Tornado Alerts Near Appalachia, VA 24216

🌪️ Current Alert Status

Live NWS tornado and severe weather alerts

✅

All Clear

No active tornado alerts near Appalachia

There are currently no tornado warnings, watches, or severe thunderstorm alerts in effect for the Appalachia area. This page updates every 60 seconds from the National Weather Service.

Historical Tornado Risk

Activity level Moderate

Average per year 4.8 tornados

Peak season month May

Total on record 242 tornados

📋 Tornado History

Historical tornado events within 250 miles of Appalachia

EF Rating	Damage	Path	Casualties	Distance	Date
EF0	Light damage	3 mi × 50 yd	None	151 mi	Dec 29, 2024
EF0	Light damage	1 mi × 75 yd	None	119 mi	Dec 29, 2024
EF0	Light damage	1.7 mi × 30 yd	None	136 mi	Dec 29, 2024
EF0	Light damage	0.2 mi × 50 yd	None	128 mi	Sep 25, 2024
EF1	Moderate damage	0.6 mi × 75 yd	None	83 mi	Sep 25, 2024
EF0	Light damage	0.4 mi × 25 yd	None	109 mi	Sep 25, 2024
EF0	Light damage	2.3 mi × 30 yd	None	93 mi	May 8, 2024
EF1	Moderate damage	8.2 mi × 60 yd	0 dead, 2 hurt	145 mi	May 8, 2024
EF1	Moderate damage	7.9 mi × 100 yd	None	133 mi	May 8, 2024
EF1	Moderate damage	13.4 mi × 100 yd	None	122 mi	May 8, 2024
EF1	Moderate damage	6 mi × 150 yd	None	107 mi	Apr 11, 2024
EF1	Moderate damage	1.5 mi × 250 yd	None	127 mi	Jan 9, 2024
EF1	Moderate damage	7.5 mi × 250 yd	1 dead, 4 hurt	127 mi	Jan 9, 2024
EF1	Moderate damage	0.3 mi × 35 yd	None	69 mi	Aug 15, 2023
EF1	Moderate damage	2.6 mi × 35 yd	None	68 mi	Aug 14, 2023
EF1	Moderate damage	13.5 mi × 550 yd	None	125 mi	Aug 7, 2023
EF1	Moderate damage	6.2 mi × 50 yd	None	66 mi	Aug 7, 2023
EF1	Moderate damage	0.6 mi × 30 yd	None	16 mi	May 16, 2023
EF1	Moderate damage	0.6 mi × 30 yd	None	17 mi	May 16, 2023
EF0	Light damage	0.6 mi × 15 yd	None	113 mi	May 7, 2023
EF0	Light damage	6.1 mi × 100 yd	None	144 mi	Jan 12, 2023
EF1	Moderate damage	2.2 mi × 150 yd	None	101 mi	Jul 5, 2022
EF0	Light damage	N/A	None	126 mi	May 26, 2022
EF0	Light damage	0.2 mi × 25 yd	None	130 mi	May 26, 2022
EF1	Moderate damage	5.3 mi × 200 yd	None	138 mi	May 23, 2022
EF1	Moderate damage	6.2 mi × 150 yd	None	108 mi	Mar 23, 2022
EF1	Moderate damage	1.7 mi × 200 yd	None	123 mi	Aug 17, 2021
EF1	Moderate damage	3.4 mi × 200 yd	None	126 mi	Aug 17, 2021
EF1	Moderate damage	0.5 mi × 150 yd	None	151 mi	May 3, 2021
EF0	Light damage	0.6 mi × 20 yd	None	102 mi	Apr 10, 2021
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 20 yd	None	129 mi	Apr 10, 2021
EF0	Light damage	8.6 mi × 100 yd	None	149 mi	May 22, 2020
EF1	Moderate damage	6.5 mi × 200 yd	None	147 mi	May 22, 2020
