47
Recorded events
1
Direct deaths
8
Direct injuries
$18.3M
Property damage
Tornado in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri: 47 recorded events between 1952 and 2025. The strongest on record measured F3. That places the county #432 nationally and #10 statewide for this hazard.
Decade by decade
Tornado in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri: events per decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
The busiest decade for tornado in Cape Girardeau County is the 2010s, when 11 of the county's 47 recorded events were logged. Comparing decades is useful for spotting active periods, but the earliest years are thin because systematic reporting for this hazard began later.
Within the Cape Girardeau County archive, tornado makes up 7.5% of all recorded severe weather across 9 hazard types. Nationally the county sits at #432 for this hazard and #10 within Missouri, putting it in the 85.1 percentile of all U.S. counties.
Seasonality
Events by month
May is the peak month for tornado in Cape Girardeau County with 15 recorded events, while Aug is the quietest. Seasonality here is a property of the archive as much as the climate: reports cluster where population and spotter networks are densest.
Tornado tracks
Paths crossing this county
| Date | Scale | Path length | Max width | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-05-06 | EF3 | 2.0 mi | 50 yd | Touched down here |
| 2023-04-05 | EF2 | 20.7 mi | 150 yd | Crossed in |
| 1963-04-29 | EF2 | 10.7 mi | 50 yd | Crossed in |
| 2025-05-16 | EF2 | 1.4 mi | 225 yd | Touched down here |
| 2025-04-02 | EF2 | 14.7 mi | 600 yd | Crossed in |
| 2020-01-11 | EF2 | 9.1 mi | 300 yd | Touched down here |
| 2012-02-29 | EF2 | 7.7 mi | 120 yd | Crossed in |
| 2012-02-29 | EF2 | 31.9 mi | 300 yd | Touched down here |
| 2004-04-24 | EF2 | 5.4 mi | 200 yd | Touched down here |
| 1981-05-24 | EF2 | 9.1 mi | 400 yd | Touched down here |
Significant events
Deadliest on record
| Date | Location | Scale | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 29, 1963 | F2 | 1 | 3 | $25K | |
| May 7, 2003 | JACKSON | F3 | 0 | 2 | $12.0M |
| Feb 29, 2012 | OAK RIDGE | EF2 | 0 | 1 | $150K |
| Dec 18, 1957 | F2 | 0 | 1 | $250K | |
| Apr 22, 1955 | F2 | 0 | 1 | $250K |
Most recent
Latest recorded events
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 2025 | CAPE GIRARDEAU | EF1 | $200K |
| May 16, 2025 | BURFORDVILLE | EF2 | $175K |
| May 8, 2024 | EGYPT MILLS | EF0 | $10K |
| Apr 2, 2024 | GORDONVILLE | EF0 | $5K |
| Apr 5, 2023 | KURREVILLE | EF1 | $2K |
| Jan 11, 2020 | JACKSON | EF2 | $750K |
| Jun 1, 2018 | ORIOLE | EF1 | $25K |
| Apr 10, 2015 | JACKSON | EF0 | $60K |
| Apr 10, 2015 | DAISY | EF0 | $6K |
| Nov 1, 2013 | DUTCHTOWN | EF1 | $130K |
Other hazards here
More from Cape Girardeau County
- Thunderstorm Wind 222
- Hail 145
- Flood 106
- Flash Flood 53
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
The tornado touched down just south of U.S. Highway 61, where trees and small outbuildings were damaged. The tornado crossed Highway 61 and produced damage to several businesses. Windows were broken out, and damage occurred to roofs. One business was destroyed. A tire store was heavily damaged as the tornado was at its peak intensity. The back was wall was blown out, and much of the roof was destroyed and thrown several hundred yards. Light concrete and styrofoam blew onto Interstate 55, which was closed for a brief time until cleanup was complete. East of Interstate 55, several barns and outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. Numerous trees were uprooted or snapped along the way. The path may have extended farther east of State Route 177 near the Mississippi River, but flooding prevented surveying. Peak winds were estimated near 125 mph near U.S. Highway 61.
A tornado touched down briefly causing light damage to at least 27 homes and several other buildings, including a hardware store, a nearby school, and farm elevators. Several cars were also damaged and utility poles knocked down. Damage was reported a 0.5 mile west of Delta and again to the east of the community. Reported by Cape Girardeau county officials and local newspapers.
An EF1 tornado touched down initially at the Cape Splash Aquatic Center, where it did some damage to overhead umbrella structures and a few trees. It continued east across Kingshighway St and into neighborhoods of northern Cape Girardeau. Numerous trees were damaged including some that were snapped or uprooted. Several homes experienced minor roof or siding damage. The tornado appeared to lift along or just east of Oak Hill Street. Peak winds were 95 mph and max width was 150 yards.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many tornado events are on record in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri?
47 tornado events are recorded in Cape Girardeau County between 1952 and 2025, causing 1 direct deaths.
What is the strongest tornado recorded in Cape Girardeau County?
The strongest tornado on record in Cape Girardeau County measured F3.
Where does the tornado data for Cape Girardeau County come from?
All events come from the NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, the federal public-domain archive of severe weather reports. Dates are UTC, damage is as reported and not inflation-adjusted, and the most recent entries may still be revised.
Cite this page
“Tornado in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/missouri/cape-girardeau-county/tornado/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.