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Fairfield, CT Tornado History — 30 Tornadoes Since 1950

Connecticut · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Fairfield, CT had?

Fairfield has had 30 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 1 violent (EF3+) tornado.

When was the most recent tornado near Fairfield?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Fairfield was an EF0 on August 4, 2020.

When is tornado season in Fairfield?

July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Fairfield, with 8 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

Tornadoes Since 1950
30
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
1
3.3% of total
Peak Month
July
8 on record
Per Year Avg
0.4
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Fairfield

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 12 total, averaging 0.6 per year over this window.

2026 0+1 prelim
2025 0
2024 0
2023 0
2022 0
2021 0
2020 1
2019 0
2018 5
2017 0
2016 1
2015 0
2014 0
2013 1
2012 1
2011 0
2010 1
2009 1
2008 0
2007 1

Striped bars mark preliminary reports not yet confirmed by NWS survey — excluded from the confirmed counts.

Preliminary tornado reports near Fairfield since December 29, 2025

These 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.

Preliminary July 21, 2026
Rye Brook, Westchester County, NY

Within 25 miles of Fairfield. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 2
1960s 1
1970s 2
1980s 2
1990s 8
2000s 5
2010s 9
2020s 1

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.

EF0 9
EF1 17
EF2 3
EF4 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 0
Mar 0
Apr 0
May 6
Jun 5
Jul 8
Aug 6
Sep 2
Oct 3
Nov 0
Dec 0

Have any tornadoes near Fairfield been fatal?

No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Fairfield from any of the 30 tornadoes since 1950, though 59 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.

Notable Tornadoes Near Fairfield

Costliest Tornado
F4 on July 10, 1989 — est. ~$275.0M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
EF1 on May 15, 2018 — 600 yards wide.
Longest Path
F0 on September 3, 1992 — 12.0 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on August 4, 2020.

About Tornadoes in Fairfield

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.

Fairfield lies along Long Island Sound in southwestern Connecticut, in Fairfield County, where warm-season thunderstorms moving off the interior hills toward the coast have periodically spun up tornadoes. The area's tornado activity has clustered in the summer months, July and August especially, with additional touchdowns arriving in late spring.

The region has experienced violent weather. On July 10, 1989, an F4 tornado tore a 3-mile path through the area, injuring 40 people and causing $275 million in property damage. Decades earlier, on July 14, 1950, an F2 tracked 5 miles and injured three people; and on July 12, 2006, an F2 traveled 10.1 miles with a damage path up to 300 yards wide, injuring six.

The year 2018 brought tornadoes in both spring and fall: a pair of EF1s touched down on May 15, and two more EF1s followed on October 2, with an EF0 the next day, October 3. As recently as August 4, 2020, an EF0 touched down in the area — a reminder that even weaker tornadoes remain a recurring part of Fairfield's summer severe-weather picture.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Fairfield, CT had?
Since 1950, 30 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Fairfield. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
When is tornado season in Fairfield?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Fairfield, with 8 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
Has Fairfield been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Fairfield, there has been 0 EF5 and 1 EF4 tornado recorded since 1950. EF4 and EF5 tornadoes are the most destructive ratings on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with winds above 166 mph.
When was the most recent tornado near Fairfield?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Fairfield was an EF0 on August 4, 2020.
How do I get tornado warnings for Fairfield?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

Official Resources

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