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New Canaan, CT Tornado History — 30 Tornadoes Since 1950

Connecticut · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has New Canaan, CT had?

New Canaan has had 30 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.

When was the most recent tornado near New Canaan?

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

When is tornado season in New Canaan?

July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near New Canaan, with 9 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+)
0
0.0% of total
Peak Month
July
9 on record
Per Year Avg
0.4
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near New Canaan

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 8 total, averaging 0.4 per year over this window.

2026 0+1 prelim
2025 0
2024 0
2023 0
2022 0
2021 0
2020 1
2019 0
2018 3
2017 0
2016 0
2015 0
2014 0
2013 1
2012 0
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 New Canaan 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 New Canaan. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 2
1960s 1
1970s 6
1980s 2
1990s 7
2000s 6
2010s 5
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 8
EF1 17
EF2 5

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 0
Mar 0
Apr 0
May 3
Jun 5
Jul 9
Aug 6
Sep 4
Oct 2
Nov 1
Dec 0

Casualties on Record Near New Canaan

1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of New Canaan since 1950, across 1 event. 26 injuries have been reported across all events. 1991 was the deadliest year on record.

The deadliest single event was a F0 on June 12, 1991, which caused 1 fatality along a 0.7-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near New Canaan

Deadliest Tornado
F0 on June 12, 1991 — 1 fatality, 0.7 mi path, 50 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F2 on July 10, 1989 — est. ~$27.5M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
EF1 on October 2, 2018 — 300 yards wide.
Longest Path
F0 on September 3, 1992 — 12.0 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on August 4, 2020.

About Tornadoes in New Canaan

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.

New Canaan, Connecticut has experienced 30 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. While tornadoes are less frequent in southern New England than in the central United States, the region does see periodic tornado activity, particularly during the summer months when atmospheric conditions occasionally support severe thunderstorm development.

The historical record shows considerable variation by decade, with the 1990s recording the most activity at 7 tornadoes, followed by the 1970s and 2000s with 6 events each. The 2010s saw 5 tornadoes, while the 1950s and 1980s each recorded 2 events. The 1960s had just 1 tornado on record, and the current decade has seen 1 event as of 2020. July stands out as the peak month for tornado occurrence in the area, accounting for 9 of the 30 total events.

The intensity distribution reveals that most tornadoes near New Canaan have been relatively weak. The Enhanced Fujita scale classifies tornado strength from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest). Of the 30 recorded tornadoes, 17 were rated EF1, 8 were rated EF0, and 5 reached EF2 intensity. No tornadoes stronger than EF2 have been documented in the area. The costliest tornado on record was an F2 that struck on July 10, 1989, causing $27.5 million in property damage along a half-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards.

The area's only recorded tornado fatality occurred during an F0 tornado on June 12, 1991, which also caused $27,500 in property damage. The longest-tracked tornado was an F0 on September 3, 1992, which traveled 12 miles with a maximum width of 70 yards but caused no reported damage. More recently, an EF1 tornado on October 2, 2018 carved a 4.3-mile path with a maximum width of 300 yards, causing $50,000 in damage. The most recent tornado was an EF0 on August 4, 2020, causing $15,000 in damage with a maximum width of just 25 yards.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has New Canaan, CT had?
Since 1950, 30 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of New Canaan. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near New Canaan?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of New Canaan was a F0 on June 12, 1991, which caused 1 fatality.
When is tornado season in New Canaan?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near New Canaan, with 9 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.
When was the most recent tornado near New Canaan?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of New Canaan was an EF0 on August 4, 2020.
How do I get tornado warnings for New Canaan?
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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