Tornadoes in Rutherford County
The Storm Prediction Center records 14 tornadoes whose paths touched Rutherford County, North Carolina between 1973 and 2024. They killed 2 people and injured 85. The busiest month is May, with 6 tornadoes. The strongest was an F4 on 5 May 1989. The most recent was on 25 September 2024.
- 14tornadoes
- 2deaths
- 85injuries
- 248per 10,000 sq mi of land
A tornado that crossed several counties counts in each one, so county counts add up to more than the state's.
How strong were the tornadoes in Rutherford County?
| Rating | Tornadoes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| F0 / EF0 | 6 | 43% |
| F1 / EF1 | 4 | 29% |
| F2 / EF2 | 2 | 14% |
| F3 / EF3 | 1 | 7% |
| F4 / EF4 | 1 | 7% |
| F5 / EF5 | 0 | 0% |
| Unknown rating | 0 | 0% |
Rutherford County tornadoes over time
The 2020s only run to 2024, so that bar is for a shorter period. The record starts in 1950.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 1 |
| 2000s | 2 |
| 2010s | 4 |
| 2020s | 2 |
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 1 |
| Feb | 0 |
| Mar | 1 |
| Apr | 1 |
| May | 6 |
| Jun | 1 |
| Jul | 1 |
| Aug | 0 |
| Sep | 1 |
| Oct | 2 |
| Nov | 0 |
| Dec | 0 |
Records for Rutherford County
- Deadliest and Strongest: Chesnee, South Carolina tornado5 May 1989, F4, 2 deaths, 35 injuries, 15 miles long
- Longest path: South Carolina tornado27 May 1973, F3, 40 injuries, 60.2 miles long
- Most recent: North Carolina tornado25 September 2024, EF0, 0.4 miles long
Notable tornadoes in Rutherford County
- Chesnee, South Carolina tornado5 May 1989, F4, 2 deaths, 35 injuries, 15 miles long
Many of these tornadoes killed or injured people. The numbers are the official record's, and they may be revised.