EF1	Moderate damage	6.3 mi × 200 yd	None	146 mi	May 22, 2020
EF2	Considerable damage	2.7 mi × 200 yd	None	134 mi	Apr 13, 2020
EF1	Moderate damage	3.5 mi × 150 yd	None	146 mi	Feb 6, 2020
EF2	Considerable damage	5.1 mi × 150 yd	None	144 mi	Feb 6, 2020
EF0	Light damage	0.5 mi × 100 yd	None	126 mi	Feb 6, 2020
EF1	Moderate damage	7 mi × 100 yd	None	125 mi	Feb 6, 2020
EF0	Light damage	0.2 mi × 30 yd	None	128 mi	Jun 8, 2019
EF0	Light damage	0.5 mi × 75 yd	None	118 mi	Apr 19, 2019
EF0	Light damage	6.1 mi × 100 yd	None	135 mi	Apr 19, 2019
EF0	Light damage	1.1 mi × 100 yd	0 dead, 1 hurt	136 mi	Apr 19, 2019
EF0	Light damage	0.4 mi × 50 yd	None	87 mi	Apr 19, 2019
EF1	Moderate damage	1.6 mi × 200 yd	None	130 mi	Apr 14, 2019
EF0	Light damage	1.1 mi × 75 yd	None	159 mi	Apr 15, 2018
EF1	Moderate damage	0.6 mi × 150 yd	None	100 mi	Oct 23, 2017
EF1	Moderate damage	8.6 mi × 275 yd	0 dead, 1 hurt	107 mi	Oct 23, 2017
EF1	Moderate damage	8.2 mi × 200 yd	1 dead, 0 hurt	110 mi	Oct 23, 2017
EF1	Moderate damage	5.7 mi × 500 yd	None	112 mi	Oct 23, 2017
EF1	Moderate damage	0.8 mi × 750 yd	None	113 mi	Oct 23, 2017
EF1	Moderate damage	3.9 mi × 1300 yd	None	114 mi	Oct 23, 2017
EF2	Considerable damage	1 mi × 300 yd	None	114 mi	Oct 23, 2017
EF0	Light damage	1.7 mi × 100 yd	None	119 mi	Oct 23, 2017
EF1	Moderate damage	1.5 mi × 100 yd	None	120 mi	Oct 23, 2017
EF1	Moderate damage	9.2 mi × 100 yd	None	125 mi	Oct 23, 2017
EF0	Light damage	9.1 mi × 100 yd	None	128 mi	Oct 23, 2017
EF0	Light damage	0.3 mi × 100 yd	None	136 mi	Oct 23, 2017
EF1	Moderate damage	9.4 mi × 100 yd	None	134 mi	Oct 23, 2017
EF2	Considerable damage	4.6 mi × 150 yd	None	140 mi	Oct 23, 2017
EF1	Moderate damage	3.3 mi × 150 yd	None	136 mi	Oct 23, 2017
EF0	Light damage	2.7 mi × 150 yd	None	89 mi	Oct 8, 2017
EF1	Moderate damage	4.4 mi × 300 yd	None	91 mi	Oct 8, 2017
EF1	Moderate damage	6.7 mi × 400 yd	None	104 mi	Oct 8, 2017
EF0	Light damage	2.4 mi × 100 yd	None	107 mi	Oct 8, 2017
EF1	Moderate damage	0.6 mi × 200 yd	None	124 mi	Oct 8, 2017
EF1	Moderate damage	1.4 mi × 200 yd	None	126 mi	Oct 8, 2017
EF1	Moderate damage	2.2 mi × 250 yd	None	112 mi	Oct 8, 2017
EF0	Light damage	2.2 mi × 75 yd	None	118 mi	Oct 8, 2017
EF0	Light damage	11.3 mi × 100 yd	None	125 mi	Oct 8, 2017
EF1	Moderate damage	0.1 mi × 100 yd	None	137 mi	Oct 8, 2017
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 40 yd	None	56 mi	May 12, 2017
EF0	Light damage	2.7 mi × 50 yd	None	128 mi	May 1, 2017
EF0	Light damage	0.5 mi × 100 yd	None	104 mi	Oct 14, 2014
EF0	Light damage	1 mi × 50 yd	None	130 mi	Oct 14, 2014
EF0	Light damage	7.1 mi × 300 yd	None	37 mi	Jul 27, 2014
