Denver, CO Tornado History — 223 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Denver, CO had?
Denver has had 223 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 3 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Denver?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Denver was an Unrated on June 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in Denver?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Denver, with 98 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 Denver
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 38 total, averaging 1.9 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 Denver been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Denver from any of the 223 tornadoes since 1950, though 71 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Denver
About Tornadoes in Denver
This overview was written July 29, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Denver sits where the High Plains run up against the Front Range foothills, and its tornado history belongs largely to the flat country on the city's eastern side. The events cluster in late spring and summer, with June afternoons carrying a particular reputation.
On June 3, 1981, an F2 tornado tracked 2.3 miles through the Denver area, injuring 42 people and causing $27.5 million in property damage. Seven years later, on June 15, 1988, an F3 carved a 2.5-mile path as wide as 200 yards, injuring 7 and likewise doing $27.5 million in damage, on a day that also produced F2 and F1 touchdowns in the area. Earlier decades brought their own significant strikes: on May 18, 1975, an F3 ran 4.1 miles with a width of 440 yards, and on May 30, 1976, an F2 stayed on the ground for 5.4 miles.
The pattern has carried into the EF-scale era. An EF1 tornado struck on June 22, 2023, and on May 18, 2025, an EF2 cut a path just under a mile long, with an EF1 touching down the same day. For a city better known for hail and mountain snow, the plains side of Denver remains genuine tornado country when summer storms build off the foothills.