Bethesda, MD Tornado History — 113 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Bethesda, MD had?
Bethesda has had 113 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 3 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Bethesda?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Bethesda was an EF0 on June 18, 2025.
When is tornado season in Bethesda?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Bethesda, with 21 on record. April through June account for 49 of the 113 tornadoes on record near Bethesda.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Bethesda
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 49 total, averaging 2.5 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Bethesda since December 29, 2025
This is a preliminary report, not confirmed tornadoes. It has not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and is 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
National Weather Service Storm Survey confirms a brief EF-1 tornado occurred in Cooksville... MD from approximately 7:06PM to 7:07PM. Maximum wind is estimated at 90 mp (LWX)
Within 25 miles of Bethesda. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Bethesda
2 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Bethesda 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 Bethesda totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
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)
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
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 Bethesda
3 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Bethesda since 1950, across 2 events. 124 injuries have been reported across all events. 2001 was the deadliest year on record near Bethesda.
The deadliest single event was an F3 on September 24, 2001, which caused 2 fatalities along a 17.5-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Bethesda
What the record shows near Bethesda
The 2010s were the busiest decade near Bethesda, with 31 of the 113 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 14 so far. The Bethesda record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Bethesda, 99 reached EF0 or EF1 and 14 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Bethesda is rated EF3, of which 3 are logged.
Across the last 20 years Bethesda has averaged 2.5 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 49 in total. 2011 was the busiest of them with 8, and 3 of those years passed with none at all.