Mason, OH Tornado History — 99 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Mason, OH had?
Mason has had 99 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 10 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Mason?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Mason was an EF0 on April 2, 2025.
When is tornado season in Mason?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Mason, with 25 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 Mason
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 45 total, averaging 2.3 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Mason since December 29, 2025
These 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Within 25 miles of Mason. 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
Casualties on Record Near Mason
53 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Mason since 1950, across 8 events. 1,917 injuries have been reported across all events. 1974 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F5 on April 3, 1974, which caused 36 fatalities along a 31.3-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Mason
About Tornadoes in Mason
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.
Mason, Ohio, sits within a region that has experienced considerable tornado activity over the past seven decades. According to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, 96 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of the city since 1950. While the 1950s through 1980s saw relatively modest numbers, activity increased notably in the 2010s with 14 tornadoes, and the 2020s have already recorded 29 events through early 2025. The majority of these tornadoes have been on the weaker end of the Enhanced Fujita scale, with 46 rated EF0 and 31 rated EF1, though the area has also seen stronger storms including four EF3 tornadoes, three EF4 events, and one EF5.
The most significant tornado in the region's recorded history occurred on April 3, 1974, when an F5 tornado carved a 31.3-mile path with a maximum width of 533 yards. This event claimed 36 lives and caused $275 million in property damage, making it simultaneously the deadliest, costliest, and widest tornado on record for the area. The 1974 tornado was part of the historic Super Outbreak that affected multiple states across the Midwest and South. The longest-tracked tornado near Mason was an F3 that traveled 54.5 miles on May 10, 1969, with a maximum width of 400 yards and $2.75 million in damage, though fortunately it caused no fatalities.
Tornado activity in the Mason area follows a clear seasonal pattern, with May accounting for 25 of the 96 recorded events. This peak aligns with the broader climatological pattern across the central United States, where spring months bring the combination of warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and strong jet stream dynamics that favor severe thunderstorm and tornado development. The Enhanced Fujita scale, implemented in 2007 as an update to the original Fujita scale, rates tornadoes from EF0 to EF5 based on estimated wind speeds and the damage they inflict on structures and vegetation.
The most recent tornado near Mason was an EF0 event on April 3, 2025, which traveled three miles with a maximum width of 200 yards and caused $60,000 in property damage with no fatalities. While weaker tornadoes like this are far more common than violent events, the historical record demonstrates that the region remains vulnerable to tornadoes across the full spectrum of intensities.