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Gaithersburg, MD Tornado History — 122 Tornadoes Since 1950

Maryland · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Gaithersburg, MD had?

Gaithersburg has had 122 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 3 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Gaithersburg?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Gaithersburg was an EF0 on June 5, 2024.

When is tornado season in Gaithersburg?

June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Gaithersburg, with 29 on record. April through June account for 56 of the 122 tornadoes on record near Gaithersburg.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
122
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
3
2.5% of total
Peak Month
June
29 on record
Per Year Avg
1.6
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Gaithersburg

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 57 total, averaging 2.9 per year over this window.

2026 0+1 prelim
2025 0
2024 5
2023 1
2022 3
2021 5
2020 4
2019 4
2018 2
2017 4
2016 1
2015 2
2014 2
2013 1
2012 9
2011 8
2010 1
2009 3
2008 2
2007 0

Striped bars mark preliminary reports not yet confirmed by NWS survey — excluded from the confirmed counts.

Preliminary tornado reports near Gaithersburg 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.

Preliminary EF0° March 11, 2026
1 NE Marriottsville, Carroll County, MD
EF0. Peak Wind 80 mph. Path Width 75 yards. Path length 0.3 miles. (LWX)

Within 25 miles of Gaithersburg. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 3
1960s 5
1970s 10
1980s 4
1990s 25
2000s 23
2010s 34
2020s 18

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.

EF0 61
EF1 47
EF2 11
EF3 3

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 5
Mar 4
Apr 14
May 13
Jun 29
Jul 21
Aug 10
Sep 12
Oct 8
Nov 6
Dec 0

Casualties on Record Near Gaithersburg

3 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Gaithersburg since 1950, across 2 events. 117 injuries have been reported across all events. 2001 was the deadliest year on record near Gaithersburg.

The deadliest single event was an F3 on September 24, 2001, which caused 2 fatalities along a 17.5-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Gaithersburg

Deadliest Tornado
F3 on September 24, 2001 — 2 fatalities, 17.5 mi path, 200 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F3 on April 1, 1973 — est. ~$27.5M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F1 on July 19, 1963 — 600 yards wide.
Longest Path
EF0 on June 13, 2013 — 20.1 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on June 5, 2024.

What the record shows near Gaithersburg

The 2010s were the busiest decade near Gaithersburg, with 34 of the 122 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 18 so far. The Gaithersburg record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Gaithersburg, 108 reached EF0 or EF1 and 14 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Gaithersburg is rated EF3, of which 3 are logged.

Across the last 20 years Gaithersburg has averaged 2.9 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 57 in total. 2012 was the busiest of them with 9, and 3 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Gaithersburg, MD had?
Since 1950, 122 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Gaithersburg. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Gaithersburg?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Gaithersburg was an F3 on September 24, 2001, which caused 2 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Gaithersburg?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Gaithersburg, with 29 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
When was the most recent tornado near Gaithersburg?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Gaithersburg was an EF0 on June 5, 2024.
How do I get tornado warnings for Gaithersburg?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

Official Resources

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