Franklin County tornado history

13 tornadoes touched Franklin County, North Carolina between 1950 and 2025 — about 0.2 a year. The strongest was rated F4 (Nov 27, 1988). Tornadoes here killed 4 and injured 170 people.

13tornadoes since 1950

F4strongest rating

4killed · 170 injured

83 milongest path · 1988

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

By rating

(E)F03

(E)F17

(E)F22

(E)F30

(E)F41

(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
Nov 27, 1988	F4	83 mi	400 yd	154	4
Nov 2, 1966	F2	64.5 mi	77 yd	9	0
Apr 15, 1996	F2	2 mi	400 yd	5	0
May 28, 1973	F1	6.4 mi	10 yd	2	0
Jun 9, 1951	F1	3.8 mi	30 yd	0	0
Aug 8, 2024	EF1	2.9 mi	125 yd	0	0
Aug 8, 2024	EF1	1.6 mi	100 yd	0	0
Mar 18, 1956	F1	1 mi	50 yd	0	0
May 8, 1984	F1	0.3 mi	50 yd	0	0
Mar 20, 1998	F1	0.1 mi	50 yd	0	0
Jun 18, 2013	EF0	1.3 mi	150 yd	0	0
Aug 8, 2024	EF0	1 mi	75 yd	0	0

Most recent tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
Aug 8, 2024	EF1	2.9 mi	125 yd	0	0
Aug 8, 2024	EF0	1 mi	75 yd	0	0
Aug 8, 2024	EF1	1.6 mi	100 yd	0	0
Jun 18, 2013	EF0	1.3 mi	150 yd	0	0
May 14, 2006	F0	0.5 mi	50 yd	0	0
Mar 20, 1998	F1	0.1 mi	50 yd	0	0
Apr 15, 1996	F2	2 mi	400 yd	5	0
Nov 27, 1988	F4	83 mi	400 yd	154	4
May 8, 1984	F1	0.3 mi	50 yd	0	0
May 28, 1973	F1	6.4 mi	10 yd	2	0
Nov 2, 1966	F2	64.5 mi	77 yd	9	0
Mar 18, 1956	F1	1 mi	50 yd	0	0

Deadliest: Nov 27, 1988, F4, 4 killed.

Nearby counties

Nash County, NC19 Vance County, NC9 Warren County, NC6 Granville County, NC9 Wake County, NC40 Durham County, NC11 Wilson County, NC20 Halifax County, NC16

Questions

How many tornadoes has Franklin County, North Carolina had?

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

What was the strongest tornado in Franklin County?

The strongest rating recorded was F4 on Nov 27, 1988, with a 83-mile path and 4 deaths.

When is tornado season in Franklin County?

Most of its tornadoes happened in May (3 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).