Scottsdale, AZ Tornado History — 53 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Scottsdale, AZ had?
Scottsdale has had 53 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Scottsdale?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Scottsdale was an EF0 on October 16, 2022.
When is tornado season in Scottsdale?
August is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Scottsdale, with 7 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 Scottsdale
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 10 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 Scottsdale been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Scottsdale from any of the 53 tornadoes since 1950, though 52 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Scottsdale
About Tornadoes in Scottsdale
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.
Tornado activity around Scottsdale is closely tied to the North American monsoon, which pulls deep moisture into the Sonoran Desert each summer and fuels severe thunderstorms over Maricopa County's Salt River Valley and the flanks of the McDowell Mountains. That monsoon signature runs through the local record: an F2 tornado injured 2 people on July 5, 1968, and another F2 tore a 4.7-mile path roughly 400 yards wide on August 31, 1971, injuring 41 people and causing $2.75 million in property damage. The following summer, on June 22, 1972, an F2 tracked 13.5 miles across the area — an unusually narrow tornado, about 10 yards across — and left $27.5 million in property damage.
The cool season brings a different threat, when Pacific storm systems cross central Arizona: F0 tornadoes touched down on February 13, 1992, and an F2 carved a 2.1-mile path on January 17, 1993, causing $2.75 million in damage. More recent activity has stayed at the weak end of the scale, with EF0 tornadoes near the city on November 29, 2019, an EF0 on July 24, 2020, and an EF0 on October 16, 2022 — reminders that even the desert's brief spin-ups warrant attention when monsoon storms or winter troughs move through the Valley.