Lafayette, CO Tornado History — 169 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Lafayette, CO had?
Lafayette has had 169 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 4 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Lafayette?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Lafayette was an Unrated on June 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in Lafayette?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Lafayette, with 80 on record. April through June account for 113 of the 169 tornadoes on record near Lafayette.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Lafayette
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 30 total, averaging 1.5 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Lafayette since December 29, 2025
This 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
[Landspout] Reports including a photo of a landspout approximately a mile to the north of Dicks Sporting Goods Park. Lasted approximately 7 minutes. Location estimated (BOU)
Within 25 miles of Lafayette. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Lafayette
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Lafayette and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on June 13, 2025 and the most recent on June 13, 2025. It is already counted in the Lafayette totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.
Landspout tornado confirmed by Denver International Airport observer as well as trained spotter and public sources. Location is approximate. (BOU)
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 Lafayette
1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Lafayette since 1950, across 1 event. 140 injuries have been reported across all events. 2008 was the deadliest year on record near Lafayette.
The deadliest single event was an EF3 on May 22, 2008, which caused 1 fatality along a 38.7-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Lafayette
What the record shows near Lafayette
The 1980s were the busiest decade near Lafayette, with 48 of the 169 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 8 so far. The Lafayette record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Lafayette, 146 reached EF0 or EF1 and 17 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Lafayette is rated EF3, of which 4 are logged. A further 6 near Lafayette are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Lafayette has averaged 1.5 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 30 in total. 2014 was the busiest of them with 5, and 6 of those years passed with none at all.