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Northwest One, DC Tornado History — 113 Tornadoes Since 1950

District of Columbia · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Northwest One, DC had?

Northwest One has had 113 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 3 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Northwest One?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Northwest One was an EF0 on June 18, 2025.

When is tornado season in Northwest One?

June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Northwest One, with 18 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

Tornadoes Since 1950
113
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
3
2.7% of total
Peak Month
June
18 on record
Per Year Avg
1.5
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Northwest One

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 48 total, averaging 2.4 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 1
2024 3
2023 0
2022 5
2021 4
2020 2
2019 3
2018 1
2017 5
2016 0
2015 1
2014 2
2013 3
2012 4
2011 8
2010 1
2009 0
2008 5
2007 0

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 3
1960s 5
1970s 10
1980s 4
1990s 29
2000s 19
2010s 28
2020s 15

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.

EF0 52
EF1 47
EF2 10
EF3 3
Unrated 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 2
Mar 3
Apr 17
May 15
Jun 18
Jul 18
Aug 12
Sep 15
Oct 10
Nov 2
Dec 1

Casualties on Record Near Northwest One

3 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Northwest One 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 Northwest One

Deadliest Tornado
F3 on September 24, 2001 — 2 fatalities, 17.5 mi path, 200 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F3 on April 1, 1973 — est. ~$27.5M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F1 on July 13, 1961 — 500 yards wide.
Longest Path
EF0 on June 13, 2013 — 20.1 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on June 18, 2025.

About Tornadoes in Northwest One

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.

Northwest One sits in the heart of the District of Columbia, and its tornado history plays out across the capital region — the District itself and the close-in Maryland and Virginia suburbs on either side of the Potomac. Activity here clusters from spring into early fall, and damaging tornadoes have arrived repeatedly in September.

On September 24, 2001, an F3 tornado tore a 17.5-mile path as much as 200 yards wide through the area, killing 2 people and injuring 55. Decades earlier, on April 1, 1973, an F3 tracked 9.8 miles, injuring 37 people and causing $27,500,000 in property damage. Another September F3, on September 5, 1979, killed 1 person and injured 6 along a 17.9-mile track.

Recent seasons have stayed active. On September 1, 2021, an EF2 traced an 11.43-mile path up to 200 yards wide across the region. On June 5, 2024, an EF1 ran 15.16 miles, injuring 5 people and causing $5,000,000 in damage, with another EF1 touching down the same day and an EF0 the next. An EF0 followed on June 18, 2025, part of the early-summer storminess that routinely brushes the nation's capital.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Northwest One, DC had?
Since 1950, 113 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Northwest One. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Northwest One?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Northwest One was a F3 on September 24, 2001, which caused 2 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Northwest One?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Northwest One, with 18 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
When was the most recent tornado near Northwest One?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Northwest One was an EF0 on June 18, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Northwest One?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

Official Resources

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