated 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 1
Feb 1
Mar 1
Apr 3
May 5
Jun 3
Jul 5
Aug 5
Sep 0
Oct 6
Nov 0
Dec 0

Have any tornadoes near Wheeling been fatal?

No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Wheeling from any of the 30 tornadoes since 1950, though 9 injuries have been reported, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.

Notable Tornadoes Near Wheeling

Costliest Tornado
EF2 on October 21, 2021 — $7.5M in reported property damage.
Widest Tornado
EF2 on October 21, 2021 — 700 yards wide.
Longest Path
EF2 on October 21, 2021 — 15.7 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on May 21, 2025.

What the record shows near Wheeling

The 2020s are the busiest decade on record so far near Wheeling, with 15 of the 30 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles. The Wheeling record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Wheeling, 24 reached EF0 or EF1 and 5 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Wheeling is rated EF2, of which 5 are logged. A further 1 near Wheeling is unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.

Across the last 20 years Wheeling has averaged 0.8 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 17 in total. 2021 was the busiest of them with 8, and 13 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Wheeling, WV had?
Since 1950, 30 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Wheeling. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
When is tornado season in Wheeling?
October is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Wheeling, with 6 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 Wheeling?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Wheeling was an EF0 on May 21, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Wheeling?
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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