Drexel Heights, AZ Tornado History — 25 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Drexel Heights, AZ had?
Drexel Heights has had 25 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Drexel Heights?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Drexel Heights was an Unrated on September 16, 2025.
When is tornado season in Drexel Heights?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Drexel Heights, with 9 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 Drexel Heights
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 8 total, averaging 0.4 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Drexel Heights since December 29, 2025
These is a preliminary report, not confirmed tornadoes. It has not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and is not counted in the confirmed totals above.
Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.
Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.
Within 25 miles of Drexel Heights. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
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
Casualties on Record Near Drexel Heights
3 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Drexel Heights since 1950, across 2 events. 53 injuries have been reported across all events. 1964 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F2 on August 27, 1964, which caused 2 fatalities along a 0.1-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Drexel Heights
About Tornadoes in Drexel Heights
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 Drexel Heights, Arizona has recorded 25 tornadoes, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This relatively modest count reflects the region's position in the arid Southwest, where atmospheric conditions favorable for tornado development occur less frequently than in more humid climates. The majority of these events have been weak, with 12 rated EF0 and 9 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on observed damage. Only 2 tornadoes reached EF2 strength, and 2 remain unrated.
Tornado activity in the Drexel Heights area shows a distinct seasonal pattern, with July accounting for 9 of the 25 recorded events. This summer peak aligns with the North American monsoon season, when increased moisture from the Gulf of California combines with daytime heating to produce severe thunderstorms capable of spawning tornadoes. By decade, activity has been variable: the 1950s saw just 1 tornado, while the 1990s and 2020s each recorded 5 events. The 1960s contributed 4 tornadoes, the 1970s had 3, and both the 1980s and 2000s recorded 2 each.
The deadliest tornado on record occurred on August 27, 1964, when an F2 tornado resulted in 2 fatalities. This event carved a brief 0.1-mile path with a maximum width of just 10 yards and caused $27,500 in property damage. The costliest tornado struck on July 7, 1992, producing $2,750,000 in damage despite being rated only F1. This storm traveled 2.8 miles with a narrow 10-yard width and caused no fatalities.
More recently, an EF1 tornado on July 3, 2024 became both the widest and longest-track tornado in the area's recorded history, stretching 3.3 miles with a maximum width of 150 yards. It caused $50,000 in damage with no injuries. The most recent event was an unrated tornado on September 16, 2025, which had a negligible 1-yard width, no measurable path length, and caused no damage or casualties.