Lewiston Orchards, ID Tornado History — 6 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Lewiston Orchards, ID had?
Lewiston Orchards has had 6 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Lewiston Orchards?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Lewiston Orchards was a F0 on May 31, 1997.
When is tornado season in Lewiston Orchards?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Lewiston Orchards, with 4 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 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
Have any tornadoes near Lewiston Orchards been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Lewiston Orchards from any of the 6 tornadoes since 1950. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Lewiston Orchards
About Tornadoes in Lewiston Orchards
This overview was written April 23, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Lewiston Orchards, Idaho has experienced relatively infrequent tornado activity compared to many regions of the United States. According to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, six tornadoes have been documented within 25 miles of the city since record-keeping began in 1950. All of these events occurred without causing any fatalities, reflecting both the typically weak nature of tornadoes in this area and the region's lower population density.
The historical record shows tornado activity clustered in three decades: two events in the 1960s, one in the 1970s, and three in the 1990s. No tornadoes have been recorded in the area since 1997. The Enhanced Fujita scale distribution reveals that most events were minor, with three rated EF0, two rated EF1, and only one reaching EF2 intensity. May has been the most active month by a significant margin, accounting for four of the six recorded tornadoes, which aligns with the spring severe weather season when atmospheric conditions are most conducive to tornado formation across the western United States.
The most significant tornado on record occurred on May 8, 1962, when an F2-rated storm carved a 9.1-mile path with a maximum width of just 10 yards. This event caused $27,500 in property damage but resulted in no injuries or deaths. It remains both the costliest and longest-tracked tornado in the area's history. The most recent tornado touched down on May 31, 1997, as a brief F0 event that traveled only 0.1 miles with a 23-yard width and caused no damage. This same date also produced the widest tornado on record for the area, though at 23 yards maximum width, it remained a relatively narrow feature.
The tornado climatology for Lewiston Orchards reflects the broader pattern of the inland Pacific Northwest, where tornadoes are uncommon and typically weak when they do occur. The region's distance from major moisture sources and its complex terrain generally inhibit the development of the supercell thunderstorms that produce the most violent tornadoes seen in the central and southern Plains states.