Erie, CO Tornado History — 174 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Erie, CO had?
Erie has had 174 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 4 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Erie?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Erie was an Unrated on July 14, 2025.
When is tornado season in Erie?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Erie, with 80 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 Erie
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 31 total, averaging 1.6 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 Erie
1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Erie since 1950, across 1 event. 140 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 Erie
About Tornadoes in Erie
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.
Erie, Colorado and the surrounding 25-mile area have experienced 174 documented tornadoes since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This record reveals a notable concentration of tornado activity during the 1980s and 1990s, when 49 and 50 tornadoes respectively were recorded—far exceeding the counts from earlier decades. Since 2000, activity has moderated somewhat, with 22 tornadoes in the 2000s, 16 in the 2010s, and 8 through the current decade.
The majority of these tornadoes have been relatively weak on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which rates tornado intensity from EF0 to EF5 based on damage indicators. Of the 174 events, 86 were rated EF0 and 65 were rated EF1, representing the lower end of the intensity spectrum. Thirteen tornadoes reached EF2 strength, while four attained EF3 status. Six tornadoes remain unrated in the historical record. June stands out as the peak month for tornado occurrence in this area, accounting for 79 of the total events.
The most significant tornado in the area's recorded history occurred on May 22, 2008, when an EF3 tornado carved a 38.7-mile path with a maximum width of 1760 yards. This event resulted in one fatality and caused an estimated $147 million in property damage, making it simultaneously the deadliest, costliest, widest, and longest-tracked tornado on record for the region. The tornado's exceptional path length and width contributed to its extensive damage footprint across the landscape.
The most recent tornado on record touched down on July 14, 2025, though this event was brief and minor by comparison. The unrated tornado traveled just 0.2 miles with a maximum width of only 10 yards, causing no injuries and no reported property damage. This recent event serves as a reminder that tornado formation remains an ongoing meteorological reality in the region, even as the frequency and intensity of such storms can vary considerably from year to year.