Top Tornado Counties in Mississippi
Introduction
Mississippi experiences frequent tornado activity as part of the broader “Dixie Alley” region. While tornadoes occur statewide, some counties have recorded higher totals of confirmed events based on NOAA Storm Events data.
This page ranks Mississippi counties by total confirmed tornadoes (since 1996) and includes decade-level trends and EF scale distribution.
For detailed ZIP code searches or full county breakdowns, visit the Mississippi Tornado History page.
How These Rankings Were Compiled
Ranked Counties by Confirmed Tornadoes
Hinds County – 83 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 1994)
Madison County – 51 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 1995)
Harrison County – 46 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 1994)
Forrest County – 37 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 1992)
Lee County – 28 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 1996)
Oktibbeha County – 24 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 2001)
Lafayette County – 13 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 1997)
Lauderdale County – 52 confirmed Tornadoes (Since 1992)
Rankin County – 79 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 1992)
DeSoto County – 17 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 1993)
Jackson County – 50 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 1994)
Jones County – 53 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 1994)
Lowndes County – 34 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 1992)
Washington County – 15 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 1992)
Adams County – 12 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 1995)
Geographic Tornado Patterns in Mississippi
Mississippi’s tornado activity is influenced by Gulf moisture, seasonal instability, and storm systems moving eastward across the Southeast. Northern and central counties frequently record higher totals due to repeated storm-track corridors during outbreak seasons.
EF Scale Context for Mississippi
Tornadoes are rated using the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale. Most confirmed tornadoes historically fall within EF0–EF1, while stronger tornadoes (EF4–EF5) are less common but documented during major outbreak events.
Important Context About Rankings
Higher totals do not necessarily indicate greater risk. Larger counties and more populated areas may record more tornado reports due to geographic size and observation density. These rankings reflect confirmed tornado events recorded since 1996.
