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Apache Junction, AZ Tornado History — 33 Tornadoes Since 1950

Arizona · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Apache Junction, AZ had?

Apache Junction has had 33 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.

When was the most recent tornado near Apache Junction?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Apache Junction was an EF0 on October 16, 2022.

When is tornado season in Apache Junction?

July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Apache Junction, with 5 on record. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
33
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
0
0.0% of total
Peak Month
July
5 on record
Per Year Avg
0.4
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Apache Junction

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 6 total, averaging 0.3 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 0
2024 0
2023 0
2022 1
2021 0
2020 1
2019 3
2018 0
2017 0
2016 0
2015 0
2014 1
2013 0
2012 0
2011 0
2010 0
2009 0
2008 0
2007 0

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 2
1960s 3
1970s 12
1980s 1
1990s 8
2000s 1
2010s 4
2020s 2

Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating

F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.

EF0 19
EF1 11
EF2 3

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 3
Feb 4
Mar 1
Apr 0
May 4
Jun 4
Jul 5
Aug 1
Sep 5
Oct 2
Nov 3
Dec 1

Have any tornadoes near Apache Junction been fatal?

No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Apache Junction from any of the 33 tornadoes since 1950, though 46 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.

Notable Tornadoes Near Apache Junction

Costliest Tornado
F1 on February 13, 1995 — est. ~$2.8M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F1 on October 18, 1972 — 1,000 yards wide.
Longest Path
F1 on September 1, 1971 — 32.4 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on October 16, 2022.

About Tornadoes in Apache Junction

This overview was written July 28, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.

Apache Junction sits where the eastern edge of the Phoenix valley meets the Superstition Mountains, near the Pinal–Maricopa county line, and its tornado history follows the desert's own calendar: tornadoes here have arrived both with the thunderstorms of the summer monsoon and with cool-season storm systems in winter.

The area has experienced genuinely damaging tornadoes. An F2 struck on August 31, 1971, tracking 4.7 miles with a path as wide as 400 yards, injuring 41 people and causing $2,750,000 in property damage. An earlier F2 on July 5, 1968 stayed on the ground for only 0.1 miles yet still injured 2 people. And on January 17, 1993, a midwinter F2 cut a 2.1-mile path and caused $2,750,000 in damage, with an F1 following on January 18, 1993.

Many of the area's tornadoes, though, have been brief and weak — monsoon-season touchdowns like an F0 on July 6, 1999, an EF0 on July 30, 2019, and an EF0 on July 24, 2020, alongside cool-season events such as an F1 on December 20, 1967 and EF0 touchdowns on November 29, 2019. As recently as October 16, 2022, an EF0 touched down in the area, a reminder that even on the Sonoran Desert floor, tornadoes remain part of the local weather story.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Apache Junction, AZ had?
Since 1950, 33 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Apache Junction. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
When is tornado season in Apache Junction?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Apache Junction, with 5 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
When was the most recent tornado near Apache Junction?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Apache Junction was an EF0 on October 16, 2022.
How do I get tornado warnings for Apache Junction?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

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