Benton County tornado history

13 tornadoes touched Benton County, Mississippi between 1950 and 2025 — about 0.2 a year. The strongest was rated F4 (Feb 21, 1971). Tornadoes here killed 72 and injured 849 people.

13tornadoes since 1950

F4strongest rating

72killed · 849 injured

202.1 milongest path · 1971

(E)F0(E)F1(E)F2(E)F3(E)F4(E)F5· dots = start point only

By rating

(E)F04

(E)F12

(E)F22

(E)F33

(E)F42

(E)F50

By month

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak month: May.

By decade

’50’60’70’80’90’00’10’20

Strongest tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
Feb 21, 1971	F4	202.1 mi	100 yd	795	58
Dec 23, 2015	EF4	75.1 mi	1,300 yd	36	9
May 2, 2010	EF3	29.6 mi	880 yd	9	3
Apr 3, 2025	EF3	39.5 mi	1,200 yd	3	2
Mar 22, 1991	F3	23 mi	500 yd	3	0
Apr 2, 2025	EF2	12.5 mi	450 yd	3	0
Feb 21, 1971	F2	0.1 mi	10 yd	0	0
May 27, 1973	F1	5.4 mi	100 yd	0	0
Mar 18, 1986	F1	1.3 mi	100 yd	0	0
Sep 13, 2001	F0	5 mi	50 yd	0	0
May 5, 2003	F0	0.5 mi	50 yd	0	0
Aug 31, 2017	EF0	0.3 mi	30 yd	0	0

Most recent tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
Apr 3, 2025	EF3	39.5 mi	1,200 yd	3	2
Apr 2, 2025	EF2	12.5 mi	450 yd	3	0
Aug 31, 2017	EF0	0.3 mi	30 yd	0	0
Dec 23, 2015	EF4	75.1 mi	1,300 yd	36	9
May 2, 2010	EF3	29.6 mi	880 yd	9	3
May 5, 2003	F0	0.5 mi	50 yd	0	0
Sep 13, 2001	F0	5 mi	50 yd	0	0
May 15, 1995	F0	0.2 mi	20 yd	0	0
Mar 22, 1991	F3	23 mi	500 yd	3	0
Mar 18, 1986	F1	1.3 mi	100 yd	0	0
May 27, 1973	F1	5.4 mi	100 yd	0	0
Feb 21, 1971	F4	202.1 mi	100 yd	795	58

Deadliest: Feb 21, 1971, F4, 58 killed.

Nearby counties

Tippah County, MS25 Marshall County, MS24 Union County, MS27 Fayette County, TN25 Hardeman County, TN22 Lafayette County, MS26 Alcorn County, MS23 Prentiss County, MS29

Questions

How many tornadoes has Benton County, Mississippi had?

13 tornadoes touched Benton County, Mississippi between 1950 and 2025 in the NOAA Storm Prediction Center database — about 0.2 per year.

What was the strongest tornado in Benton County?

The strongest rating recorded was F4 on Feb 21, 1971, with a 202.1-mile path and 58 deaths.

When is tornado season in Benton County?

Most of its tornadoes happened in May (4 of 13). Tornadoes can occur in any month, so keep alerts on year-round.

Right now: live tornado warnings map · alerts for your location. Dates link to that day’s full storm reports where available (2004 onward).