Wayne County tornado history

19 tornadoes touched Wayne County, Tennessee between 1950 and 2025 — about 0.3 a year. The strongest was rated F5 (Apr 16, 1998). Tornadoes here killed 12 and injured 105 people.

19tornadoes since 1950

F5strongest rating

12killed · 105 injured

86 milongest path · 2023

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

By rating

(E)F01

(E)F16

(E)F27

(E)F34

(E)F40

(E)F51

By month

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak month: March.

By decade

’50’60’70’80’90’00’10’20

Strongest tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
Apr 16, 1998	F5	69.4 mi	1,760 yd	36	3
Mar 31, 2023	EF3	86 mi	1,400 yd	23	9
Dec 23, 2015	EF3	48.4 mi	800 yd	7	0
Jun 26, 1994	F3	38 mi	880 yd	22	0
Mar 4, 1964	F3	27.6 mi	300 yd	7	0
Mar 11, 1963	F2	29.1 mi	100 yd	5	0
Mar 25, 2021	EF2	22.1 mi	350 yd	1	0
Dec 23, 2015	EF2	14.9 mi	400 yd	1	0
Nov 4, 1988	F2	13 mi	73 yd	0	0
Mar 1, 1997	F2	7.8 mi	440 yd	2	0
Nov 15, 2005	F2	6 mi	100 yd	1	0
Jan 10, 2008	EF2	1.3 mi	40 yd	0	0

Most recent tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
Mar 31, 2023	EF3	86 mi	1,400 yd	23	9
Mar 25, 2021	EF2	22.1 mi	350 yd	1	0
Nov 5, 2018	EF1	6.7 mi	200 yd	0	0
Dec 23, 2015	EF3	48.4 mi	800 yd	7	0
Dec 23, 2015	EF2	14.9 mi	400 yd	1	0
Jan 30, 2013	EF1	9.1 mi	100 yd	0	0
Apr 27, 2011	EF1	9.2 mi	200 yd	0	0
Feb 5, 2008	EF1	10.1 mi	50 yd	0	0
Jan 10, 2008	EF2	1.3 mi	40 yd	0	0
Nov 15, 2005	F2	6 mi	100 yd	1	0
Apr 16, 1998	F5	69.4 mi	1,760 yd	36	3
Mar 1, 1997	F2	7.8 mi	440 yd	2	0

Deadliest: Mar 31, 2023, EF3, 9 killed.

Nearby counties

Hardin County, TN21 Lawrence County, TN44 Lauderdale County, AL50 Lewis County, TN15 Perry County, TN12 Decatur County, TN8 Colbert County, AL50 Tishomingo County, MS28

Questions

How many tornadoes has Wayne County, Tennessee had?

19 tornadoes touched Wayne County, Tennessee between 1950 and 2025 in the NOAA Storm Prediction Center database — about 0.3 per year.

What was the strongest tornado in Wayne County?

The strongest rating recorded was F5 on Apr 16, 1998, with a 69.4-mile path and 3 deaths.

When is tornado season in Wayne County?

Most of its tornadoes happened in March (6 of 19). 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).