Brighton, CO Tornado History — 268 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Brighton, CO had?
Brighton has had 268 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 5 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Brighton?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Brighton was an Unrated on July 14, 2025.
When is tornado season in Brighton?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Brighton, with 109 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 Brighton
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 52 total, averaging 2.6 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
Casualties on Record Near Brighton
1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Brighton since 1950, across 1 event. 143 injuries have been reported across all events. 2008 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was an EF3 on May 22, 2008, which caused 1 fatality along a 38.7-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Brighton
About Tornadoes in Brighton
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.
Brighton, Colorado, sits in an area where 268 tornadoes have been documented within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This substantial record reflects the region's position along the Front Range urban corridor, where spring and early summer atmospheric conditions frequently support severe thunderstorm development. The majority of these tornadoes have been relatively weak, with 137 rated EF0 and 94 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage. However, 18 EF2 tornadoes and 5 EF3 tornadoes have also occurred in the area, demonstrating that stronger events are possible.
Tornado activity in the Brighton area has varied considerably by decade. The 1980s saw the highest count with 80 tornadoes, followed by 67 in the 1990s. Earlier decades recorded fewer events—9 in the 1950s, 15 in the 1960s, and 21 in the 1970s—likely reflecting improvements in detection and reporting methods over time. More recent decades have shown lower totals, with 32 tornadoes in the 2000s, 28 in the 2010s, and 16 thus far in the 2020s. June is by far the peak month for tornado activity, accounting for 109 of the recorded events, consistent with the seasonal pattern of severe weather across the central United States when warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico collides with cooler, drier air masses.
The most significant tornado in the area's recorded history occurred on May 22, 2008. This EF3 tornado carved a 38.7-mile path with a maximum width of 1,760 yards, causing one fatality and an estimated $147 million in property damage. It stands as the deadliest, costliest, widest, and longest-tracked tornado on record within 25 miles of Brighton. The most recent tornado, an unrated event on July 14, 2025, traveled just 0.2 miles with a maximum width of 10 yards and caused no injuries or property damage.