Tornadoes in Catawba County
The Storm Prediction Center records 22 tornadoes whose paths touched Catawba County, North Carolina between 1951 and 2024. They killed 5 people and injured 70. The busiest month is October, with 7 tornadoes. The strongest was an F4 on 5 May 1989. The most recent was on 9 January 2024.
- 22tornadoes
- 5deaths
- 70injuries
- 548per 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 Catawba County?
| Rating | Tornadoes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| F0 / EF0 | 6 | 27% |
| F1 / EF1 | 9 | 41% |
| F2 / EF2 | 6 | 27% |
| F3 / EF3 | 0 | 0% |
| F4 / EF4 | 1 | 5% |
| F5 / EF5 | 0 | 0% |
| Unknown rating | 0 | 0% |
Catawba 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 |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 2 |
| 1970s | 4 |
| 1980s | 2 |
| 1990s | 4 |
| 2010s | 8 |
| 2020s | 2 |
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 1 |
| Feb | 0 |
| Mar | 2 |
| Apr | 0 |
| May | 5 |
| Jun | 0 |
| Jul | 0 |
| Aug | 4 |
| Sep | 2 |
| Oct | 7 |
| Nov | 1 |
| Dec | 0 |
Records for Catawba County
- Deadliest and Strongest: Belwood, North Carolina tornado5 May 1989, F4, 4 deaths, 52 injuries, 14 miles long
- Longest path: North Carolina tornado7 August 2023, EF1, 36.2 miles long
- Most recent: North Carolina tornado9 January 2024, EF1, 1 death, 4 injuries, 9 miles long
Notable tornadoes in Catawba County
- Belwood, North Carolina tornado5 May 1989, F4, 4 deaths, 52 injuries, 14 miles long
Many of these tornadoes killed or injured people. The numbers are the official record's, and they may be revised.