It May Be Uncommon,But Tornadoes Can Hit Major Cities,And They Can Do Major Damage When They Do

Contrary to popular belief,tornadoes can in fact hit major cities,and they can do major damage when they do. It’s just unlikely for tornadoes to hit major cities because they make up less of the country.

April 10,2025

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There’s a common misconception that moving to the city means you’re safe from tornadoes.

But tornadoes,unfortunately,are possible anywhere,as long as atmospheric and geographic conditions favorable to tornado formation are in place.

But why do you not hear about tornadoes hitting major cities more often?

Well,the answer is actually quite simple:less of the country is in a big city.

Urban areas make up only 3% of the total land area in the U.S.,so when a tornado does touch down,there’s a 97% change that it’s in a rural or sparsely populated area.

But when tornadoes do hit densely populated cities,they can do a lot of damage because there’s more in their path.

Here are some notable tornadoes to hit major cities in recent years:

Nashville (2020)

One of the strongest and most impactful tornadoes to hit a major city in the 21st century was an EF3 tornado that tore through Nashville,TN,on March 3,2020.

The tornado was on the ground for an astonishing 60 miles and caused over $1 billion worth of damage.

The tornado was just one of 10 that made up the March 2-3 outbreak,killing a combined total of 25 people and injuring over 300 more.

(MORE:Why March 3 Became an Infamous and Tragic Day the Last Two Years)

The EF3 tornado was on the ground for 60 miles,striking just after midnight on March 3,2020.
(NWS Nashville)

Atlanta (2008)

Another major city in the Southeast to get hit by a significant tornado is Atlanta,which was hit by an EF2 tornado on the evening of Friday,March 14,2008.

The tornado caused an estimated $200 million worth of damage as it tracked through the heart of the city.

The storm was especially notable to fans of SEC basketball,as it passed directly above the Georgia Dome at the end of the SEC Tournament second-round game between Alabama and Mississippi State.

The tornado moved over the stadium moments after a player for Alabama sank a three-pointer buzzer beater at the end of the game,forcing a five-minute overtime period. This miracle shot delayed the crowds from exiting the venue,potentially saving thousands of lives.

There was one death reported and at least 30 injuries directly due to the storm.

The EF2 tornado passed directly over the Georgia Dome during an SEC Championship basketball game.
(Fulton County Emergency Management Agency via NWS Atlanta)

New York City (2007)

Even the Big Apple isn’t immune to twisters. In fact,there were 12 confirmed tornadoes in New York City between 1974 and 2014,including at least one in each of the five boroughs.

The strongest of these tornadoes struck the Bronx on the morning of Aug. 8,2007.

The twister was determined to be an EF2 tornado after the National Weather Service office examined the nearly 4 mile-long path of uprooted trees and damaged or missing roofs.

Fort Worth (2000)

In the Lone Star State,an F3 tornado touched down on the evening of March 28,2000. Two men were killed by the tornado,both of whom were outside or in open areas at the time of the storm.

(More:The Enhanced Fujita Scale:A Tornado Rating System)

Multiple skyscrapers and buildings in the city were damaged,including the Cash America building,which was nearly destroyed. The tornado weakened as it moved into downtown Fort Worth,but was still able to break nearly every window in the Bank One building before the tornado dissipated.

(City of Fort Worth via NWS Fort Worth/Dallas)

Sara Tonks is a content meteorologist with www.weathernow24.com and has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Georgia Tech in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences along with a master’s degree from Unity Environmental University in Marine Science.