Medford, NY Tornado History — 22 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Medford, NY had?
Medford has had 22 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Medford?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Medford was an EF0 on November 13, 2021.
When is tornado season in Medford?
August is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Medford, with 6 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 Medford
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 Medford been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Medford from any of the 22 tornadoes since 1950, though 1 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Medford
About Tornadoes in Medford
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.
Medford, New York has experienced 22 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. The community has never recorded a tornado-related fatality, though property damage has occurred in several events. Most tornadoes affecting the area have been relatively weak, with 12 rated EF0 and 9 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest). Only one EF2 tornado has been recorded in the area's modern history.
Tornado activity near Medford has varied considerably by decade. The 1990s saw the highest concentration with 7 events, while the 1970s and 1980s each recorded just 2 tornadoes. More recently, the 2010s brought 4 tornadoes and the 2020s have already seen 5 events through the data collection period. August stands out as the peak month for tornado occurrence, accounting for 6 of the 22 total events, though tornadoes can develop during other months when atmospheric conditions align.
The costliest tornado on record touched down on November 13, 2021, an EF1-rated storm that caused $900,000 in property damage along a 5.3-mile path with a maximum width of 50 yards. Notably, three separate tornadoes occurred on that same November day in 2021, including an EF0 that traveled 8.2 miles—the longest path length recorded in the area—and another EF0 with a shorter half-mile track. The widest tornado reached 300 yards across during an F1 event on June 30, 1998, though it caused no reported property damage along its brief 0.3-mile path.
While tornadoes are often associated with spring severe weather patterns in the central United States, the Medford area's experience demonstrates that these storms can occur during various seasons, including late fall. The consistent absence of fatalities across all recorded events reflects both the generally lower intensity of tornadoes affecting the region and the relatively short path lengths most have traveled.