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Shaw, DC Tornado History — 114 Tornadoes Since 1950

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

How many tornadoes has Shaw, DC had?

Shaw has had 114 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 3 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Shaw?

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

When is tornado season in Shaw?

June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Shaw, with 19 on record. April through June account for 50 of the 114 tornadoes on record near Shaw.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
114
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
3
2.6% of total
Peak Month
June
19 on record
Per Year Avg
1.5
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Shaw

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 49 total, averaging 2.5 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 5
2011 8
2010 1
2009 0
2008 5
2007 0

What storm spotters reported near Shaw

2 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Shaw and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on June 18, 2025 and the most recent on June 19, 2025. They are already counted in the Shaw totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.

EF0° June 19, 2025
Odenton, Anne Arundel County, MD
NWS Storm Survey confirmed an EF-0 tornado briefly touched down in Odenton... MD at approximately 440 pm... with peak winds estimated at 80mph. Path length was 0.1 mile (LWX)
EF0° June 18, 2025
Odenton, Anne Arundel County, MD
Corrected for time/date. NWS Storm Survey confirmed an EF-0 tornado briefly touched down in Odenton... MD at approximately 215 pm... with peak winds estimated at 80mph. (LWX)

Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 3
1960s 5
1970s 10
1980s 4
1990s 29
2000s 19
2010s 29
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 48
EF2 10
EF3 3
Unrated 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 2
Mar 3
Apr 17
May 14
Jun 19
Jul 18
Aug 12
Sep 15
Oct 10
Nov 3
Dec 1

Casualties on Record Near Shaw

3 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Shaw since 1950, across 2 events. 121 injuries have been reported across all events. 2001 was the deadliest year on record near Shaw.

The deadliest single event was an F3 on September 24, 2001, which caused 2 fatalities along a 17.5-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Shaw

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.

What the record shows near Shaw

The 1990s were the busiest decade near Shaw, with 29 of the 114 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 15 so far. The Shaw record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Shaw, 100 reached EF0 or EF1 and 13 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Shaw is rated EF3, of which 3 are logged. A further 1 near Shaw is unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.

Across the last 20 years Shaw has averaged 2.5 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 49 in total. 2011 was the busiest of them with 8, and 5 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Shaw, DC had?
Since 1950, 114 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Shaw. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Shaw?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Shaw was an F3 on September 24, 2001, which caused 2 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Shaw?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Shaw, with 19 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 Shaw?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Shaw was an EF0 on June 18, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Shaw?
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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