Golden Triangle, DC Tornado History — 114 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Golden Triangle, DC had?
Golden Triangle has had 114 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 3 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Golden Triangle?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Golden Triangle was an EF0 on June 18, 2025.
When is tornado season in Golden Triangle?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Golden Triangle, with 19 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 Golden Triangle
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 49 total, averaging 2.5 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 Golden Triangle
3 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Golden Triangle since 1950, across 2 events. 121 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 Golden Triangle
About Tornadoes in Golden Triangle
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.
The Golden Triangle, the K Street business district stretching between the White House and Dupont Circle, sits at the heart of a metro area whose tornadoes tend to ride in on humid late-spring and summer thunderstorms — and again in September, a month that surfaces repeatedly in the area's tornado history as tropical moisture pushes up the Mid-Atlantic seaboard.
Strong tornadoes are part of downtown Washington's story. On April 1, 1973, an F3 tornado plowed a 9.8-mile path roughly 100 yards wide, injuring 37 people and causing $27,500,000 in property damage. On September 5, 1979, another F3 stayed on the ground for 17.9 miles and widened to about 300 yards, killing one person and injuring six. And on September 24, 2001, a deadly F3 tracked 17.5 miles through the region, killing two people and injuring 55.
The threat has carried into recent years. On September 1, 2021, an EF2 carved an 11.43-mile track about 200 yards wide across the area. On June 5, 2024, an EF1 ran for 15.16 miles, injuring five people and causing $5,000,000 in damage, and an EF0 touched down nearby on June 18, 2025 — a reminder that even the marble-and-glass core of the capital lies within reach of these storms.