EF1	Moderate damage	0.5 mi × 50 yd	None	36 mi	Jul 27, 2014
EF0	Light damage	0.6 mi × 70 yd	None	39 mi	Mar 1, 2012
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 75 yd	None	114 mi	Jan 11, 2012
EF2	Considerable damage	4.2 mi × 300 yd	0 dead, 8 hurt	115 mi	Jan 11, 2012
EF2	Considerable damage	3.8 mi × 200 yd	0 dead, 10 hurt	123 mi	Jan 11, 2012
EF0	Light damage	0.4 mi × 50 yd	None	134 mi	Nov 16, 2011
EF1	Moderate damage	1.3 mi × 250 yd	None	103 mi	Sep 5, 2011
EF0	Light damage	0.4 mi × 150 yd	None	117 mi	Aug 18, 2011
EF0	Light damage	0.8 mi × 100 yd	None	151 mi	May 26, 2011
EF0	Light damage	4.2 mi × 50 yd	None	33 mi	May 24, 2011
EF1	Moderate damage	4.3 mi × 75 yd	None	109 mi	Apr 28, 2011
EF1	Moderate damage	4.5 mi × 100 yd	0 dead, 1 hurt	107 mi	Apr 28, 2011
EF2	Considerable damage	2.7 mi × 880 yd	None	60 mi	Apr 28, 2011
EF3	Severe damage	16.9 mi × 1320 yd	4 dead, 50 hurt	51 mi	Apr 28, 2011
EF2	Considerable damage	9.3 mi × 1000 yd	1 dead, 0 hurt	57 mi	Apr 27, 2011
EF3	Severe damage	4.3 mi × 1000 yd	1 dead, 70 hurt	58 mi	Apr 27, 2011
EF1	Moderate damage	0.4 mi × 300 yd	None	72 mi	Apr 27, 2011
EF1	Moderate damage	0.5 mi × 200 yd	None	67 mi	Apr 27, 2011
EF2	Considerable damage	12 mi × 250 yd	2 dead, 0 hurt	59 mi	Apr 27, 2011
EF1	Moderate damage	3.9 mi × 500 yd	None	56 mi	Apr 27, 2011
EF3	Severe damage	11.9 mi × 1500 yd	6 dead, 33 hurt	63 mi	Apr 27, 2011
EF0	Light damage	2.3 mi × 300 yd	None	64 mi	Apr 27, 2011
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 50 yd	None	71 mi	Apr 27, 2011
EF1	Moderate damage	3.9 mi × 100 yd	None	49 mi	Apr 27, 2011
EF0	Light damage	0.5 mi × 50 yd	None	39 mi	Apr 27, 2011
EF2	Considerable damage	4.2 mi × 150 yd	None	43 mi	Apr 27, 2011
EF2	Considerable damage	4.6 mi × 150 yd	None	45 mi	Apr 27, 2011
EF0	Light damage	1 mi × 50 yd	None	64 mi	Apr 9, 2011
EF1	Moderate damage	0.6 mi × 100 yd	None	49 mi	Apr 9, 2011
EF1	Moderate damage	3 mi × 150 yd	None	49 mi	Apr 9, 2011
EF0	Light damage	0.5 mi × 75 yd	0 dead, 3 hurt	130 mi	Apr 9, 2011
EF0	Light damage	0.9 mi × 50 yd	None	52 mi	Apr 9, 2011
EF0	Light damage	0.4 mi × 40 yd	None	9 mi	Apr 9, 2011
EF0	Light damage	1.5 mi × 50 yd	None	132 mi	Feb 28, 2011
EF0	Light damage	0.3 mi × 30 yd	None	122 mi	Oct 26, 2010
EF0	Light damage	0.5 mi × 40 yd	None	123 mi	Oct 26, 2010
EF2	Considerable damage	2.5 mi × 100 yd	None	125 mi	Oct 26, 2010
EF0	Light damage	4.7 mi × 40 yd	None	129 mi	Oct 26, 2010
EF0	Light damage	0.7 mi × 100 yd	None	121 mi	Oct 26, 2010
EF2	Considerable damage	2.6 mi × 200 yd	0 dead, 11 hurt	121 mi	Oct 26, 2010
EF1	Moderate damage	2.6 mi × 75 yd	None	106 mi	Sep 27, 2010
