Sampson County tornado history

25 tornadoes touched Sampson County, North Carolina between 1950 and 2025 — about 0.3 a year. The strongest was rated F4 (Apr 8, 1957). Tornadoes here killed 27 and injured 428 people.

25tornadoes since 1950

F4strongest rating

27killed · 428 injured

121.4 milongest path · 1957

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

By rating

(E)F06

(E)F19

(E)F25

(E)F33

(E)F42

(E)F50

By month

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak month: April.

By decade

’50’60’70’80’90’00’10’20

Strongest tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
Apr 8, 1957	F4	121.4 mi	150 yd	70	4
Mar 28, 1984	F4	21 mi	1,407 yd	149	3
Mar 28, 1984	F3	40 mi	1,407 yd	101	12
Feb 22, 1971	F3	85.7 mi	500 yd	60	2
Apr 18, 1969	F3	25.8 mi	300 yd	1	0
Sep 29, 1963	F2	85.8 mi	100 yd	12	3
Apr 16, 2011	EF2	29.9 mi	800 yd	13	3
Aug 7, 2024	EF2	4.7 mi	40 yd	0	0
Sep 16, 1996	F2	1.4 mi	100 yd	0	0
Sep 11, 1960	F2	1 mi	37 yd	8	0
Mar 15, 1971	F1	64 mi	50 yd	0	0
May 23, 2017	EF1	13.7 mi	100 yd	1	0

Most recent tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
Sep 27, 2024	EF1	6.3 mi	100 yd	0	0
Aug 7, 2024	EF2	4.7 mi	40 yd	0	0
Jan 3, 2022	EF1	0.1 mi	75 yd	0	0
Apr 19, 2019	EF1	10.2 mi	125 yd	0	0
Sep 16, 2018	EF0	6.3 mi	1,000 yd	0	0
May 23, 2017	EF1	13.7 mi	100 yd	1	0
Apr 29, 2014	EF1	0.8 mi	100 yd	0	0
Apr 16, 2011	EF2	29.9 mi	800 yd	13	3
Mar 27, 2009	EF0	0.4 mi	20 yd	0	0
Mar 27, 2009	EF0	0.9 mi	20 yd	0	0
Nov 15, 2008	EF0	4.3 mi	50 yd	0	0
Sep 16, 1996	F2	1.4 mi	100 yd	0	0

Deadliest: Mar 28, 1984, F3, 12 killed.

Nearby counties

Duplin County, NC42 Cumberland County, NC25 Bladen County, NC30 Wayne County, NC30 Johnston County, NC25 Harnett County, NC27 Pender County, NC48 Lenoir County, NC30

Questions

How many tornadoes has Sampson County, North Carolina had?

25 tornadoes touched Sampson County, North Carolina between 1950 and 2025 in the NOAA Storm Prediction Center database — about 0.3 per year.

What was the strongest tornado in Sampson County?

The strongest rating recorded was F4 on Apr 8, 1957, with a 121.4-mile path and 4 deaths.

When is tornado season in Sampson County?

Most of its tornadoes happened in April (6 of 25). 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).