Washington County tornado history

32 tornadoes touched Washington County, Mississippi between 1950 and 2025 — about 0.4 a year. The strongest was rated F5 (Feb 21, 1971). Tornadoes here killed 50 and injured 603 people.

32tornadoes since 1950

F5strongest rating

50killed · 603 injured

234.7 milongest path · 1953

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

By rating

(E)F09

(E)F18

(E)F211

(E)F30

(E)F43

(E)F51

By month

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak month: April.

By decade

’50’60’70’80’90’00’10’20

Strongest tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
Feb 21, 1971	F5	109.2 mi	500 yd	510	47
Nov 24, 2001	F4	30.3 mi	880 yd	48	0
Mar 9, 1992	F4	20 mi	880 yd	1	0
Apr 17, 1978	F4	3.6 mi	100 yd	3	0
Mar 22, 1953	F2	234.7 mi	200 yd	22	2
Oct 17, 1980	F2	51.2 mi	200 yd	0	0
Feb 24, 2001	F2	37 mi	440 yd	0	0
Apr 22, 1974	F2	22.4 mi	10 yd	3	0
Jan 11, 2020	EF2	17.7 mi	850 yd	1	0
Dec 4, 1973	F2	12.5 mi	30 yd	6	0
Nov 19, 1964	F2	11.9 mi	10 yd	0	0
Feb 17, 1976	F2	6.2 mi	60 yd	0	0

Most recent tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
Jan 11, 2020	EF2	17.7 mi	850 yd	1	0
Apr 18, 2017	EF0	—	40 yd	0	0
Apr 18, 2013	EF0	0.3 mi	50 yd	0	0
Oct 9, 2009	EF1	2 mi	100 yd	2	1
May 2, 2008	EF0	3 mi	50 yd	0	0
Apr 7, 2006	F0	1 mi	50 yd	0	0
Nov 28, 2005	F0	1 mi	30 yd	0	0
Sep 24, 2005	F2	2 mi	300 yd	0	0
Sep 24, 2005	F0	0.5 mi	100 yd	0	0
Nov 24, 2001	F4	30.3 mi	880 yd	48	0
Feb 24, 2001	F2	37 mi	440 yd	0	0
Jan 21, 1999	F1	3 mi	50 yd	0	0

Deadliest: Feb 21, 1971, F5, 47 killed.

Nearby counties

Chicot County, AR44 Humphreys County, MS37 Sharkey County, MS43 Sunflower County, MS34 Issaquena County, MS24 Bolivar County, MS57 East Carroll Parish, LA33 Leflore County, MS44

Questions

How many tornadoes has Washington County, Mississippi had?

32 tornadoes touched Washington County, Mississippi between 1950 and 2025 in the NOAA Storm Prediction Center database — about 0.4 per year.

What was the strongest tornado in Washington County?

The strongest rating recorded was F5 on Feb 21, 1971, with a 109.2-mile path and 47 deaths.

When is tornado season in Washington County?

Most of its tornadoes happened in April (9 of 32). 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).