Tornadoes in Shelby County
The Storm Prediction Center records 57 tornadoes whose paths touched Shelby County, Tennessee between 1950 and 2019. They killed 17 people and injured 265. The busiest month is April, with 13 tornadoes. The strongest was an F3 on 14 December 1987. The most recent was on 21 October 2019.
- 57tornadoes
- 17deaths
- 265injuries
- 749per 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 Shelby County?
| Rating | Tornadoes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| F0 / EF0 | 8 | 14% |
| F1 / EF1 | 31 | 54% |
| F2 / EF2 | 11 | 19% |
| F3 / EF3 | 7 | 12% |
| F4 / EF4 | 0 | 0% |
| F5 / EF5 | 0 | 0% |
| Unknown rating | 0 | 0% |
Shelby County tornadoes over time
The 2010s only run to 2019, so that bar is for a shorter period. The record starts in 1950.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 3 |
| 1960s | 15 |
| 1970s | 13 |
| 1980s | 8 |
| 1990s | 8 |
| 2000s | 7 |
| 2010s | 3 |
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 1 |
| Feb | 4 |
| Mar | 4 |
| Apr | 13 |
| May | 13 |
| Jun | 8 |
| Jul | 4 |
| Aug | 1 |
| Sep | 1 |
| Oct | 2 |
| Nov | 4 |
| Dec | 2 |
Records for Shelby County
- Deadliest and Strongest: West Memphis, Arkansas tornado14 December 1987, F3, 6 deaths, 121 injuries, 25 miles long
- Longest path: Millington, Tennessee tornado3 April 1968, F3, 4 deaths, 32 injuries, 28.8 miles long
- Most recent: Tennessee tornado21 October 2019, EF1, 7.4 miles long
Notable tornadoes in Shelby County
- West Memphis, Arkansas tornado14 December 1987, F3, 6 deaths, 121 injuries, 25 miles long
- Millington, Tennessee tornado3 April 1968, F3, 4 deaths, 32 injuries, 28.8 miles long
- Bartlett, Tennessee tornado27 November 1994, F3, 3 deaths, 25 injuries, 16 miles long
- Southaven, Mississippi tornado5 February 2008, EF2, 3 deaths, 13 injuries, 10.2 miles long
Many of these tornadoes killed or injured people. The numbers are the official record's, and they may be revised.