West Virginia tornadoes
Every recorded tornado since 1950 · 48 counties with a record
West Virginia has recorded 177 tornadoes from 1950 through 2025, about 3.7 a year since 2000, with 7 rated F3/EF3 or stronger (NOAA Storm Prediction Center). The deadliest was the April 4, 1974 Meadow Bridge tornado (1 death in West Virginia). West Virginia ranks 38th of 52 states and territories by count and 38th of 51 per square mile.
Tornadoes in West Virginia, 1950 to 2025
Tornadoes per year (SPC; a tornado that crossed a state line counts in each state it touched).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $1 million
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- $1 billion or more, or 100 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1996: tornado reports rose with NEXRAD Doppler radar, mid-1990s (SPC)
- Tornadoes
- 1771950 to 2025
- A year since 2000
- 3.7average
- Deaths
- 3122 injuries
- F3/EF3 or stronger
- 74% of tornadoes
- Busiest year
- 202420 tornadoes
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025 (state segments). SPC severe weather database.
Are tornadoes common in West Virginia?
West Virginia averages about 3.7 tornadoes a year since 2000, 38th of 52 states and territories by count. The busiest year on record was 2024 (20). Per 10,000 square miles of land, West Virginia records 74 tornadoes since 1950, 38th of 51 states and territories by that measure.
Source: NOAA SPC, tornadoes 1950-2025, per 10,000 square miles of land area (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer; places under 1,000 square miles not ranked). Damage colours: Storm Events damage, 2025 dollars.
Which counties in West Virginia have the most tornadoes?
Per square mile, Berkeley County leads West Virginia: 12 days with a tornado record since 1950, 37.4 per 1,000 square miles of land. By raw count, Kanawha County has the most tornado records (15 since 1950); large counties collect more records simply by covering more ground, so the ranking counts days with a record per unit of area (a storm filed for several forecast zones adds several records but one day).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, days with a record in the county since 1950 per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer); in brackets, the count of records.
When is tornado season in West Virginia?
47% of its tornadoes since 1950 fell in June and July. The busiest month is June (49 tornadoes).
The values, month by month
Jan 2 · Feb 1 · Mar 8 · Apr 29 · May 15 · Jun 49 · Jul 35 · Aug 19 · Sep 9 · Oct 6 · Nov 1 · Dec 3 (records).
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, state segments by the month they began, 1950-2025.
What were the deadliest tornadoes in West Virginia?
| Date | Counties | Rating | Path in state | Killed | Injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974-04-04 | Meadow Bridge · Raleigh, Fayette, Greenbrier | F3 | 32.2 mi | 1 | 11 |
| 2010-09-16 | Coolville · WoodWhole track: OH, WV; 1 death | EF3 | 6.53 mi | 1 | 10 |
| 1982-06-16 | Morgantown · Monongalia | F1 | 2.5 mi | 1 | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (state segments: deaths and path inside West Virginia), 1950-2025; counties are the first four the SPC lists for the segment. SPC severe weather database.
Where have the strongest tornadoes tracked in West Virginia?
- F2/EF2
- F3/EF3
- F4/EF4
- F5/EF5
- no end point filed
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, start and end points of each track; county lines: Census Bureau cartographic boundaries (2017), via us-atlas. SPC severe weather database. Census cartographic boundary files.
The strongest tornadoes in West Virginia
| Date | Counties | Rating | Path in state | Width | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974-04-04 | Meadow Bridge · Raleigh, Fayette, Greenbrier | F3 | 32.2 mi | 10 yd | 1 |
| 2010-09-16 | Coolville · Wood | EF3 | 6.53 mi | 500 yd | 1 |
| 2012-03-02 | West Liberty · Wayne, Lincoln | EF3 | 25.49 mi | 1,000 yd | 0 |
| 1980-06-03 | Kingwood · Monongalia, Preston | F3 | 24.2 mi | 150 yd | 0 |
| 1974-04-04 | Coal to Shady Spring · Raleigh | F3 | 9.2 mi | 10 yd | 0 |
| 1965-04-08 | Catlettsburg to Ceredo · Wayne | F3 | 3.6 mi | 220 yd | 0 |
| 1986-10-01 | West Union · Doddridge | F3 | 1 mi | 200 yd | 0 |
| 1998-06-02 | Mineral, Hampshire | F2 | 15 mi | 150 yd | 0 |
| 1989-11-16 | Hillsboro to Bolivar · Jefferson | F2 | 9 mi | 50 yd | 0 |
| 2024-04-02 | Nitro · Kanawha | EF2 | 8 mi | 300 yd | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database; F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after.
