Gary, IN Tornado History — 111 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Gary, IN had?
Gary has had 111 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 6 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Gary?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Gary was an EF0 on March 19, 2025.
When is tornado season in Gary?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Gary, with 34 on record. April through June account for 54 of the 111 tornadoes on record near Gary.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Gary
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 54 total, averaging 2.7 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Gary since December 29, 2025
These are 7 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are not counted in the confirmed totals above.
Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.
Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.
An EF-1 tornado began west of Halsted between 183rd and 187th... crossing Halsted and causing structural damage to a strip mall and several buildings in an apartment co (LOT)
Likely portion of tornado path in/near Markham. Concentrated area of tree damage along westbound I-80/I-294 at the Dixie Highway exit directly east and west of the exit (LOT)
Corrects previous tornado report from 2 E Glenwood. An NWS storm survey confirmed an EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 110 mph... peak width of 225 yards... and path leng (LOT)
Tornado on the ground north of Kouts. Time estimated by radar. (LOT)
Public report of tornado on the grand east of Lowell near I-65. (LOT)
*** 1 INJ *** Corrects previous tornado report from 3 SE Griffith. An NWS damage survey confirmed an EF-2 tornado with peak winds of 120 mph... path length of 6.5 miles (LOT)
NWS survey confirmed a preliminary EF-0 tornado. Path length of 2.5 miles... max width of 175 yards... and peak winds of 80 mph. (LOT)
Within 25 miles of Gary. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
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 Gary
36 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Gary since 1950, across 3 events. 649 injuries have been reported across all events. 1967 was the deadliest year on record near Gary.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 21, 1967, which caused 33 fatalities along a 15.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Gary
What the record shows near Gary
The 2020s are the busiest decade on record so far near Gary, with 33 of the 111 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles. The Gary record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Gary, 87 reached EF0 or EF1 and 23 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Gary is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged. A further 1 near Gary is unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Gary has averaged 2.7 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 54 in total. 2024 was the busiest of them with 15, and 7 of those years passed with none at all.