Tornadoes Near Joplin, MO
198 tornadoes have been recorded within 30 miles of Joplin, MO since 1950, 17 of them rated F3 or stronger. The closest came within 0.6 miles. Every track below is drawn from the National Weather Service damage survey record.
No recorded tornadoes within 30 miles. Try a wider radius.
Track data from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, covering every confirmed US tornado from 1950 onward. For the events with a full damage survey, see the storm archive.
Has a tornado ever hit Joplin?
Yes. 198 tornadoes have been recorded within 30 miles of Joplin, MO since 1950. The closest passed within 0.6 miles on May 6, 2024, rated EF1.
What was the strongest tornado near Joplin?
The strongest on record nearby was the EF5 of May 22, 2011, which came within 2.7 miles and carved a track 21.6 miles long. 17 of the 198 tornadoes recorded near Joplin were rated F3 or stronger.
What is the deadliest tornado near Joplin?
The deadliest nearby was the EF5 of May 22, 2011, which killed 158 people and passed within 2.7 miles. Across the whole 30 mile radius, recorded tornadoes have killed 203 and injured 1,872 since 1950.
When is tornado season in Joplin?
The record does not describe a season so much as a pattern: the 2000s were the most active decade near Joplin, MO, with 38 tornadoes recorded. Counts have risen across the country over time partly because detection and reporting improved, not only because more tornadoes occurred, so older decades are undercounted rather than genuinely quiet.
Tornadoes Near Joplin by Decade
Nearby Towns
Counts cover a 30 mile radius around the centre of Joplin, MO and come from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database. This is a historical record and not a warning service.