Rochester, NY Tornado History — 9 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Rochester, NY had?
Rochester has had 9 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Rochester?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Rochester was an EF0 on July 29, 2020.
When is tornado season in Rochester?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Rochester, with 4 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 Rochester
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 4 total, averaging 0.2 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 Rochester been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Rochester from any of the 9 tornadoes since 1950. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Rochester
About Tornadoes in Rochester
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.
Rochester, New York, experiences tornadoes infrequently compared to many regions of the United States, with nine confirmed events within 25 miles of the city since comprehensive record-keeping began in 1950. All of these tornadoes have been relatively weak, rated either EF0 or EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which classifies tornado intensity based on damage. The EF scale ranges from EF0 (winds 65–85 mph, causing light damage) to EF5 (winds over 200 mph, causing widespread destruction). Remarkably, none of the tornadoes on record in the Rochester area have resulted in fatalities, according to data from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
Tornado activity in the Rochester area has been sporadic across the decades. The 1970s and 1990s each saw one tornado, while the 1980s, 2000s, and 2010s each recorded two events. The 2020s have thus far produced one tornado. Of the nine total events, five were rated EF0 and four were rated EF1, reflecting the generally minor nature of tornado activity in this region. July has been the most active month, accounting for four of the nine tornadoes, suggesting a mid-summer peak in conditions favorable for tornado development.
The costliest and widest tornado on record occurred on June 9, 1980, when an F1 tornado carved a 9.9-mile path with a maximum width of 200 yards, causing $2,750,000 in property damage but no fatalities. The longest-tracked tornado in the area's history was an F0 event on April 6, 1979, which traveled 14.0 miles despite being only 10 yards wide at its maximum and causing $27,500 in damage. Most recently, an EF0 tornado touched down on July 29, 2020, traveling 4.2 miles with a maximum width of 100 yards and causing $10,000 in property damage, again with no fatalities.
While tornadoes can occur in any season when atmospheric conditions align—typically requiring warm, moist air colliding with cooler, dry air along with wind shear—Rochester's location in western New York places it outside the most tornado-prone regions of the country. The historical record suggests that residents face a low but non-zero risk of tornado encounters, with events typically remaining on the weaker end of the intensity spectrum.