Buffalo, NY Tornado History — 30 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Buffalo, NY had?
Buffalo has had 30 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 1 violent (EF3+) tornado.
When was the most recent tornado near Buffalo?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Buffalo was an EF0 on September 9, 2024.
When is tornado season in Buffalo?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Buffalo, with 10 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 Buffalo
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 10 total, averaging 0.5 per year over this window.
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 Buffalo been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Buffalo from any of the 30 tornadoes since 1950, though 6 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Buffalo
About Tornadoes in Buffalo
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.
Buffalo, New York has experienced 30 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. Despite the city's location in the northeastern United States—a region not typically associated with frequent tornado activity—these events demonstrate that tornadoes can occur well outside the nation's traditional spring severe weather corridors. The majority of Buffalo-area tornadoes have been relatively weak, with 13 rated EF0 and 10 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on observed damage. Six tornadoes reached EF2 strength, and one attained EF3 intensity.
Tornado activity near Buffalo has varied considerably by decade. The 1990s saw the highest concentration with nine tornadoes, while the 1950s and 1980s each recorded only a single event. The 2020s have already produced five tornadoes through 2024, suggesting continued sporadic activity in recent years. July stands out as the peak month for tornado occurrence, accounting for 10 of the 30 recorded events, which aligns with the warm-season convective patterns typical of the Great Lakes region during summer months.
Remarkably, none of the tornadoes on record within 25 miles of Buffalo resulted in fatalities. The costliest event occurred on July 30, 1987, when an F2 tornado caused $2.75 million in property damage along a 1.5-mile path with a maximum width of 30 yards. The widest tornado struck on July 20, 2017, reaching 700 yards across during its 6.1-mile track, though it caused only $3,500 in damage despite its EF2 rating. The longest-tracked tornado carved a 12-mile path on May 2, 1972, with a maximum width of 350 yards and $275,000 in damage.
The most recent tornado touched down on September 9, 2024, rated EF0 with a path length of 1.2 miles and maximum width of 75 yards. This event caused no injuries and no reported property damage, consistent with the historical pattern of relatively minor tornado impacts in the Buffalo area.