Portage, IN Tornado History — 99 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Portage, IN had?
Portage has had 99 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 8 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Portage?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Portage was an EF1 on March 19, 2025.
When is tornado season in Portage?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Portage, with 27 on record. April through June account for 46 of the 99 tornadoes on record near Portage.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Portage
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 45 total, averaging 2.3 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Portage since December 29, 2025
These are 6 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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)
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)
confirmed touchdown via EMA. (IWX)
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)
Within 25 miles of Portage. 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 Portage
36 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Portage since 1950, across 4 events. 554 injuries have been reported across all events. 1967 was the deadliest year on record near Portage.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 21, 1967, which caused 33 fatalities along a 15.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Portage
What the record shows near Portage
The 2020s are the busiest decade on record so far near Portage, with 23 of the 99 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles. The Portage record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Portage, 77 reached EF0 or EF1 and 21 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Portage is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged. A further 1 near Portage is unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Portage has averaged 2.3 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 45 in total. 2024 was the busiest of them with 8, and 8 of those years passed with none at all.