NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Bethel Springs, TN
Every tropical system within 75 miles since 1851 and every tornado within 25 miles since 1950.
Data: NOAA NHC HURDAT2 and NOAA SPC tornado and hail reports, through 2025 · Updated
8 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Bethel Springs, Tennessee since 1851, 0 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Olga in 2019. Since 1950, 84 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 20 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 0
- Tropical storms
- 8
- Tornadoes
- 84
- EF3 or stronger
- 20
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
160 deaths in all
What the records show for Bethel Springs
None of the 8 tropical systems was at hurricane strength as it passed Bethel Springs; the strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, a tropical storm with 61 mph winds when its centre passed 32 miles away. The record near Bethel Springs begins with an unnamed storm in 1860; the most recent system was Olga in 2019, a tropical storm 45 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1950s, with 2 systems. Of the 8 systems, one has come since 2000. Bethel Springs has more tropical storms and hurricanes within 75 miles than 89% of the 339 Tennessee cities on this site. The highest rating among the 84 tornadoes within 25 miles is F4 or EF4, reached 8 times; the most recent, on December 23, 2015, came within 9 miles. The deadliest, an F4 on February 21, 1971, killed 58 people. Of the 84, 4 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 36 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 21. The most recent tornado was on April 3, 2025. Bethel Springs has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 48% of the 339 Tennessee cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 53 times since 1962, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Bethel Springs has more hail reports within 10 miles than 51% of the 339 Tennessee cities.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Bethel Springs
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | OlgaOct 26 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1957 | AudreyJun 28 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1950 | BakerAug 31 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 17 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 18 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormOct 19 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 21 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormOct 3 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Bethel Springs: a hurricane's worst winds sit within a few dozen miles of its centre, and inland cities are usually past that.
Tornadoes within 25 miles of Bethel Springs
By decade
- 2020s12(3 EF3+)
- 2010s12(2 EF3+)
- 2000s12(3 EF3+)
- 1990s15(3 EF3+)
- 1980s7(1 EF3+)
- 1970s9(3 EF3+)
- 1960s4(1 EF3+)
- 1950s13(4 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 21, 1971 | F4 | 22 mi | 202.1 mi | 58 / 795 |
| Mar 21, 1952 | F4 | 11 mi | 46.8 mi | 38 / 157 |
| May 4, 2003 | F4 | 22 mi | 39 mi | 11 / 86 |
| Dec 23, 2015 | EF4 | 9 mi | 75.09 mi | 9 / 36 |
| Jan 17, 1999 | F4 | 25 mi | 16 mi | 6 / 106 |
| Apr 19, 1970 | F4 | 23 mi | 47.6 mi | 4 / 78 |
| Feb 5, 2008 | EF4 | 20 mi | 16.17 mi | 3 / 5 |
| Apr 3, 1956 | F4 | 24 mi | 11.6 mi | 3 / 60 |
| Mar 31, 2023 | EF3 | 4 mi | 86.01 mi | 9 / 23 |
| Apr 2, 2025 | EF3 | 6 mi | 29.15 mi | 5 / 14 |
| Mar 22, 1991 | F3 | 10 mi | 22 mi | 4 / 45 |
| May 2, 2010 | EF3 | 16 mi | 29.58 mi | 3 / 9 |
The strongest 12 of 84, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Bethel Springs
The Storm Prediction Center has 53 hail reports within 10 miles of Bethel Springs since 1962, made on 42 separate days. Of these, 32 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 8 days, most recently May 16, 2009. The most recent report is from May 2, 2025. April has the most reports, 21.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Bethel Springs
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Selmer, TN, 7 miles south of Bethel Springs at 470 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 90°F and low of 69°F; January is the coolest, at 49°F and 30°F. March is the wettest at 5.8 inches of precipitation on average and August the driest at 3.8 inches; the year adds up to 59.2 inches over 82 days with at least a tenth of an inch. Highs reach 90°F on about 59 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 75 nights a year. Snowfall averages 1.0 inches a year, most of it in February. That 59.2 inches is more than at 97 of the 122 Tennessee stations used on this site (80%). Henderson, 11 miles north, has its own station (Henderson 4 W, TN): 61.9 inches a year, 2.7 more than here, and a July average high of 89°F against 90°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49 | 30 | 4.7 | 7 | 0.3 |
| Feb | 54 | 33 | 5.3 | 8 | 0.4 |
| Mar | 63 | 40 | 5.8 | 8 | 0.2 |
| Apr | 73 | 48 | 5.6 | 7 | 0.1 |
| May | 80 | 58 | 5.4 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 87 | 66 | 4.8 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 90 | 69 | 5.2 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 90 | 68 | 3.8 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 84 | 61 | 4.4 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 74 | 49 | 4.1 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 62 | 38 | 4.4 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Dec | 52 | 33 | 5.7 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Year | 71 | 49 | 59.2 | 82 | 1.0 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Selmer, TN (470 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Normals describe the station; the farther a place is from it, and the bigger the difference in height, the more its weather can differ.
Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Bethel Springs
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 66 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Bethel Springs: 56 thunderstorm wind reports, 9 flash floods and 1 lightning strike. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $3.1 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 96 mph, on March 31, 2023. July has had the most flash floods, 4 of 9. Of the 339 Tennessee cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 73 have had fewer than Bethel Springs.
July 1, 2020: flash flood 6 miles from the centre of Bethel Springs — $2.0 million damage.
May 5, 1999: thunderstorm wind 6 miles from the centre of Bethel Springs — $250,000 damage.
May 2, 2010: flash flood 8 miles from the centre of Bethel Springs — $250,000 damage.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, events whose starting point is on record, 1996 to June 30, 2026. Damage is the NWS estimate in the dollars of the year, not insured losses, and NWS notes that some reports are unverified.
Flood insurance claims, disaster declarations and FEMA risk ratings
McNairy County, which includes Bethel Springs, has been named in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1975, 17 of them major disasters (by incident: 11 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies, 2 floods, 2 tornadoes). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Winter Storm, on February 6, 2026. FEMA's National Risk Index gives McNairy County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for strong wind; Relatively Low for tornadoes, lightning and heat waves; Very Low for hurricanes, hail and inland flooding. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $14.6 million a year, the 50th highest of 95 Tennessee counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $3.4 million (23%), is from inland flooding.
Claims: FEMA, OpenFEMA Dataset FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims – v3, summed over ZIP codes; payments in the dollars of each year, not adjusted for inflation. Declarations: Disaster Declarations Summaries – v2, by county. Retrieved October 25, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
Risk ratings: FEMA, National Risk Index county table, December 2025 (v1.20), retrieved October 26, 2026; ratings compare counties nationwide, are meant for planning and are no substitute for a local risk assessment. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.
Cities near Bethel Springs
- Selmer, TN7 mi
- Henderson, TN11 mi
- Ramer, TN14 mi
- Adamsville, TN15 mi
- Pinson, TN16 mi
- Medon, TN18 mi
- Michie, TN19 mi
- Bolivar, TN19 mi
- Middleton, TN20 mi
- Beech Bluff, TN24 mi
- Corinth, MS24 mi
- Walnut, MS25 mi
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