EF1	Moderate damage	3.2 mi × 650 yd	None	138 mi	Jul 13, 2010
EF1	Moderate damage	0.1 mi × 100 yd	None	154 mi	Mar 28, 2010
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 20 yd	None	51 mi	Jun 16, 2009
EF0	Light damage	0.2 mi × 20 yd	None	29 mi	Jun 16, 2009
EF1	Moderate damage	1.5 mi × 30 yd	None	155 mi	Jun 16, 2009
EF1	Moderate damage	9.3 mi × 300 yd	None	135 mi	Jun 16, 2009
EF0	Light damage	1.1 mi × 50 yd	None	129 mi	Jun 16, 2009
EF1	Moderate damage	0.3 mi × 30 yd	None	102 mi	May 8, 2009
EF2	Considerable damage	4.9 mi × 200 yd	0 dead, 6 hurt	101 mi	May 8, 2009
EF2	Considerable damage	1.1 mi × 250 yd	None	47 mi	May 8, 2009
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 20 yd	None	39 mi	May 8, 2009
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 20 yd	None	41 mi	May 8, 2009
EF0	Light damage	4.2 mi × 200 yd	None	41 mi	Feb 11, 2009
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 20 yd	None	124 mi	May 11, 2008
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 20 yd	None	114 mi	May 11, 2008
EF1	Moderate damage	8.9 mi × 75 yd	None	152 mi	May 9, 2008
EF2	Considerable damage	9.4 mi × 75 yd	None	148 mi	May 9, 2008
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 40 yd	None	142 mi	Apr 28, 2008
EF1	Moderate damage	4.3 mi × 30 yd	None	130 mi	Apr 19, 2008
EF1	Moderate damage	0.6 mi × 25 yd	None	128 mi	Apr 19, 2008
EF1	Moderate damage	4.3 mi × 25 yd	None	129 mi	Apr 19, 2008
EF1	Moderate damage	1 mi × 300 yd	0 dead, 2 hurt	6 mi	Mar 4, 2008
EF0	Light damage	0.3 mi × 20 yd	None	151 mi	Jan 5, 2007
EF2	Considerable damage	1 mi × 30 yd	None	137 mi	Nov 15, 2006
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 30 yd	None	124 mi	Nov 15, 2006
EF1	Moderate damage	0.1 mi × 30 yd	None	151 mi	Nov 15, 2006
EF1	Moderate damage	2.2 mi × 40 yd	None	135 mi	May 26, 2006
EF0	Light damage	1.5 mi × 25 yd	None	23 mi	Apr 25, 2006
EF1	Moderate damage	0.5 mi × 100 yd	None	144 mi	Jan 13, 2006
EF1	Moderate damage	3 mi × 75 yd	None	136 mi	Jul 13, 2005
EF2	Considerable damage	4 mi × 100 yd	None	119 mi	Jul 7, 2005
EF1	Moderate damage	0.7 mi × 50 yd	None	131 mi	Jul 7, 2005
EF0	Light damage	0.2 mi × 50 yd	None	131 mi	Jul 7, 2005
EF1	Moderate damage	0.6 mi × 50 yd	None	73 mi	May 20, 2005
EF0	Light damage	0.2 mi × 50 yd	None	148 mi	Mar 8, 2005
EF1	Moderate damage	2 mi × 30 yd	None	138 mi	Sep 27, 2004
EF1	Moderate damage	0.8 mi × 50 yd	None	147 mi	Sep 27, 2004
EF0	Light damage	0.9 mi × 40 yd	None	133 mi	Sep 17, 2004
EF2	Considerable damage	2 mi × 200 yd	None	163 mi	Sep 7, 2004
EF1	Moderate damage	1 mi × 100 yd	None	165 mi	Sep 7, 2004
EF0	Light damage	0.5 mi × 50 yd	None	22 mi	May 26, 2004
