Capitol Riverfront, DC Tornado History — 119 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Capitol Riverfront, DC had?
Capitol Riverfront has had 119 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 4 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Capitol Riverfront?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Capitol Riverfront was an EF0 on June 18, 2025.
When is tornado season in Capitol Riverfront?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Capitol Riverfront, 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 Capitol Riverfront
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 45 total, averaging 2.3 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 Capitol Riverfront
6 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Capitol Riverfront since 1950, across 3 events. 241 injuries have been reported across all events. 2002 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F4 on April 28, 2002, which caused 3 fatalities along a 38.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Capitol Riverfront
About Tornadoes in Capitol Riverfront
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.
Capitol Riverfront sits along the Anacostia River at the southeastern edge of downtown Washington, in the District of Columbia, and the tornadoes verified in the surrounding area have clustered from mid-spring through early fall.
On April 28, 2002, an F4 tornado tore a 38-mile path up to 650 yards wide through the region, killing 3 people and injuring 122. Months earlier, on September 24, 2001, an F3 tracked 17.5 miles, causing 2 deaths and 55 injuries. Earlier decades brought violent weather of their own: an F3 on April 1, 1973 injured 37 people and caused $27,500,000 in property damage along a 9.8-mile track, and another F3 on September 5, 1979 traveled 17.9 miles, killing 1 person and injuring 6.
Recent seasons have stayed active around the neighborhood. An EF2 on September 1, 2021 carved an 11.43-mile path 200 yards wide, an EF1 on June 5, 2024 ran 15.16 miles and injured 5 people while causing $5,000,000 in property damage, and as recently as June 18, 2025 an EF0 touched down in the area.