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. April through June account for 4 of the 9 tornadoes on record near Rochester.
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.
Preliminary tornado reports near Rochester since December 29, 2025
This is a preliminary report, not confirmed tornadoes. It has not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and is 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 105 mph... path length of 3.23 miles... and width of 130 yards. The National Weather Service in Buffalo completed a damage survey across (BUF)
Within 25 miles of Rochester. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
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, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Rochester
What the record shows near Rochester
The 1980s were the busiest decade near Rochester, with 2 of the 9 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 1 so far. The Rochester record runs from the 1970s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Rochester, 9 reached EF0 or EF1 and 0 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Rochester is rated EF1, of which 4 are logged.
Across the last 20 years Rochester has averaged 0.2 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 4 in total. 2009 was the busiest of them with 1, and 16 of those years passed with none at all.