NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Somerville, 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
10 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Somerville, Tennessee since 1851, 0 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Olga in 2019. Since 1950, 73 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 9 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 0
- Tropical storms
- 10
- Tornadoes
- 73
- EF3 or stronger
- 9
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
80 deaths in all
What the records show for Somerville
None of the 10 tropical systems was at hurricane strength as it passed Somerville; the strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, a tropical storm with 61 mph winds when its centre passed 5 miles away. The record near Somerville begins with an unnamed storm in 1860; the most recent system was Olga in 2019, a tropical storm 6 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1950s, with 2 systems. Of the 10 systems, 2 have come since 2000. Somerville has more tropical storms and hurricanes within 75 miles than 96% of the 339 Tennessee cities on this site. The highest rating among the 73 tornadoes within 25 miles is F4, reached 3 times; the most recent, on May 4, 2003, came within 24 miles. The deadliest, an F4 on March 21, 1952, killed 38 people. Of the 73, 4 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 33 have come since 2000. March and April have had the most tornadoes, 12 each. The most recent tornado was on April 3, 2025. Of the 339 Tennessee cities, 59% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Somerville. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 41 times since 1984, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Of the 339 Tennessee cities, 68% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Somerville.
Compare Somerville's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Somerville
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | OlgaOct 26 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2005 | KatrinaAug 30 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1969 | CamilleAug 19 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1957 | AudreyJun 28 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1950 | BakerAug 31 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 17 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 18 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 28 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 21 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormOct 3 | 42 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 Somerville: 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 Somerville
By decade
- 2020s11(2 EF3+)
- 2010s7
- 2000s15(2 EF3+)
- 1990s17(2 EF3+)
- 1980s7(1 EF3+)
- 1970s6
- 1960s5
- 1950s5(2 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 21, 1952 | F4 | 20 mi | 46.8 mi | 38 / 157 |
| Mar 21, 1952 | F4 | 11 mi | 29.6 mi | 16 / 74 |
| May 4, 2003 | F4 | 24 mi | 39 mi | 11 / 86 |
| Feb 5, 2008 | EF3 | 7 mi | 31.13 mi | 3 / 14 |
| Nov 27, 1994 | F3 | 18 mi | 16 mi | 3 / 25 |
| Jan 19, 1988 | F3 | 7 mi | 22 mi | 3 / 24 |
| Apr 3, 2025 | EF3 | 19 mi | 39.55 mi | 2 / 3 |
| Mar 31, 2023 | EF3 | 22 mi | 39.18 mi | 1 / 28 |
| Jan 17, 1999 | F3 | 13 mi | 22 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Mar 31, 2023 | EF2 | 19 mi | 12.78 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 5, 2008 | EF2 | 20 mi | 8.09 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Apr 2, 2006 | F2 | 23 mi | 0.8 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 73, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Somerville
The Storm Prediction Center has 41 hail reports within 10 miles of Somerville since 1984, made on 30 separate days. Of these, 24 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2 inches (hen egg size), was reported on 2 days, most recently April 2, 2025. The most recent report is from May 2, 2025. April has the most reports, 15.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Somerville
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Ames Plantation, TN, 13 miles southeast of Somerville at 460 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 70°F; January is the coolest, at 50°F and 31°F. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 44% of the year's precipitation (25.6 of 57.8 inches); the other six months are wetter. August has brought the most of the 10 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (4); a normal August there has highs of 91°F and 3.4 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 67 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 74 nights a year. That 57.8 inches is more than at 86 of the 122 Tennessee stations used on this site (70%). Oakland, 11 miles southwest, has its own station (Moscow, TN): 54.9 inches a year, 2.9 less than here, and a July average high of 90°F against 91°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50 | 31 | 4.6 | 7 |
| Feb | 55 | 34 | 5.0 | 7 |
| Mar | 63 | 41 | 5.7 | 9 |
| Apr | 73 | 49 | 5.7 | 7 |
| May | 81 | 59 | 5.7 | 8 |
| Jun | 88 | 66 | 4.9 | 6 |
| Jul | 91 | 70 | 4.9 | 7 |
| Aug | 91 | 68 | 3.4 | 6 |
| Sep | 86 | 61 | 4.1 | 5 |
| Oct | 75 | 50 | 4.1 | 5 |
| Nov | 63 | 40 | 4.2 | 6 |
| Dec | 53 | 34 | 5.5 | 7 |
| Year | 72 | 50 | 57.8 | 81 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Ames Plantation, TN (460 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 Somerville
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 62 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Somerville: 57 thunderstorm wind reports, 3 flash floods and 2 lightning strikes. They killed 1 person and injured 2, and the NWS estimated $1.5 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on July 22, 2003.
July 14, 2018: lightning strike 7 miles from the centre of Somerville — 1 killed.
July 22, 2003: thunderstorm wind 7 miles from the centre of Somerville — 1 injured, $1.0 million damage.
November 26, 2001: thunderstorm wind 4 miles from the centre of Somerville — 1 injured, $50,000 damage.
NWS: “Several mobile homes were damaged. Several cars were blown around.”
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
Fayette County, which includes Somerville, has been named in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1994, 17 of them major disasters (by incident: 15 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies, 2 winter storms, 1 hurricane). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Winter Storm, on February 6, 2026. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Fayette County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, lightning and heat waves; Relatively Low for inland flooding and strong wind; Very Low for hurricanes and hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $29.7 million a year, the 21st highest of 95 Tennessee counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $5.8 million (20%), 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 Somerville
- Oakland, TN11 mi
- Whiteville, TN11 mi
- Stanton, TN13 mi
- Mason, TN14 mi
- Moscow, TN15 mi
- Eads, TN17 mi
- Rossville, TN18 mi
- Bolivar, TN19 mi
- Arlington, TN22 mi
- Brownsville, TN22 mi
- Lamar, MS24 mi
- Collierville, TN25 mi
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