Fords, NJ Tornado History — 59 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Fords, NJ had?
Fords has had 59 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 4 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Fords?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Fords was an EF1 on June 26, 2023.
When is tornado season in Fords?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Fords, with 12 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
Recent Tornado Activity Near Fords
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 19 total, averaging 0.9 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Fords since December 29, 2025
These 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Within 25 miles of Fords. 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
Have any tornadoes near Fords been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Fords from any of the 59 tornadoes since 1950, though 38 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Fords
About Tornadoes in Fords
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.
Fords, New Jersey, sits in a region that experiences tornadoes more frequently than many residents might expect. According to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, 54 tornadoes have been documented within 25 miles of Fords since 1950, with activity increasing notably from the 1980s onward. The 1990s saw the highest concentration with 13 recorded events, while the 2010s and 2020s have each recorded 10 and 6 tornadoes respectively through the available data period.
The majority of tornadoes near Fords have been relatively weak on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which rates tornado intensity from EF0 to EF5 based on damage indicators. Of the 54 recorded events, 28 were rated EF0 and 20 were rated EF1, meaning they produced wind speeds generally below 110 miles per hour. Only six tornadoes reached EF2 or EF3 intensity, and remarkably, none of the tornadoes on record resulted in fatalities. This safety record reflects both the typically lower intensity of tornadoes in this region and the relatively short path lengths most storms traveled.
July stands out as the peak month for tornado activity near Fords, with 12 events recorded during this summer month. This pattern aligns with the warm-season convective environment common to the Mid-Atlantic region, where afternoon and evening thunderstorms can occasionally produce brief tornadoes. The costliest tornado on record was an EF0 that struck on September 16, 2010, causing $8.5 million in property damage despite traveling only 2.1 miles with a maximum width of 75 yards. The longest-tracked tornado was an F1 that covered 12 miles on October 5, 1985, while the widest reached 475 yards on June 26, 2023.
The most recent tornado near Fords occurred on June 26, 2023, rated EF1 with a path length of 1.4 miles and a maximum width of 475 yards. While tornadoes remain a genuine meteorological concern for the area, the historical record shows they tend to be brief, relatively narrow events that cause property damage but have not resulted in loss of life within the documented period.