Tornado History
Washington Tornado History
This page summarizes tornado history for Washington. The local dataset contains 136 tornado records from 1954 through 2024, with a strongest listed rating of F3 (Severe damage) and at least $30.5M in reported property damage. The latest tornado record in this group is October 28, 2024. Across these records, NOAA lists 6 deaths and 303 injuries.
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Key Tornado Statistics
Key Tornado Facts for Washington
Top local patterns from the historical tornado records in this group.
Average 1.9 tornadoes per year (2.2/yr in last decade)
May is the peak tornado month with 32 recorded events
Deadliest tornado: F3 in Washington with 6 deaths
1997 was the most active year with 14 tornadoes
The 2000s had the most tornado activity (31 events)
Longest tornado: 45 miles in Washington
Widest tornado: 528.0 yards in Washington
Most tornadoes in one day: 4 on Apr 5, 1972
Monthly Distribution
Shows tornado frequency across months of the year, highlighting seasonal patterns and peak tornado periods.
Summary: In Washington, May is the most active month with 32 tornadoes.
Annual Tornado Trend
Shows year-by-year tornado counts, making active years and quiet stretches easier to spot.
Summary: 1997 was the most active year with 14 recorded tornadoes.
Property Damage Trends
Visualizes reported property damage over time. Bars use a log-like scale so very large damage years do not flatten the rest of the chart.
Summary: The highest reported property damage year in this group is 1972 with at least $25.3M in NOAA-listed property damage.
Tornado Count By County
Compares the counties with the most tornado records in this state dataset.
Summary: Spokane County has the highest count in this state group with 15 tornado records.
Historical Track Sketch
This map covers the wider location—not your exact property.Measure the closest recorded track to a street address in or near Washington.
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Notable Tornado Records
The table highlights the strongest and most damaging records in this page's local dataset. Damage totals are NOAA-reported minimum estimates where available.
| Date | Rating | Area | Length | Width | Deaths | Injuries | Min. property damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 5, 1972 | F3 | Clark, Washington | 8.7 mi | 440 yd | 6 | 300 | $25.0M |
| December 12, 1969 | F3 | King, Washington | 3.8 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $250K |
| April 5, 1972 | F3 | Lincoln, Washington | 0 mi | 83 yd | 0 | 1 | $250K |
| December 18, 2018 | EF2 | Kitsap, Washington | 1.35 mi | 285 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.2M |
| June 15, 1954 | F2 | Spokane, Washington | 0.5 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| June 26, 1958 | F2 | Walla Walla, Washington | 0.3 mi | 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| November 10, 1965 | F2 | Lewis, Washington | 1.5 mi | 23 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| November 24, 1970 | F2 | Snohomish, Washington | 0.3 mi | 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| August 30, 1971 | F2 | Whitman, Washington | 0.5 mi | 17 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| April 5, 1972 | F2 | Grant, Washington | 0 mi | 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| April 5, 1972 | F2 | Stevens, Washington | 1 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| April 30, 1957 | F2 | Yakima, Washington | 1 mi | 23 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
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Top County Pages
- Spokane tornado history15
- Clark tornado history15
- Lincoln tornado history12
- Pierce tornado history9
- Yakima tornado history8
- Snohomish tornado history7
- Grant tornado history6
- Benton tornado history5
- Walla Walla tornado history5
- King tornado history5
- Cowlitz tornado history5
- Stevens tornado history5
- Okanogan tornado history5
- Thurston tornado history5
- Lewis tornado history3
- Whitman tornado history3
- Adams tornado history3
- Pacific tornado history3
- Douglas tornado history3
- Grays Harbor tornado history3
Top Location Pages
- Creston tornado history5
- Wilbur tornado history4
- Nespelem tornado history2
- Kettle Falls tornado history2
- Battle Ground tornado history2
- Bonney Lake tornado history2
- (ska)fairchild Afb tornado history2
- La Center tornado history2
- Toppenish tornado history2
- Longview tornado history2
- Bucoda tornado history1
- Ruston tornado history1
- Yacolt tornado history1
- Westport tornado history1
- Snohomish tornado history1
- White Swan tornado history1
- Omak tornado history1
- Elma tornado history1
- Deer Park tornado history1
- Tacoma tornado history1
Source And Limits
Data sourced from NOAA Storm Prediction Center and the NCEI Storm Events Database. TornadoTrace summarizes reported weather events for screening and research; it is not a damage assessment, inspection, or insurance determination. Coordinates and records can be approximate, incomplete, revised, or missing. No warranty of completeness or accuracy.