Kennedy Street, DC Tornado History — 119 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Kennedy Street, DC had?
Kennedy Street has had 119 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 3 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Kennedy Street?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Kennedy Street was an EF0 on June 18, 2025.
When is tornado season in Kennedy Street?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Kennedy Street, 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 Kennedy Street
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 Kennedy Street
3 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Kennedy Street 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 Kennedy Street
About Tornadoes in Kennedy Street
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.
Kennedy Street runs through Northwest Washington, DC, and tornadoes crossing the District and its close-in Maryland and Virginia suburbs have repeatedly touched the area's history. On April 1, 1973, an F3 carved a 9.8-mile path through the region, injuring 37 people and causing $27,500,000 in property damage — proof that destructive tornadoes can reach the capital area.
September has been a recurring flashpoint. An F3 on September 5, 1979 tracked 17.9 miles, killing one person and injuring six. On September 24, 2001, another F3 followed a 17.5-mile path up to 200 yards wide, killing two people and injuring 55. Two decades later, on September 1, 2021, an EF2 traveled 11.43 miles through the area.
The threat remains current. On June 5, 2024, an EF1 tracked 15.16 miles, injuring five people and causing $5,000,000 in damage, and an EF0 touched down as recently as June 18, 2025. Activity around Kennedy Street clusters in the warm season, from late spring through early fall: June and July bring frequent brief touchdowns from summer thunderstorms, while early fall has produced several of the long-tracked, damaging tornadoes described above. For a dense urban neighborhood like this one, even a weak tornado threading between rowhouses and mature street trees can disrupt lives, which is why these dated events remain worth remembering.