EF1	Moderate damage	2 mi × 50 yd	None	25 mi	May 26, 2004
EF1	Moderate damage	1.5 mi × 35 yd	None	132 mi	Oct 16, 2003
EF1	Moderate damage	18 mi × 200 yd	None	135 mi	Jul 12, 2003
EF1	Moderate damage	6 mi × 200 yd	None	124 mi	Jul 12, 2003
EF1	Moderate damage	3 mi × 100 yd	None	124 mi	May 15, 2003
EF1	Moderate damage	0.1 mi × 50 yd	None	53 mi	May 1, 2002
EF0	Light damage	2 mi × 30 yd	None	112 mi	May 24, 2000
EF0	Light damage	1 mi × 30 yd	None	101 mi	May 24, 2000
EF0	Light damage	3 mi × 30 yd	None	101 mi	May 24, 2000
EF0	Light damage	0.3 mi × 20 yd	None	99 mi	May 24, 2000
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 20 yd	None	140 mi	Mar 11, 2000
EF1	Moderate damage	2 mi × 440 yd	None	94 mi	May 6, 1999
EF0	Light damage	0.2 mi × 25 yd	None	117 mi	Sep 28, 1998
EF1	Moderate damage	8.5 mi × 75 yd	0 dead, 3 hurt	58 mi	Jun 3, 1998
EF0	Light damage	2 mi × 60 yd	None	68 mi	Jun 3, 1998
EF0	Light damage	1 mi × 75 yd	None	54 mi	Jun 3, 1998
EF0	Light damage	5 mi × 50 yd	None	139 mi	May 7, 1998
EF2	Considerable damage	2 mi × 440 yd	None	123 mi	May 7, 1998
EF1	Moderate damage	10 mi × 200 yd	None	110 mi	May 7, 1998
EF2	Considerable damage	3.7 mi × 880 yd	None	102 mi	May 7, 1998
EF4	Devastating damage	4 mi × 1320 yd	0 dead, 2 hurt	108 mi	May 7, 1998
EF0	Light damage	5 mi × 300 yd	None	118 mi	May 7, 1998
EF1	Moderate damage	1.3 mi × 50 yd	None	79 mi	May 7, 1998
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 20 yd	None	153 mi	Apr 19, 1998
EF1	Moderate damage	0.5 mi × 50 yd	None	53 mi	Jun 13, 1997
EF1	Moderate damage	15 mi × 200 yd	None	150 mi	Feb 21, 1997
EF0	Light damage	2 mi × 100 yd	None	152 mi	Feb 21, 1997
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 180 yd	None	133 mi	Sep 16, 1996
EF1	Moderate damage	3.6 mi × 50 yd	None	51 mi	Jul 19, 1996
EF0	Light damage	0.2 mi × 30 yd	None	145 mi	May 29, 1996
EF1	Moderate damage	0.1 mi × 20 yd	0 dead, 2 hurt	83 mi	Apr 20, 1996
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 30 yd	None	104 mi	Apr 20, 1996
EF0	Light damage	0.5 mi × 100 yd	None	26 mi	Apr 13, 1996
EF0	Light damage	9 mi × 50 yd	None	144 mi	May 1, 1995
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 30 yd	None	132 mi	Mar 28, 1994
EF2	Considerable damage	25 mi × 75 yd	None	137 mi	Mar 27, 1994
EF1	Moderate damage	21 mi × 800 yd	None	126 mi	Nov 22, 1992
EF1	Moderate damage	5 mi × 800 yd	None	127 mi	Nov 22, 1992
EF1	Moderate damage	5 mi × 500 yd	None	125 mi	Nov 22, 1992
EF0	Light damage	0.2 mi × 200 yd	None	132 mi	Jun 4, 1992
EF0	Light damage	0.2 mi × 30 yd	None	110 mi	Mar 10, 1992
EF0	Light damage	0.3 mi × 20 yd	None	48 mi	Apr 30, 1990
