Shelton, CT Tornado History — 45 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Shelton, CT had?
Shelton has had 45 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 3 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Shelton?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Shelton was an EF0 on August 12, 2023.
When is tornado season in Shelton?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Shelton, with 16 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 Shelton
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 16 total, averaging 0.8 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
Casualties on Record Near Shelton
1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Shelton since 1950, across 1 event. 185 injuries have been reported across all events. 1962 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F3 on May 24, 1962, which caused 1 fatality along a 11.6-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Shelton
About Tornadoes in Shelton
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.
Shelton sits along the lower Housatonic River in Fairfield County, Connecticut, where the hills between the river valley and Long Island Sound have repeatedly been raked by severe summer thunderstorms.
On July 10, 1989, an F4 tornado tore a three-mile path through the area, injuring 40 people and causing $275 million in property damage; that same day an F2 tracked five miles, injuring 70 and doing $27.5 million in damage. Decades earlier, on May 24, 1962, a deadly F3 carved an 11.6-mile track that killed one person and injured 50, with $2.75 million in damage. Long-track tornadoes have struck as well: an F2 on August 21, 1951 stayed on the ground for 43.9 miles and injured nine people.
In the Enhanced Fujita era the area has continued to see tornadoes, most of them in the warm months that dominate its history. An EF1 struck on May 15, 2018, another EF1 followed on October 2, 2018, and an EF0 touched down as recently as August 13, 2023. The season can also stretch surprisingly late here — an EF0 was confirmed on November 13, 2021, well past the summer peak when Shelton-area tornadoes typically form.