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. 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 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 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 Tucson. 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 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.
The deadliest single event was a F2 on August 27, 1964, which caused 2 fatalities along a 0.1-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Tucson
About Tornadoes in Tucson
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.
Tucson, Arizona has experienced 25 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. While tornadoes are often associated with the Great Plains and Southeast, the Tucson area sees occasional tornado activity, particularly during the North American monsoon season when moisture surges from the Gulf of California interact with the region's complex terrain and atmospheric instability.
The majority of tornadoes recorded near Tucson have been relatively weak, with 11 rated EF0 and 9 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage. Only 2 tornadoes reached EF2 strength, while 3 events remain unrated in historical records. July stands out as the peak month for tornado activity with 9 events, reflecting the influence of monsoon thunderstorms that typically arrive in mid-summer. Tornado frequency has varied considerably by decade, ranging from a single event in the 1950s to 5 tornadoes in both the 1990s and 2020s.
The deadliest tornado on record struck on August 27, 1964, when an F2 tornado caused 2 fatalities, traveled a 0.1-mile path, and resulted in $27,500 in property damage with a maximum width of just 10 yards. The costliest event occurred on July 7, 1992, when an F1 tornado carved a 2.8-mile path and caused $2,750,000 in damage, though no fatalities were reported. The widest and longest tornado near Tucson touched down on July 3, 2024, reaching 150 yards in width and traveling 3.3 miles as an EF1 with $50,000 in damage and no injuries.
The most recent tornado occurred on September 16, 2025, an unrated event with a 1-yard maximum width and no reported damage or injuries. While tornadoes remain relatively uncommon compared to other meteorological hazards in southern Arizona, the historical record demonstrates that the Tucson area is not immune to these rotating columns of air, particularly during the active monsoon months of summer.