McDonald County tornado history

23 tornadoes touched McDonald County, Missouri between 1950 and 2025 — about 0.3 a year. The strongest was rated EF3 (May 22, 2011). Tornadoes here killed 1 and injured 23 people.

23tornadoes since 1950

EF3strongest rating

1killed · 23 injured

28 milongest path · 1988

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

By rating

(E)F05

(E)F111

(E)F26

(E)F31

(E)F40

(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
May 22, 2011	EF3	17.9 mi	1,550 yd	4	0
Nov 15, 1988	F2	28 mi	23 yd	12	1
Mar 24, 1954	F2	26.1 mi	50 yd	1	0
May 22, 2019	EF2	16.6 mi	1,100 yd	0	0
Apr 4, 2017	EF2	16.5 mi	300 yd	0	0
Oct 8, 1993	F2	7 mi	220 yd	0	0
May 9, 1959	F2	0.5 mi	50 yd	0	0
Dec 14, 1971	F1	24.2 mi	100 yd	3	0
Apr 2, 2015	EF1	12.4 mi	100 yd	0	0
Apr 30, 2019	EF1	12.3 mi	880 yd	0	0
Apr 3, 1956	F1	8.8 mi	37 yd	1	0
Jan 7, 2008	EF1	7.4 mi	100 yd	0	0

Most recent tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured
May 22, 2019	EF2	16.6 mi	1,100 yd	0
Apr 30, 2019	EF1	12.3 mi	880 yd	0
May 19, 2017	EF1	2 mi	10 yd	0
May 18, 2017	EF1	1 mi	100 yd	0
Apr 4, 2017	EF2	16.5 mi	300 yd	0
Apr 2, 2015	EF1	12.4 mi	100 yd	0
May 22, 2011	EF3	17.9 mi	1,550 yd	4
May 11, 2011	EF0	0.8 mi	75 yd	0
Dec 27, 2008	EF0	0.3 mi	25 yd	0
Jun 28, 2008	EF0	1.4 mi	250 yd	2
Jan 7, 2008	EF0	0.3 mi	20 yd	0
Jan 7, 2008	EF1	7.4 mi	100 yd	0

Deadliest: Nov 15, 1988, F2, 1 killed.

Nearby counties

Newton County, MO55 Benton County, AR68 Barry County, MO50 Ottawa County, OK49 Delaware County, OK68 Jasper County, MO52 Lawrence County, MO30 Washington County, AR47

Questions

How many tornadoes has McDonald County, Missouri had?

23 tornadoes touched McDonald County, Missouri between 1950 and 2025 in the NOAA Storm Prediction Center database — about 0.3 per year.

What was the strongest tornado in McDonald County?

The strongest rating recorded was EF3 on May 22, 2011, with a 17.9-mile path.

When is tornado season in McDonald County?

Most of its tornadoes happened in May (8 of 23). 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).