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Sparta, NJ Tornado History — 27 Tornadoes Since 1950

New Jersey · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Sparta, NJ had?

Sparta has had 27 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 4 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Sparta?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Sparta was an EF1 on June 26, 2023.

When is tornado season in Sparta?

July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Sparta, with 10 on record. April through June account for 10 of the 27 tornadoes on record near Sparta.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
27
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
4
14.8% of total
Peak Month
July
10 on record
Per Year Avg
0.4
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Sparta

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 7 total, averaging 0.3 per year over this window.

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

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

Preliminary tornado reports near Sparta since December 29, 2025

These are 2 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 EF1° July 21, 2026
1 N Pine Brook, Morris County, NJ
Updates previous tornado report from 1 N Troy Hills. A EF-1 tornado touched down behind the ridgeline on Windsor Drive in the Pine Brook section on Montville around 2:5 (PHI)
Preliminary EF1° July 21, 2026
1 W Wharton, Morris County, NJ
On the afternoon of July 21st... an EF-1 tornado occurred in the Lower Berkshire Valley section of Roxbury Township... in Morris County... New Jersey. The tornado began (PHI)

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

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 1
1970s 4
1980s 8
1990s 7
2000s 2
2010s 2
2020s 3

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 10
EF1 9
EF2 4
EF3 4

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 0
Mar 0
Apr 2
May 4
Jun 4
Jul 10
Aug 2
Sep 1
Oct 2
Nov 2
Dec 0

Have any tornadoes near Sparta been fatal?

No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Sparta from any of the 27 tornadoes since 1950, though 17 injuries have been reported, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.

Notable Tornadoes Near Sparta

Costliest Tornado
F0 on July 10, 1989 — est. ~$2.8M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F1 on July 19, 1971 — 800 yards wide.
Longest Path
F0 on August 13, 1990 — 25.0 mile track.
Most Recent
EF1 on June 26, 2023.

What the record shows near Sparta

The 1980s were the busiest decade near Sparta, with 8 of the 27 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 3 so far. The Sparta record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Sparta, 19 reached EF0 or EF1 and 8 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Sparta is rated EF3, of which 4 are logged.

Across the last 20 years Sparta has averaged 0.3 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 7 in total. 2009 was the busiest of them with 2, and 16 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Sparta, NJ had?
Since 1950, 27 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Sparta. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
When is tornado season in Sparta?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Sparta, with 10 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 Sparta?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Sparta was an EF1 on June 26, 2023.
How do I get tornado warnings for Sparta?
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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