The longest tornado paths in West Virginia
| Date | Tornado and counties | Rating | Path in state | Width | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974-04-04 | Meadow Bridge · Raleigh, Fayette, Greenbrier | F3 | 32.2 mi | 10 yd | 1 |
| 2012-03-02 | West Liberty · Wayne, Lincoln | EF3 | 25.49 mi | 1,000 yd | 0 |
| 1980-06-03 | Kingwood · Monongalia, Preston | F3 | 24.2 mi | 150 yd | 0 |
| 1972-09-29 | Lincoln | F1 | 20.9 mi | 70 yd | 0 |
| 2012-03-02 | Lincoln | EF1 | 16.02 mi | 300 yd | 0 |
| 1998-06-02 | Mineral, Hampshire | F2 | 15 mi | 150 yd | 0 |
| 1998-01-09 | Marshall | F1 | 11 mi | 250 yd | 0 |
| 1996-07-30 | Wetzel | F1 | 10 mi | 100 yd | 0 |
| 1974-04-04 | Coal to Shady Spring · Raleigh | F3 | 9.2 mi | 10 yd | 0 |
| 1989-11-16 | Hillsboro to Bolivar · Jefferson | F2 | 9 mi | 50 yd | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, state segments: path length and width inside the state. SPC severe weather database.
Tornadoes in every West Virginia county
All 48 counties: tornadoes whose track touched each, and the strongest
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database: whole tornadoes whose track touched the county (any state segment listing it). SPC severe weather database.
The costliest tornadoes in West Virginia
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-06-02 | TornadoGlade Farms, Preston County An F2 tornado passed southeast through southern Fayette County PA, the northeast tip of Preston County WV, and into northwest Garrett County MD. The total length of the tornado as it passed across these three counties was 12 miles. Damage in Preston County included a completely destroyed dairy barn, two completely ... | F2 4 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $13M |
| 2012-03-02 | TornadoGlenhayes, Wayne County The tornado crossed the Tug Fork River from Lawrence County, Kentucky and enter Wayne County. Numerous trees were blown down near Glenhayes. The tornado passed between Dunlow and Radnor, then into the Kiahsville and Cove Gap vicinity along Route 37. In the Dunlow vicinity, the damage was from hilltop to hilltop, just ... | EF3 16.61 mi x 1,000 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.4M |
| 2003-07-10 | TornadoLubeck, Wood County The tornado first touched down along Raymond Street near Lubeck. Several homes were damaged here, including a brick garage, which had its roof thrown a couple hundred feet into neighboring homes. The tornado continued northeast along Smitherman Road, where it intensified to F2 strength. Eight homes were damaged at his ... | F2 2.5 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.4M |
| 2010-09-16 | TornadoHumphrey, Wood County This tornado originated in northeastern Meigs County Ohio and crossed the Ohio River, just upstream of the lock and dam and the community of Belleville. A small pocket of EF3 damage located along Route 68 in the valley and flood plain along the river. The maximum wind gusts were estimated at 160 mph here. Also, the ... | EF3 6.53 mi x 500 yd | 1 | 10 | $1.4M |
| 1998-05-24 | TornadoSardis, Harrison County The path was through rural countryside, including Lamberts Run. The path missed Clarksburg by just 2 miles. One house was destroyed, 2 homes and 1 mobile home had major damage. Two garages were destroyed. Other damage was to vehicles and campers. Numerous trees were blown over or snapped. Peak wind gusts were ... | F1 4 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 1 | $1.1M |
| 1994-08-17 | TornadoBerkeley County A tornado touched down near Route 9 and Benspeck Road, a 0.25 of a mile west of Hedgesville. The tornado damaged three homes partially destroying one. It destroyed a shed and uprooted some large pine trees. The path length was estimated at 2 miles long and 100 yards wide. | F1 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $995K |
| 2022-08-01 | TornadoDallas, Marshall County A storm survey conducted by NWS Pittsburgh confirmed than an EF2 tornado touched down in Marshall County WV, continued into portions of Ohio County WV, and ended in Washington County PA. An EF2 tornado was determined based on the visible tree damage. The tornado touched down just west of the end of Sparrow Lane off of ... | EF2 1.22 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 0 | $610K |
| 2019-06-24 | TornadoAlumville, Kanawha County A tornado touched down 4 miles east northeast of Alum Creek, just inside the Kanawha County line. The tornado continued moving northeastward in the vicinity of Route 119 and eventually dissipated near the Kanawha River as it approached downtown Charleston. The tornado was not continuously on the ground, frequently ... | EF1 7.85 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 0 | $577K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 4, 1974 (tornado, Fayette County, 1 killed); June 3, 1980 (tornado, Preston County); April 4, 1974 (tornado, Raleigh County); April 4, 1974 (tornado, Wyoming County); April 4, 1974 (tornado, Greenbrier County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: property and crop damage as estimated by the National Weather Service, in 2025 dollars.
