Watertown, NY Tornado History — 8 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Watertown, NY had?
Watertown has had 8 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Watertown?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Watertown was an Unrated on September 9, 2024.
When is tornado season in Watertown?
August is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Watertown, with 5 on record. April through June account for 0 of the 8 tornadoes on record near Watertown.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Watertown
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 2 total, averaging 0.1 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Watertown 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
The National Weather Service in Buffalo completed a damage survey across Lewis County today in response to numerous damage reports across the county from a line of seve (BUF)
Within 25 miles of Watertown. 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 Watertown been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Watertown from any of the 8 tornadoes since 1950, though 1 injuries have been reported, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Watertown
What the record shows near Watertown
The 1990s were the busiest decade near Watertown, with 2 of the 8 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 1 so far. The Watertown record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Watertown, 7 reached EF0 or EF1 and 0 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Watertown is rated EF1, of which 4 are logged. A further 1 near Watertown is unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Watertown has averaged 0.1 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 2 in total. 2014 was the busiest of them with 1, and 18 of those years passed with none at all.