Wilmington, DE Tornado History — 90 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Wilmington, DE had?
Wilmington has had 90 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 4 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Wilmington?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Wilmington was an EF1 on August 8, 2024.
When is tornado season in Wilmington?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Wilmington, with 20 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 Wilmington
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 Wilmington
3 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Wilmington since 1950, across 3 events. 92 injuries have been reported across all events. 1993 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F3 on March 22, 1955, which caused 1 fatality along a 9.6-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Wilmington
About Tornadoes in Wilmington
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.
Tornadoes are a recurring part of Wilmington's story, touching down across the northern Delaware corridor where the city sits between the Delaware River and the low hills of the Brandywine Valley. Most of the area's tornadoes have spun up in the humid thunderstorm weather of July and August, with additional bursts of activity in early spring and early fall.
The area has seen its share of dangerous storms. On March 22, 1955, an F3 tornado carved a 9.6-mile path roughly 600 yards wide and killed one person. On March 10, 1964, an F1 stayed on the ground for 59.1 miles and injured five people. An F2 on July 13, 1975 caused $27.5 million in property damage along a compact 1.5-mile track, and on September 6, 1979, an F2 killed one person along a 4.1-mile path. On July 28, 1994, an F3 injured eleven people over a four-mile path.
Strong tornadoes remain a modern threat as well. An EF2 on August 4, 2020 tracked 35.78 miles through the region, and on September 1, 2021, an EF3 cut a 12.37-mile path, injuring two people and causing $5 million in damage; an EF2 struck the area the same day. More recently, an EF1 touched down on August 8, 2024.