EF1	Moderate damage	5 mi × 40 yd	None	147 mi	Apr 28, 1990
EF1	Moderate damage	6 mi × 50 yd	0 dead, 4 hurt	138 mi	Apr 28, 1990
EF0	Light damage	0.2 mi × 30 yd	None	132 mi	Apr 10, 1990
EF2	Considerable damage	0.4 mi × 50 yd	None	139 mi	Feb 10, 1990
EF1	Moderate damage	3 mi × 50 yd	None	136 mi	Feb 10, 1990
EF1	Moderate damage	2 mi × 50 yd	None	136 mi	Feb 10, 1990
EF1	Moderate damage	1 mi × 30 yd	None	50 mi	Jun 16, 1989
EF2	Considerable damage	15 mi × 73 yd	None	92 mi	May 5, 1989
EF4	Devastating damage	6 mi × 800 yd	0 dead, 3 hurt	120 mi	May 5, 1989
EF4	Devastating damage	3 mi × 800 yd	4 dead, 19 hurt	122 mi	May 5, 1989
EF4	Devastating damage	5 mi × 800 yd	0 dead, 30 hurt	122 mi	May 5, 1989
EF4	Devastating damage	6 mi × 400 yd	None	134 mi	May 5, 1989
EF4	Devastating damage	3 mi × 700 yd	None	134 mi	May 5, 1989
EF4	Devastating damage	6 mi × 700 yd	2 dead, 35 hurt	137 mi	May 5, 1989
EF0	Light damage	0.5 mi × 60 yd	None	126 mi	Oct 2, 1988
EF0	Light damage	1 mi × 30 yd	None	160 mi	Aug 17, 1985
EF0	Light damage	0.3 mi × 100 yd	None	119 mi	Jun 20, 1984
EF1	Moderate damage	0.2 mi × 33 yd	None	110 mi	Mar 5, 1983
EF3	Severe damage	1.9 mi × 100 yd	0 dead, 12 hurt	57 mi	Jul 10, 1980
EF1	Moderate damage	0.5 mi × 300 yd	None	133 mi	Jun 24, 1979
EF2	Considerable damage	0.3 mi × 30 yd	None	103 mi	May 24, 1979
EF1	Moderate damage	1.5 mi × 100 yd	None	162 mi	Dec 5, 1977
EF1	Moderate damage	0.2 mi × 17 yd	0 dead, 1 hurt	148 mi	Dec 5, 1977
EF1	Moderate damage	0.2 mi × 20 yd	None	144 mi	Dec 5, 1977
EF1	Moderate damage	16.2 mi × 77 yd	0 dead, 10 hurt	33 mi	Oct 1, 1977
EF1	Moderate damage	0.3 mi × 77 yd	None	134 mi	Sep 7, 1977
EF1	Moderate damage	5.6 mi × 33 yd	None	115 mi	Aug 17, 1977
EF1	Moderate damage	5.9 mi × 50 yd	None	111 mi	Aug 17, 1977
EF0	Light damage	0.5 mi × 20 yd	None	104 mi	Jul 9, 1977
EF1	Moderate damage	3.8 mi × 100 yd	None	53 mi	Jun 24, 1977
EF1	Moderate damage	N/A	None	85 mi	Jun 6, 1977
EF1	Moderate damage	8.8 mi × 33 yd	None	82 mi	Jun 6, 1977
EF1	Moderate damage	9.4 mi × 33 yd	None	80 mi	Jun 6, 1977
EF1	Moderate damage	8.7 mi × 50 yd	0 dead, 2 hurt	76 mi	Jun 6, 1977
EF1	Moderate damage	2.7 mi × 40 yd	None	86 mi	Jun 6, 1977
EF1	Moderate damage	19.7 mi × 50 yd	0 dead, 3 hurt	71 mi	Jun 6, 1977
EF1	Moderate damage	6.4 mi × 100 yd	None	107 mi	Apr 4, 1977
EF1	Moderate damage	0.2 mi × 50 yd	None	140 mi	Jun 19, 1976
EF1	Moderate damage	6 mi × 30 yd	None	116 mi	Feb 18, 1976
EF1	Moderate damage	0.5 mi × 40 yd	None	96 mi	Feb 18, 1976
EF1	Moderate damage	3 mi × 50 yd	None	84 mi	Feb 18, 1976
EF1	Moderate damage	1 mi × 50 yd	None	98 mi	Feb 18, 1976

