Oregon experiences relatively infrequent severe weather compared to the central United States, with 133 confirmed tornadoes, 854 hailstorm events and 572 damaging-wind events recorded by the National Weather Service since 1950. The state ranks among the lowest in the country for tornado frequency, and averages 1.8 tornadoes per year over the 75-year record. Severe convective weather in Oregon is uncommon by central-US standards; the dominant high-impact weather hazards are wildfire, atmospheric-river flooding and extreme heat. The interactive map below plots every significant severe-weather event in Oregon from the official NOAA Storm Events Database (1950 through September 2025).
Use the map to find your county, click any marker for the date, magnitude, and casualty details of that event, and switch between tornadoes, hail and wind using the chips. For the national view across all 50 states, see our NOAA Storm Reports interactive map. For tornado tracks specifically, see the US Tornado Tracks map; for hail size and frequency, the US Hailstorms map.
Oregon Severe Weather by the Numbers (1950–2025)
- 133 tornadoes recorded between 1950 and 2025
- 5 violent tornadoes rated F2/EF2 or stronger
- 854 hailstorm events recorded by the NWS
- 572 damaging-wind events on record
- 1.8 tornadoes per year on average across the 75-year record
- June is the peak severe-weather month, accounting for roughly 18.8% of Oregon tornadoes
- 321 total direct deaths from all severe-weather event types tracked by the NWS
When Oregon Severe Weather Happens
Oregon tornado activity peaks in spring, with March through June accounting for about 46% of all events. The single busiest month is June, which alone produces around 18.8% of recorded tornadoes.
- June: 25 tornadoes (18.8%) — peak month
- October: 22 tornadoes (16.5%)
- May: 17 tornadoes (12.8%)
- September: 16 tornadoes (12%)
- April: 14 tornadoes (10.5%)
- November: 11 tornadoes (8.3%)
Top 10 Oregon Counties by Tornado Frequency
Tornado activity in Oregon is geographically broad, but a handful of counties have logged many times the state average. The combination of population density (more spotters and damage reports), county land area and local climatology drives the rankings below.
| County | Tornadoes since 1950 |
|---|---|
| Marion | 11 |
| Umatilla | 9 |
| Clackamas | 8 |
| Harney | 7 |
| Lane | 7 |
| Tillamook | 7 |
| Wallowa | 7 |
| Deschutes | 6 |
| Malheur | 6 |
| Multnomah | 6 |
Oregon Tornado Strength Distribution
Most Oregon tornadoes are weak: roughly 96% are rated F0/EF0 or F1/EF1. Violent tornadoes (F2+/EF2+) account for around 3.9% of rated tornadoes in the state.
- F0/EF0 (weak): 100 tornadoes — 77.5% of rated events
- F1/EF1: 24 tornadoes — 18.6% of rated events
- F2/EF2 (strong): 4 tornadoes — 3.1% of rated events
- F3/EF3: 1 tornadoes — 0.8% of rated events
Record-Setting Severe Weather in Oregon
Largest hailstone: 4.00 inches in diameter, observed in Gilliam County near Condon on July 9, 1995. The three largest hailstones on record in Oregon measured 4.00″, 3.00″, 2.75″.
Highest measured wind gust: 102 knots (117 mph) recorded in Morrow County near Boardman on May 19, 2006. Most damaging-wind events in Oregon are estimated rather than measured because anemometers are sparse across the rural areas where supercells most often produce destructive thunderstorm winds.
How Oregon Compares Nationally
Oregon ranks among the lowest in the country for tornado frequency, with severe-weather activity well below the central-US average.
- Tornadoes (top 5): Texas (9,908), Kansas (4,890), Oklahoma (4,856), Florida (3,779), Iowa (3,417).
- Oregon tornado total: 133 — ranked 42nd nationally.
- Oregon hail total: 854 hail events on record since 1950.
- Oregon wind total: 572 damaging-wind events on record since 1950.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tornadoes does Oregon have on average per year?
Oregon averages 1.8 tornadoes per year over the 1950–2025 period. Counts vary widely year to year, but the long-term mean over 75 years of NWS records is a reliable benchmark for typical activity.
Where in Oregon are tornadoes most common?
The single county with the most tornadoes on record is Marion County with 11 events. The three most active counties overall are Marion, Umatilla, Clackamas.
How does Oregon compare to its neighbors?
Oregon shares a severe-weather climate with Washington, Idaho, Nevada, California. Severe storms regularly cross state lines, so the same supercells, hail cores and wind events often appear in Oregon’s neighbors’ records on the same date.
How recent is the data on this map?
The map and statistics on this page are pulled from NOAA’s official Storm Events Database, which currently runs from January 1950 through September 2025. New records typically appear in the database within 30–90 days of the event date, once damage surveys and ratings are complete.
Compare Oregon to Neighboring States
Severe weather doesn’t stop at state lines. The same supercell systems that produce Oregon tornadoes regularly cross into neighboring states. Compare Oregon’s storm history to its land neighbors:
- Washington severe storm history — ranked 41st nationally, Pacific-coast climate, infrequent tornadoes
- Idaho severe storm history — ranked 35th nationally, mountain-west severe weather, mostly hail and high wind
- Nevada severe storm history — ranked 45th nationally, mountain-west severe weather, mostly hail and high wind
- California severe storm history — ranked 31st nationally, Pacific-coast climate, infrequent tornadoes
Explore the national NOAA Storm Reports map · US Tornado Tracks map · US Hailstorms map
