Washington experiences relatively infrequent severe weather compared to the central United States, with 138 confirmed tornadoes, 395 hailstorm events and 613 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 Washington 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 Washington 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.
Washington Severe Weather by the Numbers (1950–2025)
- 138 tornadoes recorded between 1950 and 2025
- 16 violent tornadoes rated F2/EF2 or stronger
- 6 direct tornado deaths and 303 direct injuries
- 395 hailstorm events recorded by the NWS
- 613 damaging-wind events on record
- 1.8 tornadoes per year on average across the 75-year record
- May is the peak severe-weather month, accounting for roughly 23.2% of Washington tornadoes
- 255 total direct deaths from all severe-weather event types tracked by the NWS
When Washington Severe Weather Happens
Washington tornado activity is heavily concentrated in spring. March, April, May and June account for 57% of all Washington tornadoes, with May alone responsible for roughly 23.2%.
- May: 32 tornadoes (23.2%) — peak month
- April: 21 tornadoes (15.2%)
- June: 18 tornadoes (13%)
- October: 13 tornadoes (9.4%)
- August: 13 tornadoes (9.4%)
- July: 13 tornadoes (9.4%)
Top 10 Washington Counties by Tornado Frequency
Tornado activity in Washington 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 |
|---|---|
| Spokane | 16 |
| Clark | 15 |
| Lincoln | 12 |
| Pierce | 9 |
| Yakima | 8 |
| Snohomish | 7 |
| Grant | 6 |
| Benton | 5 |
| Cowlitz | 5 |
| King | 5 |
Washington Tornado Strength Distribution
Most Washington tornadoes are weak: roughly 88% are rated F0/EF0 or F1/EF1. Violent tornadoes (F2+/EF2+) account for around 12% of rated tornadoes in the state.
- F0/EF0 (weak): 79 tornadoes — 59.4% of rated events
- F1/EF1: 38 tornadoes — 28.6% of rated events
- F2/EF2 (strong): 13 tornadoes — 9.8% of rated events
- F3/EF3: 3 tornadoes — 2.3% of rated events
Record-Setting Severe Weather in Washington
Largest hailstone: 3.00 inches in diameter, observed in Pend Oreille County near Cusick on June 17, 1997. The three largest hailstones on record in Washington measured 3.00″, 2.75″, 2.75″.
Highest measured wind gust: 84 knots (97 mph) recorded in Ferry County near Keller on August 2, 2014. Most damaging-wind events in Washington are estimated rather than measured because anemometers are sparse across the rural areas where supercells most often produce destructive thunderstorm winds.
How Washington Compares Nationally
Washington 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).
- Washington tornado total: 138 — ranked 41st nationally.
- Washington hail total: 395 hail events on record since 1950.
- Washington wind total: 613 damaging-wind events on record since 1950.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tornadoes does Washington have on average per year?
Washington 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 Washington are tornadoes most common?
The single county with the most tornadoes on record is Spokane County with 16 events. The three most active counties overall are Spokane, Clark, Lincoln.
How does Washington compare to its neighbors?
Washington shares a severe-weather climate with Idaho, Oregon. Severe storms regularly cross state lines, so the same supercells, hail cores and wind events often appear in Washington’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 Washington to Neighboring States
Severe weather doesn’t stop at state lines. The same supercell systems that produce Washington tornadoes regularly cross into neighboring states. Compare Washington’s storm history to its land neighbors:
- Idaho severe storm history — ranked 35th nationally, mountain-west severe weather, mostly hail and high wind
- Oregon severe storm history — ranked 42nd nationally, Pacific-coast climate, infrequent tornadoes
Explore the national NOAA Storm Reports map · US Tornado Tracks map · US Hailstorms map
