Thornton, CO Tornado History — 230 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Thornton, CO had?
Thornton has had 230 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 3 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Thornton?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Thornton was an Unrated on July 14, 2025.
When is tornado season in Thornton?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Thornton, with 103 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 Thornton
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 39 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 Thornton been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Thornton from any of the 230 tornadoes since 1950, though 66 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Thornton
About Tornadoes in Thornton
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.
Thornton, Colorado sits in an area where 229 tornadoes have been documented within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records. The majority of these events have been relatively weak, with 118 rated EF0 and 83 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage. Only three tornadoes reached EF3 strength, while 16 were rated EF2. Nine events remain unrated in the historical database.
Tornado activity in the region has varied considerably by decade. The 1980s saw the highest concentration with 74 recorded tornadoes, followed by 56 in the 1990s. Earlier decades showed lower totals, with just 7 tornadoes in the 1950s and 18 in the 1960s. More recent decades have seen reduced activity, with 22 tornadoes in the 2000s, 20 in the 2010s, and 11 thus far in the 2020s. June stands out as the peak month for tornado occurrence, accounting for 102 of the total events—a pattern consistent with the spring and early summer severe weather season when warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico collides with cooler air masses.
The costliest tornado on record struck on June 15, 1988, an F3-rated event that caused $27.5 million in property damage while traveling a 2.5-mile path with a maximum width of 200 yards. The widest tornado occurred on May 18, 1975, also rated F3, which carved a 4.1-mile path up to 440 yards wide but caused no reported property damage. The longest-track tornado was an EF2 that traveled 7.5 miles on June 7, 2021, with a relatively narrow 50-yard width and $530,500 in damage. Notably, none of the tornadoes in this area's records resulted in fatalities.
The most recent tornado occurred on July 14, 2025, an unrated event with a brief 0.2-mile path and 10-yard width that caused no damage or injuries. This ongoing tornado activity underscores the importance of weather awareness and preparedness for residents of the Thornton area throughout the spring and summer months.