Gilbert, AZ Tornado History — 53 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Gilbert, AZ had?
Gilbert has had 53 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Gilbert?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Gilbert was an EF0 on October 16, 2022.
When is tornado season in Gilbert?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Gilbert, 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 Gilbert
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 9 total, averaging 0.5 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 Gilbert been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Gilbert from any of the 53 tornadoes since 1950, though 57 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Gilbert
About Tornadoes in Gilbert
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.
Gilbert sits in Maricopa County, in the East Valley of the Phoenix metropolitan area, where tornadoes most often arrive with the summer monsoon, when surging moisture fuels strong thunderstorms over the desert floor of the Salt River Valley.
The monsoon seasons of the late 1960s and early 1970s brought damaging tornadoes to the area. An F2 tornado struck on August 31, 1971, injuring 41 people along a 4.7-mile path and causing $2,750,000 in property damage. The following June was turbulent: an F1 on June 21, 1972 injured 5 people, and an F2 on June 22, 1972 tracked 13.5 miles and caused $27,500,000 in damage. A few summers earlier, an F2 on July 5, 1968 injured 2 people along a short path.
Tornadoes here are not confined to the monsoon. A cool-season F2 on January 17, 1993 carved a 2.1-mile path and did $2,750,000 in damage, and winter twisters also touched down in January and February of 1992. Recent activity has been weaker: a cluster of EF0 tornadoes formed around the area on November 29, 2019, another EF0 followed on July 24, 2020, and an EF0 touched down on October 16, 2022.