Severe Weather History


1988 Severe Weather Season in the United States

7,257

Recorded events

2,099

Counties affected

55

Direct deaths

$1.1B

Property damage

The 1988 severe weather season produced 7,257 recorded events across 2,099 U.S. counties, with 55 direct deaths. It ranks #44 among all years in the archive by event count.

Through the year

1988 severe weather by month

1988 recorded severe weather events by month
1988 recorded severe weather events by month

By hazard type

What hit the U.S. in 1988

HazardEventsDeathsDamage
Thunderstorm Wind3,94723$0
Hail2,5370$0
Tornado77332$1.1B
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events · county-tagged records

Deadliest days

The deadliest events of 1988

DateEventCountyDeathsInjuries
Apr 19, 1988Tornado F3Madison County, Florida418
Jan 19, 1988Tornado F3Fayette County, Tennessee324
Nov 16, 1988Tornado F2Pulaski County, Arkansas352
Aug 10, 1988Thunderstorm WindCassia County, Idaho210
Nov 28, 1988Tornado F4Nash County, North Carolina222
Aug 15, 1988Thunderstorm WindSanilac County, Michigan21
Nov 28, 1988Tornado F4Wake County, North Carolina2105
May 8, 1988Tornado F2Sarpy County, Nebraska21
Nov 20, 1988Tornado F3Lee County, Mississippi211
Aug 16, 1988Thunderstorm WindLivingston County, Michigan20
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events · dates UTC

Violent tornadoes

EF4 and EF5 tornadoes of 1988

DateScaleTouchdown countyDeathsPath
1988-11-27EF4Wake County, North Carolina483.0 mi
1988-12-24EF4Williamson County, Tennessee16.0 mi
1988-01-19EF4Attala County, Mississippi013.0 mi
Source: NOAA SPC SVRGIS mapped tornado tracks

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