Polk County tornado history

13 tornadoes touched Polk County, Tennessee between 1950 and 2025 — about 0.2 a year. The strongest was rated F3 (Apr 3, 1974). Tornadoes here killed 10 and injured 209 people.

13tornadoes since 1950

F3strongest rating

10killed · 209 injured

41 milongest path · 2012

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

By rating

(E)F02

(E)F13

(E)F23

(E)F35

(E)F40

(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 3, 1974	F3	21.2 mi	500 yd	50	3
Nov 30, 2016	EF3	4.6 mi	155 yd	0	2
Apr 3, 1974	F3	18.1 mi	350 yd	100	1
Mar 2, 2012	EF3	41 mi	400 yd	44	0
Feb 6, 1986	F3	10 mi	270 yd	5	0
Apr 27, 2011	EF2	27.9 mi	250 yd	0	4
Dec 13, 1973	F2	0.8 mi	880 yd	3	0
Mar 21, 1974	F2	0.8 mi	300 yd	7	0
May 7, 1998	F1	14 mi	100 yd	0	0
Apr 12, 2020	EF1	4.7 mi	500 yd	0	0
Mar 29, 1997	F1	3 mi	100 yd	0	0
May 18, 2008	EF0	2.1 mi	25 yd	0	0

Most recent tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
Apr 12, 2020	EF1	4.7 mi	500 yd	0	0
Nov 30, 2016	EF3	4.6 mi	155 yd	0	2
Mar 2, 2012	EF3	41 mi	400 yd	44	0
Apr 27, 2011	EF2	27.9 mi	250 yd	0	4
Apr 25, 2010	EF0	1.2 mi	30 yd	0	0
May 18, 2008	EF0	2.1 mi	25 yd	0	0
May 7, 1998	F1	14 mi	100 yd	0	0
Mar 29, 1997	F1	3 mi	100 yd	0	0
Feb 6, 1986	F3	10 mi	270 yd	5	0
Apr 3, 1974	F3	18.1 mi	350 yd	100	1
Apr 3, 1974	F3	21.2 mi	500 yd	50	3
Mar 21, 1974	F2	0.8 mi	300 yd	7	0

Deadliest: Apr 27, 2011, EF2, 4 killed.

Nearby counties

Bradley County, TN28 Fannin County, GA10 McMinn County, TN24 Murray County, GA12 Cherokee County, NC10 Monroe County, TN19 Gilmer County, GA17 Meigs County, TN5

Questions

How many tornadoes has Polk County, Tennessee had?

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

What was the strongest tornado in Polk County?

The strongest rating recorded was F3 on Apr 3, 1974, with a 21.2-mile path and 3 deaths.

When is tornado season in Polk County?

Most of its tornadoes happened in April (5 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).