Avondale, AZ Tornado History — 32 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Avondale, AZ had?
Avondale has had 32 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Avondale?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Avondale was an Unrated on April 2, 2025.
When is tornado season in Avondale?
August is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Avondale, with 6 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
Recent Tornado Activity Near Avondale
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 6 total, averaging 0.3 per year over this window.
Tornadoes by Decade
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.
Tornadoes by Month
Have any tornadoes near Avondale been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Avondale from any of the 32 tornadoes since 1950, though 11 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Avondale
About Tornadoes in Avondale
This overview was written April 23, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Since 1950, the area within 25 miles of Avondale, Arizona has recorded 32 tornadoes, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. Unlike the Great Plains where tornadoes peak in spring, this region sees its highest activity in August, with 6 events occurring during that month. The majority of these tornadoes have been weak, with 16 rated EF0 and 12 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest). Three tornadoes reached EF2 strength, and one recent event remains unrated.
Tornado activity near Avondale has fluctuated considerably over the decades. The 1970s saw the highest concentration with 9 tornadoes, while the 1990s recorded 7 events. The 1950s and 1960s were relatively quiet with only 2 and 3 tornadoes respectively. The 1980s, 2010s, and 2020s each contributed 5, 5, and 1 tornadoes to the historical record. Notably, none of the tornadoes on record in this area have resulted in fatalities.
The costliest and longest-tracked tornado occurred on June 22, 1972, when an F2 tornado carved a 13.5-mile path with a maximum width of just 10 yards. Despite its narrow profile, this event caused $27.5 million in property damage. The widest tornado on record touched down on November 29, 2019, reaching a maximum width of 200 yards over an 8.8-mile path. This EF0 tornado caused $100,000 in damage but, like all tornadoes in the area's recorded history, resulted in no deaths.
The most recent tornado struck on April 2, 2025, traveling half a mile with a maximum width of 5 yards. This event caused no damage and has not yet received an official rating. Desert tornadoes often form from different atmospheric conditions than their Midwest counterparts, frequently developing from monsoon thunderstorms or winter storm systems moving through the Southwest.