VORTEX
TORNADO HISTORY
← All Cities

Great Falls, MT Tornado History — 17 Tornadoes Since 1950

Montana · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Great Falls, MT had?

Great Falls has had 17 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.

When was the most recent tornado near Great Falls?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Great Falls was an EF0 on June 23, 2018.

When is tornado season in Great Falls?

July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Great Falls, with 8 on record. April through June account for 8 of the 17 tornadoes on record near Great Falls.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
17
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
0
0.0% of total
Peak Month
July
8 on record
Per Year Avg
0.2
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Great Falls

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 1 total, averaging 0.1 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 0
2024 0
2023 0
2022 0
2021 0
2020 0
2019 0
2018 1
2017 0
2016 0
2015 0
2014 0
2013 0
2012 0
2011 0
2010 0
2009 0
2008 0
2007 0

What storm spotters reported near Great Falls

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Great Falls and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 21, 2025 and the most recent on April 21, 2025. It is already counted in the Great Falls totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.

April 21, 2025
Floweree, Chouteau County, MT
[Landspout] Time approximated. Spotter reported that it dissipated shortly after he first saw it. Location approximated based upon spotter seeing it at the border of C (TFX)

Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 1
1960s 5
1970s 5
1980s 2
1990s 3
2010s 1

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 8
EF1 9

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 0
Mar 0
Apr 0
May 1
Jun 7
Jul 8
Aug 1
Sep 0
Oct 0
Nov 0
Dec 0

Have any tornadoes near Great Falls been fatal?

No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Great Falls from any of the 17 tornadoes since 1950, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.

Notable Tornadoes Near Great Falls

Costliest Tornado
F1 on July 3, 1978 — est. ~$275K (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F1 on July 3, 1978 — 300 yards wide.
Longest Path
F1 on July 2, 1964 — 27.0 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on June 23, 2018.

What the record shows near Great Falls

The 1960s were the busiest decade near Great Falls, with 5 of the 17 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2010s have produced 1 so far. The Great Falls record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Great Falls, 17 reached EF0 or EF1 and 0 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Great Falls is rated EF1, of which 9 are logged.

Across the last 20 years Great Falls has averaged 0.1 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 1 in total. 2018 was the busiest of them with 1, and 19 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Great Falls, MT had?
Since 1950, 17 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Great Falls. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
When is tornado season in Great Falls?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Great Falls, with 8 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 Great Falls?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Great Falls was an EF0 on June 23, 2018.
How do I get tornado warnings for Great Falls?
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

More Cities in Montana