Brightwood, DC Tornado History — 121 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Brightwood, DC had?
Brightwood has had 121 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 3 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Brightwood?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Brightwood was an EF0 on June 18, 2025.
When is tornado season in Brightwood?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Brightwood, 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
Recent Tornado Activity Near Brightwood
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 53 total, averaging 2.6 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 Brightwood
3 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Brightwood since 1950, across 2 events. 122 injuries have been reported across all events. 2001 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F3 on September 24, 2001, which caused 2 fatalities along a 17.5-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Brightwood
About Tornadoes in Brightwood
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.
Brightwood occupies the high ground of upper Northwest Washington, D.C., between Rock Creek Park and the Maryland line, and the tornadoes that have touched down around the neighborhood have generally been warm-season storms, arriving anywhere from the spring months of April and May through the late-summer stretch of August and September.
Some of those storms turned severe. An F3 tornado struck on April 1, 1973, injuring 37 people along a 9.8-mile path and causing $27,500,000 in property damage. Another F3 hit on September 5, 1979, killing one person and injuring six along a 17.9-mile track. And on September 24, 2001, a deadly F3 carved a 17.5-mile path roughly 200 yards wide, killing two people and injuring 55.
Tornadoes have kept brushing the area in recent years. On September 1, 2021, an EF2 tracked 11.43 miles through the region. On June 5, 2024, an EF1 followed a 15.16-mile path, injuring five people and causing $5,000,000 in damage. More recently, an EF0 touched down on June 18, 2025.