Mississippi has a long and well-documented history of severe storms, with 3,326 confirmed tornadoes, 8,222 hailstorm events and 17,135 damaging-wind events recorded by the National Weather Service since 1950. The state ranks 8th nationally for tornado frequency, and averages 44.3 tornadoes per year over the 75-year record. Mississippi sits inside Dixie Alley, the south-eastern severe-weather corridor known for fast-moving and frequently overnight tornadoes. The interactive map below plots every significant severe-weather event in Mississippi from the official NOAA Storm Events Database (1950 through September 2025).
Use the map to find your county, click any marker for the date, magnitude, and casualty details of that event, and switch between tornadoes, hail and wind using the chips. For the national view across all 50 states, see our NOAA Storm Reports interactive map. For tornado tracks specifically, see the US Tornado Tracks map; for hail size and frequency, the US Hailstorms map.
Mississippi Severe Weather by the Numbers (1950–2025)
- 3,326 tornadoes recorded between 1950 and 2025
- 925 violent tornadoes rated F2/EF2 or stronger
- 15 confirmed F5/EF5 tornadoes on record — the maximum rating on the Fujita and Enhanced Fujita scales
- 524 direct tornado deaths and 7,151 direct injuries
- 8,222 hailstorm events recorded by the NWS
- 17,135 damaging-wind events on record
- 44.3 tornadoes per year on average across the 75-year record
- April is the peak severe-weather month, accounting for roughly 23.1% of Mississippi tornadoes
- 847 total direct deaths from all severe-weather event types tracked by the NWS
When Mississippi Severe Weather Happens
Mississippi tornado activity peaks in spring, with March through June accounting for about 49% of all events. The single busiest month is April, which alone produces around 23.1% of recorded tornadoes.
- April: 768 tornadoes (23.1%) — peak month
- March: 437 tornadoes (13.1%)
- November: 366 tornadoes (11%)
- December: 348 tornadoes (10.5%)
- February: 314 tornadoes (9.4%)
- May: 289 tornadoes (8.7%)
Top 10 Mississippi Counties by Tornado Frequency
Tornado activity in Mississippi is geographically broad, but a handful of counties have logged many times the state average. The combination of population density (more spotters and damage reports), county land area and local climatology drives the rankings below.
| County | Tornadoes since 1950 |
|---|---|
| Hinds | 121 |
| Rankin | 109 |
| Smith | 89 |
| Harrison | 84 |
| Jones | 79 |
| Madison | 77 |
| Jackson | 76 |
| Leake | 74 |
| Simpson | 73 |
| Warren | 70 |
The Deadliest Tornadoes in Mississippi History
Mississippi has lost 524 lives to tornadoes since the National Weather Service began systematic tornado record-keeping in 1950. The single deadliest event killed 57 people in Hinds County in 1966, rated F5 on the Fujita scale.
| Date | Location | Rating | Direct deaths | Direct injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 3, 1966 | Hinds County | F5 | 57 | 504 |
| December 5, 1953 | Warren County | F5 | 38 | 270 |
| February 21, 1971 | Humphreys County | F4 | 30 | 411 |
| February 21, 1971 | Sunflower County | F5 | 25 | 342 |
| April 27, 2011 | Monroe County (near Smithville) | EF5 | 16 | 37 |
| February 21, 1971 | Sharkey County | F4 | 14 | 192 |
| February 21, 1971 | Leflore County | F4 | 14 | 192 |
| March 24, 2023 | Sharkey County (near Egremont) | EF4 | 14 | 150 |
| January 23, 1969 | Simpson County | F4 | 12 | 65 |
| January 23, 1969 | Copiah County | F4 | 11 | 140 |
Mississippi Tornado Strength Distribution
Most Mississippi tornadoes are weak: roughly 72% are rated F0/EF0 or F1/EF1. Violent tornadoes (F2+/EF2+) account for around 28.4% of rated tornadoes in the state. Mississippi is one of the few states with a confirmed F5 or EF5 tornado on record.
- F0/EF0 (weak): 904 tornadoes — 27.8% of rated events
- F1/EF1: 1,424 tornadoes — 43.8% of rated events
- F2/EF2 (strong): 611 tornadoes — 18.8% of rated events
- F3/EF3: 220 tornadoes — 6.8% of rated events
- F4/EF4 (violent): 79 tornadoes — 2.4% of rated events
- F5/EF5 (incredible): 15 tornadoes — 0.5% of rated events
Record-Setting Severe Weather in Mississippi
Largest hailstone: 5.00 inches in diameter, observed in Lafayette County on April 10, 1962. The three largest hailstones on record in Mississippi measured 5.00″, 4.88″, 4.60″.
Highest measured wind gust: 77 knots (89 mph) recorded in Lee County near Tupelo on April 20, 2011. Most damaging-wind events in Mississippi are estimated rather than measured because anemometers are sparse across the rural areas where supercells most often produce destructive thunderstorm winds.
How Mississippi Compares Nationally
Mississippi ranks 8th nationally for tornado frequency since 1950, placing it in the upper third of states by severe-weather activity.
- Tornadoes (top 5): Texas (9,908), Kansas (4,890), Oklahoma (4,856), Florida (3,779), Iowa (3,417).
- Mississippi tornado total: 3,326 — ranked 8th nationally.
- Mississippi hail total: 8,222 hail events on record since 1950.
- Mississippi wind total: 17,135 damaging-wind events on record since 1950.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tornadoes does Mississippi have on average per year?
Mississippi averages 44.3 tornadoes per year over the 1950–2025 period. Counts vary widely year to year, but the long-term mean over 75 years of NWS records is a reliable benchmark for typical activity.
What was the deadliest tornado in Mississippi history?
The March 3, 1966 tornado, rated F5 on the Fujita scale, killed 57 people and injured 504 in Hinds County. It remains the single deadliest tornado in the Mississippi modern record.
Where in Mississippi are tornadoes most common?
The single county with the most tornadoes on record is Hinds County with 121 events. The three most active counties overall are Hinds, Rankin, Smith.
How does Mississippi compare to its neighbors?
Mississippi shares a severe-weather climate with Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas. Severe storms regularly cross state lines, so the same supercells, hail cores and wind events often appear in Mississippi’s neighbors’ records on the same date.
How recent is the data on this map?
The map and statistics on this page are pulled from NOAA’s official Storm Events Database, which currently runs from January 1950 through September 2025. New records typically appear in the database within 30–90 days of the event date, once damage surveys and ratings are complete.
Compare Mississippi to Neighboring States
Severe weather doesn’t stop at state lines. The same supercell systems that produce Mississippi tornadoes regularly cross into neighboring states. Compare Mississippi’s storm history to its land neighbors:
- Tennessee severe storm history — ranked 21st nationally, Dixie Alley state with frequent overnight tornadoes
- Alabama severe storm history — ranked 9th nationally, Dixie Alley state with frequent overnight tornadoes
- Louisiana severe storm history — ranked 11th nationally, Dixie Alley state with frequent overnight tornadoes
- Arkansas severe storm history — ranked 12th nationally, Dixie Alley state with frequent overnight tornadoes
Explore the national NOAA Storm Reports map · US Tornado Tracks map · US Hailstorms map