📈 Historical Trends

Tornado activity near Appalachia over 38 years

242

Total tornados on record

4.8

Average per year

EF4

Strongest recorded

May

Peak month

EF Scale Distribution

EF0

EF1

114

EF2

EF3

EF4

EF5

Yearly Tornado Count

1976 2024

Strongest Tornados on Record

EF4 LINCOLN, NO May 5, 1989

3 mi path 4 deaths 19 injured

EF4 SPARTANBURG, SO May 5, 1989

6 mi path 2 deaths 35 injured

EF4 RUTHERFORD, NO May 5, 1989

6 mi path

EF4 CATAWBA, NO May 5, 1989

6 mi path 3 injured

EF4 CLEVELAND, NO May 5, 1989

5 mi path 30 injured

📅 Tornado Season

When tornados are most likely near you

⚡

Active Tornado Season

Tornado season is active. Appalachia sees the most tornado activity in May. Stay alert and have your shelter plan ready.

US Tornado Activity by Month

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

10%

PEAK

May

18%

Jun

16%

Jul

12%

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Current month Peak for Appalachia

🛡️ Tornado Safety

What to know before, during, and after a tornado

⚠️ Tornado Watch

Meaning: Conditions are favorable for tornado development

Be prepared to take shelter. Stay alert for changing conditions.

🌪️ Tornado Warning

Meaning: A tornado has been spotted or detected on radar

TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY in your nearest safe shelter.

⚠️ Step 1

Tornado Watch — Be Prepared

Conditions are favorable for tornados. Monitor weather alerts, charge your phone, and review your shelter plan. Move vehicles into garages if possible.

🌪️ Step 2

Tornado Warning — Take Cover NOW

A tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar. Move immediately to an interior room on the lowest floor (basement, bathroom, closet). Get under sturdy furniture. Stay away from windows.

🔍 Step 3

After a Tornado

Stay in your shelter until the warning expires. Check for injuries, avoid downed power lines, and watch for gas leaks. Document damage for insurance before cleanup.

Where to Shelter

✓ Best: Underground shelter or basement

✓ Good: Interior room on lowest floor

✓ Acceptable: Bathroom or closet (no exterior walls)

✓ If driving: Pull over, get below road level in a ditch

✗ NEVER: Stay in a mobile home — leave for sturdy building

✗ NEVER: Shelter under a highway overpass

📍 Nearby Tornado Monitoring

Cities near Appalachia with live tracking