Are tornadoes becoming more frequent in West Virginia?
West Virginia's count per decade against the whole country's, and its share. The Storm Prediction Center notes that tornado reports rose especially around the installation of the NEXRAD Doppler radar network in the mid-1990s, so a rising count is partly better detection; the share of the national total is the fairer comparison across decades.
| Decade | West Virginia | United States | West Virginia's share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 8 | 4,837 | 0.17% |
| 1960s | 20 | 6,863 | 0.29% |
| 1970s | 28 | 8,633 | 0.32% |
| 1980s | 18 | 8,250 | 0.22% |
| 1990s | 29 | 12,205 | 0.24% |
| 2000s | 16 | 12,892 | 0.12% |
| 2010s | 32 | 12,232 | 0.26% |
| 2020-25 | 26 | 8,234 | 0.32% |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, state segments.
The most recent tornadoes in West Virginia
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-22 | TornadoHopewell, Marion County | EF0 0.22 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $24K |
| 2026-06-22 | TornadoMoatsville, Barbour County | EF1 1.13 mi x 275 yd | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 2026-05-13 | TornadoKanes Creek, Preston County | EF0 0.8 mi x 65 yd | 0 | 0 | $30K |
| 2026-04-29 | TornadoLansing, Fayette County | EF1 5 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| 2024-09-25 | TornadoHillsboro, Pocahontas County | EFU 2.21 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-08-08 | TornadoTomahawk, Berkeley County | EF0 0.49 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $47K |
| 2024-06-05 | TornadoBunker Hill, Berkeley County | EF0 0.92 mi x 65 yd | 0 | 0 | $94K |
| 2024-06-05 | TornadoShepherdstown, Jefferson County | EF0 1.25 mi x 130 yd | 0 | 0 | $47K |
| 2024-06-05 | TornadoShepherd Field Mr, Berkeley County | EF0 1.69 mi x 110 yd | 0 | 0 | $24K |
| 2024-05-26 | TornadoRed House, Putnam County | EF0 0.29 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $9K |
| 2024-05-11 | TornadoBethany, Preston County | EF1 0.35 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $282K |
| 2024-05-09 | TornadoCascade, Preston County | EF0 0.43 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $47K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026; the newest months are revised by NCEI as reports arrive. Search the record at NCEI.
Federal disaster declarations for tornadoes in West Virginia
FEMA has declared 4 disasters in West Virginia for tornadoes, counting its incident type and declarations that name tornado in the title (FEMA files most storm disasters under Severe Storm); 4 were major disasters, the latest on August 3, 2026.
| Declared | Number | Title | Areas named |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-03 | DR-4932 | Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides | 4 |
| 2024-05-22 | DR-4783 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides | 15 |
| 2012-03-16 | DR-4059 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides | 11 |
| 2008-06-19 | DR-1769 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and | 18 |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), through October 2, 2026. OpenFEMA dataset page.
Next
- Berkeley County: the county's whole recordThe West Virginia county with the most tornadoes per square mile
- Tornadoes across the United StatesEvery state ranked, by year and month
- Every natural hazard in West VirginiaTornadoes, floods, storms, heat and the federal declarations
- Severe thunderstorm wind in West Virginia8,453 records
- Winter storms in West Virginia7,140 records
- Floods in West Virginia4,166 records