Las Vegas, NV Tornado History — 7 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Las Vegas, NV had?
Las Vegas has had 7 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Las Vegas?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Las Vegas was a F0 on September 11, 1998.
When is tornado season in Las Vegas?
March is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Las Vegas, with 2 on record. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
At a Glance
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
Have any tornadoes near Las Vegas been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Las Vegas from any of the 7 tornadoes since 1950. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Las Vegas
About Tornadoes in Las Vegas
This overview was written April 23, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Las Vegas, Nevada, situated in the Mojave Desert, experiences tornadoes far less frequently than cities in the central and southeastern United States. According to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, only seven tornadoes have been documented within 25 miles of the city since 1950, making tornado activity exceptionally rare in this region. All recorded tornadoes have been relatively weak, rated EF0 or EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage to structures and vegetation.
The limited tornado activity in Las Vegas occurred primarily during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, with four tornadoes recorded in the 1990s alone, two in the 1970s, and one in the 1980s. Of the seven total events, five were rated EF0—the weakest classification, typically causing minor damage to trees, signs, and roof shingles—while two reached EF1 intensity, capable of causing moderate damage such as broken windows and stripped roofing materials. March has been the most active month historically, accounting for two of the seven tornadoes on record.
The costliest and longest-tracked tornado in the Las Vegas area occurred on March 30, 1992. This F1-rated tornado carved a 1.5-mile path with a maximum width of 30 yards, causing $275,000 in property damage but resulting in no fatalities. The widest tornado on record touched down on August 13, 1971, reaching a maximum width of 250 yards despite its F0 rating and one-mile path length; this event caused no property damage or injuries. The most recent tornado occurred on September 11, 1998, a brief F0 event with a path length of just 0.1 miles and a width of 30 yards that caused no damage.
Notably, none of the tornadoes recorded near Las Vegas have resulted in any fatalities, reflecting both their relatively weak intensity and the sparse development patterns in areas where they occurred. The desert climate and geographic setting of southern Nevada create atmospheric conditions that are generally unfavorable for the supercell thunderstorms that produce most tornadoes, contributing to the city's remarkably low tornado frequency compared to other regions of the country.