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West Haven, CT Tornado History — 32 Tornadoes Since 1950

Connecticut · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has West Haven, CT had?

West Haven has had 32 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 3 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near West Haven?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of West Haven was an EF0 on November 13, 2021.

When is tornado season in West Haven?

July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near West Haven, with 11 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
32
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
3
9.4% of total
Peak Month
July
11 on record
Per Year Avg
0.4
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near West Haven

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 13 total, averaging 0.7 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 0
2024 0
2023 0
2022 0
2021 2
2020 2
2019 0
2018 2
2017 0
2016 1
2015 0
2014 1
2013 0
2012 0
2011 1
2010 1
2009 2
2008 0
2007 1

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 3
1960s 1
1970s 3
1980s 3
1990s 8
2000s 4
2010s 6
2020s 4

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 18
EF2 3
EF3 2
EF4 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 0
Mar 0
Apr 0
May 6
Jun 4
Jul 11
Aug 7
Sep 1
Oct 1
Nov 2
Dec 0

Casualties on Record Near West Haven

1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of West Haven since 1950, across 1 event. 165 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 West Haven

Deadliest Tornado
F3 on May 24, 1962 — 1 fatality, 11.6 mi path, 120 yd wide.
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
F3 on May 24, 1962 — 11.6 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on November 13, 2021.

About Tornadoes in West Haven

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 Haven fronts Long Island Sound in New Haven County, and while coastal Connecticut is better known for nor'easters, tornadoes have repeatedly touched down in the shoreline towns and inland hills around the city, most often in the humid weeks between late May and the end of August.

Several of those storms were destructive. On May 24, 1962, an F3 tornado carved an 11.6-mile path through the area, killing one person, injuring 50, and causing $2.75 million in property damage. Another F3 touched down briefly on July 29, 1971, injuring two. July 10, 1989 brought two damaging tornadoes in a single day: an F4 that injured 40 people and caused $275 million in property damage along a 3-mile track, and an F2 that injured 70 along a 5-mile path while causing $27.5 million in damage.

Later seasons kept to the same warm-season rhythm. EF1 tornadoes touched down on May 16, 2007, on July 31, 2009, on June 24, 2010, and on June 9, 2011, and a pair of EF1s struck on May 15, 2018. August 27, 2020 saw both an EF0 and an EF1, and on November 13, 2021 two EF0 tornadoes spun up well after the usual summer window had closed — a reminder that tornado weather in this corner of Connecticut does not always keep to the calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has West Haven, CT had?
Since 1950, 32 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of West Haven. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near West Haven?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of West Haven was a F3 on May 24, 1962, which caused 1 fatality.
When is tornado season in West Haven?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near West Haven, with 11 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 Haven been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of West Haven, 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 Haven?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of West Haven was an EF0 on November 13, 2021.
How do I get tornado warnings for West Haven?
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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