Lakewood, CO Tornado History — 156 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Lakewood, CO had?
Lakewood has had 156 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 2 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Lakewood?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Lakewood was an Unrated on July 6, 2023.
When is tornado season in Lakewood?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Lakewood, with 71 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 Lakewood
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 26 total, averaging 1.3 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 Lakewood been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Lakewood from any of the 156 tornadoes since 1950, though 65 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Lakewood
About Tornadoes in Lakewood
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.
On June 3, 1981, an F2 tornado carved a 2.3-mile track through the Lakewood area, injuring 42 people and leaving $27.5 million in property damage; a second F2 touched down that same day. Storm days like that one define the local pattern: thunderstorms build over the Front Range foothills west of town and push east across Jefferson County into the Denver suburbs, most often from May through July.
June has produced other destructive afternoons. On June 15, 1988, an F3 tracked 2.5 miles with a width reaching 200 yards and injured 7 people, and on June 8, 1986, an F2 injured 6. Spring brings its own hazards: an F3 on May 18, 1975 stayed on the ground for 4.1 miles and widened to 440 yards, and an F2 on May 20, 1961 injured 2 people along a 2-mile path.
The season does not always end with summer. An F2 struck on October 16, 1980, and EF0 tornadoes were recorded on September 6 and September 8, 2019. Tornadoes remain part of life on this edge of the plains — on June 22, 2023, an EF1 touched down near the city.