Meridian, ID Tornado History — 24 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Meridian, ID had?
Meridian has had 24 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Meridian?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Meridian was an EF0 on May 26, 2023.
When is tornado season in Meridian?
August is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Meridian, with 7 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 Meridian
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 2 total, averaging 0.1 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
Have any tornadoes near Meridian been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Meridian from any of the 24 tornadoes since 1950. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Meridian
About Tornadoes in Meridian
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.
Meridian, Idaho has experienced 24 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records. All of these events have been rated EF0 or EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which classifies tornado intensity based on damage. The vast majority—20 tornadoes—were rated EF0, indicating wind speeds of 65–85 mph, while four reached EF1 intensity with winds of 86–110 mph. Notably, none of these tornadoes have resulted in fatalities.
Tornado activity in the Meridian area has increased over time, with only two events recorded in the 1950s and one in the 1960s. The 1980s saw three tornadoes, followed by five in the 1990s. The 2000s marked a significant uptick with 11 tornadoes during that decade, though activity declined again in the 2020s with two events recorded thus far. This pattern may reflect both actual meteorological trends and improvements in detection and reporting capabilities over the decades.
Unlike much of the central United States where tornadoes peak in spring, the Meridian area sees its highest tornado frequency in August, with seven events recorded in that month. The most recent tornado occurred on May 27, 2023, an EF0 event with a path length of 0.9 miles and a maximum width of just 3 yards, causing no damage or injuries.
The costliest tornado on record struck on April 24, 1991, causing $27,500 in property damage despite being rated only F0. This tornado carved a 0.2-mile path with a maximum width of 50 yards. The widest tornado, measuring 100 yards across, occurred on August 23, 1956, while the longest tracked for 3.8 miles on June 2, 1967. The relatively short path lengths and narrow widths of these tornadoes are consistent with their low intensity ratings and the minimal damage they produced.