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Queens, NY Tornado History — 42 Tornadoes Since 1950

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

How many tornadoes has Queens, NY had?

Queens has had 42 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.

When was the most recent tornado near Queens?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Queens was an EF0 on November 13, 2021.

When is tornado season in Queens?

August is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Queens, with 12 on record. April through June account for 4 of the 42 tornadoes on record near Queens.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
42
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
0
0.0% of total
Peak Month
August
12 on record
Per Year Avg
0.6
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Queens

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 11 total, averaging 0.6 per year over this window.

2026 0+2 prelim
2025 0
2024 0
2023 0
2022 0
2021 2
2020 0
2019 0
2018 1
2017 0
2016 0
2015 0
2014 0
2013 1
2012 1
2011 1
2010 3
2009 0
2008 0
2007 2

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

Preliminary tornado reports near Queens 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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° August 20, 2026
1 W Atlantic Beach, Nassau County, NY
NWS storm survey confirmed an EF-1 tornado producing a narrow swath of damage with estimated wind gusts of 65 to 97 mph across the far western end of Atlantic Beach bet (OKX)
Preliminary July 21, 2026
1 N Harrison, Westchester County, NY
Corrects previous report from tstm wnd dmg to tornado. Several trees down at Manhattanville University. (OKX)

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

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 1
1960s 1
1970s 12
1980s 6
1990s 8
2000s 5
2010s 7
2020s 2

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 15
EF1 21
EF2 6

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 0
Mar 0
Apr 0
May 1
Jun 3
Jul 9
Aug 12
Sep 8
Oct 6
Nov 3
Dec 0

Casualties on Record Near Queens

1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Queens since 1950, across 1 event. 43 injuries have been reported across all events. 2010 was the deadliest year on record near Queens.

The deadliest single event was an EF1 on September 16, 2010, which caused 1 fatality along a 4.0-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Queens

Deadliest Tornado
EF1 on September 16, 2010 — 1 fatality, 4.0 mi path, 100 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
EF1 on September 16, 2010 — $17.2M in reported property damage.
Widest Tornado
F1 on July 19, 1971 — 400 yards wide.
Longest Path
F1 on August 10, 1952 — 39.3 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on November 13, 2021.

What the record shows near Queens

The 1970s were the busiest decade near Queens, with 12 of the 42 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 2 so far. The Queens record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Queens, 36 reached EF0 or EF1 and 6 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Queens is rated EF2, of which 6 are logged.

Across the last 20 years Queens has averaged 0.6 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 11 in total. 2010 was the busiest of them with 3, and 13 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Queens, NY had?
Since 1950, 42 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Queens. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Queens?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Queens was an EF1 on September 16, 2010, which caused 1 fatality.
When is tornado season in Queens?
August is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Queens, with 12 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 Queens?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Queens was an EF0 on November 13, 2021.
How do I get tornado warnings for Queens?
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.

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