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West Hartford, CT Tornado History — 67 Tornadoes Since 1950

Connecticut · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has West Hartford, CT had?

West Hartford has had 67 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 6 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near West Hartford?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of West Hartford was an EF0 on June 21, 2024.

When is tornado season in West Hartford?

July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near West Hartford, with 21 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
67
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
6
9.0% of total
Peak Month
July
21 on record
Per Year Avg
0.9
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near West Hartford

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 21 total, averaging 1.1 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 0
2024 1
2023 0
2022 1
2021 3
2020 0
2019 1
2018 3
2017 0
2016 0
2015 0
2014 1
2013 3
2012 0
2011 1
2010 5
2009 1
2008 0
2007 1

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 14
1960s 7
1970s 15
1980s 2
1990s 5
2000s 5
2010s 14
2020s 5

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 15
EF1 30
EF2 15
EF3 5
EF4 1
Unrated 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 0
Mar 0
Apr 1
May 8
Jun 14
Jul 21
Aug 12
Sep 6
Oct 4
Nov 1
Dec 0

Casualties on Record Near West Hartford

7 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of West Hartford since 1950, across 3 events. 846 injuries have been reported across all events. 2011 was the deadliest year on record.

The deadliest single event was a F4 on October 3, 1979, which caused 3 fatalities along a 11.3-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near West Hartford

Deadliest Tornado
F4 on October 3, 1979 — 3 fatalities, 11.3 mi path, 1,400 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F4 on October 3, 1979 — est. ~$275.0M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F4 on October 3, 1979 — 1,400 yards wide.
Longest Path
F2 on August 21, 1951 — 43.9 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on June 21, 2024.

About Tornadoes in West Hartford

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.

West Hartford lies just west of Hartford, tucked between the Connecticut River lowlands and the Talcott Mountain ridge that walls off the Farmington Valley. Tornadoes here are creatures of the humid Connecticut summer, spinning out of thunderstorm days in June, July, and August — though the area's history includes some violent departures from that pattern.

The starkest of those came in autumn: on October 3, 1979, an F4 tornado carved an 11.3-mile path up to 1,400 yards wide through the Hartford area, killing 3 people, injuring 500, and causing $275 million in property damage. Decades later, on June 1, 2011, an EF3 tracked 37.58 miles across the region on a path as wide as 880 yards, killing 3, injuring 200, and leaving $227.6 million in damage.

Earlier generations knew the threat too. An F3 on May 24, 1962 ran 11.6 miles, killing 1 person and injuring 50, and an F2 on July 10, 1989 injured 70 along a 5-mile path. A single day, July 21, 2010, produced multiple EF1 touchdowns around the area. Cooler-season surprises have continued — an F2 struck on October 24, 1955 and an EF0 on November 13, 2021 — and tornadoes remain part of the local weather picture, with an EF0 touching down as recently as June 21, 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has West Hartford, CT had?
Since 1950, 67 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of West Hartford. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near West Hartford?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of West Hartford was a F4 on October 3, 1979, which caused 3 fatalities.
When is tornado season in West Hartford?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near West Hartford, with 21 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 West Hartford been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of West Hartford, 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 West Hartford?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of West Hartford was an EF0 on June 21, 2024.
How do I get tornado warnings for West Hartford?
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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