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National Weather ServiceNorth CarolinaTornado WarningArchive to October 16, 2026

Tornado Warnings in North Carolina

The National Weather Service issued 37 tornado warnings for North Carolina in 2025 and 103 a year on average in 2008-2025; in 2021-2025 it had the 15th most of any state. 2026 through September: 36, 60% below the average of 91 for those months in 2008-2025. Beaufort was covered most often (93 times since 2008).

How many tornado warnings does North Carolina get?

37 tornado warnings for North Carolina in 2025
1002003002008: 19320082009: 8620092010: 11120102011: 22420112012: 6020122013: 3720132014: 8320142015: 2620152016: 6220162017: 8520172018: 10420182019: 15820192020: 14120202021: 10020212022: 11020222023: 5120232024: 18120242025: 3720252026: 6520262008-2025 average 1032026 through September: 651002003002008: 19320082009: 862010: 11120102011: 2242012: 6020122013: 372014: 8320142015: 262016: 6220162017: 852018: 10420182019: 1582020: 14120202021: 1002022: 11020222023: 512024: 18120242025: 372026: 6520262008-2025 average 1032026 through September: 651002003002008: 19320082009: 862010: 11120102011: 2242012: 6020122013: 372014: 8320142015: 262016: 6220162017: 852018: 10420182019: 1582020: 14120202021: 1002022: 11020222023: 512024: 18120242025: 372026: 6520262008-2025 average 1032026 through September: 651002003002008: 19320082009: 862010: 1112011: 2242012: 602013: 372014: 832015: 2620152016: 622017: 852018: 1042019: 1582020: 14120202021: 1002022: 1102023: 512024: 1812025: 372026: 6520262008-2025 average 1032026 through September: 65

Every tornado warning that covered part of North Carolina. 2026 is an outline: the year is not over.

The numbers
YearCount
2026 (through September)65
202537
2024181
202351
2022110
2021100
2020141
2019158
2018104
201785
201662
201526
201483
201337
201260
2011224
2010111
200986
2008193

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 16, 2026.

When in the year does North Carolina get them?

North Carolina's tornado warnings by month, 2008-2025
200400Jan: 48JanFeb: 71FebMar: 155MarApr: 376AprMay: 273MayJun: 74JunJul: 103JulAug: 244AugSep: 291SepOct: 104OctNov: 43NovDec: 67Dec376200400Jan: 48JanFeb: 71FebMar: 155MarApr: 376AprMay: 273MayJun: 74JunJul: 103JulAug: 244AugSep: 291SepOct: 104OctNov: 43NovDec: 67Dec376200400Jan: 48JanFeb: 71FebMar: 155MarApr: 376AprMay: 273MayJun: 74JunJul: 103JulAug: 244AugSep: 291SepOct: 104OctNov: 43NovDec: 67Dec376200400Jan: 48JFeb: 71FMar: 155MApr: 376AMay: 273MJun: 74JJul: 103JAug: 244ASep: 291SOct: 104ONov: 43NDec: 67D376

Sum of 2008-2025; the busiest month is labelled.

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 16, 2026.

Where in North Carolina?

County or forecast zoneSince 2008Since 2023Last issued
Beaufort9319October 11, 2026
Columbus9219October 11, 2026
Craven9116October 11, 2026
Brunswick8826October 11, 2026
Jones7513October 11, 2026
Onslow7513October 11, 2026
Sampson748October 11, 2026
Bladen7211October 11, 2026
Pitt7118October 11, 2026
Pender6413October 11, 2026
Johnston6312October 11, 2026
Nash6319October 11, 2026

The NWS issues these products for counties or forecast zones; a zone can be part of a county or a mountain range.

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 16, 2026.

The latest tornado warnings for North Carolina in AreaZine's record

This list is AreaZine's record of the NWS alert feed, kept since April 6, 2026; the counts above come from the complete IEM archive.

Source: National Weather Service alerts (api.weather.gov).

Every tornado warning for North Carolina in AreaZine's record

95 notices in AreaZine's record; the latest first below. Every one, oldest first: July 28, 2026 to October 11, 2026.

  1. Tornado Warning: Beaufort, Craven and Pitt, NC Beaufort, Craven and Pitt expired
  2. Tornado Warning: Beaufort, Craven, Lenoir and 1 more, NC Beaufort, Craven, Lenoir and 1 more expired
  3. Tornado Warning: Craven, Jones and Lenoir, NC Craven, Jones and Lenoir expired
  4. Tornado Warning: Craven, Jones and Lenoir, NC Craven, Jones and Lenoir expired
  5. Tornado Warning: Halifax and Warren, NC Halifax and Warren expired
  6. Tornado Warning: Craven, Jones and Lenoir, NC Craven, Jones and Lenoir expired
  7. Tornado Warning: Jones and Lenoir, NC Jones and Lenoir expired
  8. Tornado Warning: Halifax, Nash and Warren, NC Halifax, Nash and Warren expired
  9. Tornado Warning: Duplin, Jones, Lenoir and 1 more, NC Duplin, Jones, Lenoir and 1 more expired
  10. Tornado Warning: Franklin and Warren, NC Franklin and Warren expired
  11. Tornado Warning: Duplin, Jones, Lenoir and 1 more, NC Duplin, Jones, Lenoir and 1 more expired
  12. Tornado Warning: Duplin, Jones, Lenoir and 1 more, NC Duplin, Jones, Lenoir and 1 more expired
  13. Tornado Warning: Franklin and Warren, NC Franklin and Warren expired
  14. Tornado Warning: Duplin, NC Duplin expired
  15. Tornado Warning: Duplin, Jones, Lenoir and 1 more, NC Duplin, Jones, Lenoir and 1 more expired
  16. Tornado Warning: Franklin and Warren, NC Franklin and Warren expired
  17. Tornado Warning: Franklin and Nash, NC Franklin and Nash expired
  18. Tornado Warning: Duplin, NC Duplin expired
  19. Tornado Warning: Franklin and Warren, NC Franklin and Warren expired
  20. Tornado Warning: Johnston and Wake, NC Johnston and Wake expired

Source: National Weather Service alerts (api.weather.gov). A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.

What is a tornado warning?

The NWS issues a tornado warning when a tornado has been seen or weather radar indicates one in the warned area. Warnings are drawn as polygons around the storm's path and usually last 30 to 60 minutes. A warning means the hazard is happening, about to happen, or very likely: act now to protect people and property. The national record · Every warning type in North Carolina.

How does North Carolina compare with its neighbours?

Georgia gets the most on North Carolina's border: 106 a year in 2021-2025.

StateA year, 2021-2025A year, 2008-2025Rank of all states
Georgia10611011th
Tennessee10410812th
North Carolina9610315th
Virginia616421st
South Carolina565023rd

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 16, 2026.

More records for North Carolina