Tucson, AZ Tornado History — 25 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Tucson, AZ had?
Tucson has had 25 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Tucson?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Tucson was an Unrated on September 16, 2025.
When is tornado season in Tucson?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Tucson, with 9 on record. April through June account for 2 of the 25 tornadoes on record near Tucson.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Tucson
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 8 total, averaging 0.4 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Tucson since December 29, 2025
These are 2 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
[Landspout] Spotter reported a landspout tornado looking west from Saguaro National Park East. (TWC)
[Landspout] Corrects the time of the previous landspout report from 5 NNE Three Points. [Delayed Report]: Trained spotter reports a landspout north of Three Points tha (TWC)
Within 25 miles of Tucson. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Tucson
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Tucson and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on September 12, 2025 and the most recent on September 12, 2025. It is already counted in the Tucson totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.
[Landspout] Time and location estimated with radar. No damage reported. (TWC)
Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
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 Tucson
3 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Tucson since 1950, across 2 events. 53 injuries have been reported across all events. 1964 was the deadliest year on record near Tucson.
The deadliest single event was an F2 on August 27, 1964, which caused 2 fatalities along a 0.1-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Tucson
What the record shows near Tucson
The 1990s were the busiest decade near Tucson, with 5 of the 25 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 5 so far. The Tucson record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Tucson, 20 reached EF0 or EF1 and 2 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Tucson is rated EF2, of which 2 are logged. A further 3 near Tucson are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Tucson has averaged 0.4 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 8 in total. 2025 was the busiest of them with 2, and 13 of those years passed with none at all.