Westlake, OH Tornado History — 70 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Westlake, OH had?
Westlake has had 70 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 5 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Westlake?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Westlake was an EF0 on July 7, 2025.
When is tornado season in Westlake?
August is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Westlake, with 20 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 Westlake
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 20 total, averaging 1.0 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
Casualties on Record Near Westlake
40 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Westlake since 1950, across 4 events. 671 injuries have been reported across all events. 1965 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F4 on April 11, 1965, which caused 18 fatalities along a 22.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Westlake
About Tornadoes in Westlake
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.
According to data from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, 68 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Westlake, Ohio since 1950. This northeastern Ohio city has experienced tornado activity across all decades in the modern record, with the 1970s seeing the highest count at 14 events and August emerging as the peak month with 20 recorded tornadoes. The 2020s have already produced 12 tornadoes through early 2025, suggesting continued activity in recent years.
The majority of tornadoes in the Westlake area have been relatively weak, with 24 rated EF0 and 32 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage. However, the region has also experienced stronger events: 8 tornadoes reached EF2 intensity, 3 achieved EF3 status, and one particularly violent tornado was rated F4. The Enhanced Fujita scale ranges from EF0, indicating minor damage with winds of 65–85 mph, to EF5, representing complete destruction with winds exceeding 200 mph.
The deadliest tornado on record struck on April 12, 1965, when an F4 tornado carved a 22-mile path with a maximum width of 400 yards, claiming 18 lives and causing $27.5 million in property damage. This same event also holds the record as the longest-tracking tornado in the area. The costliest tornado occurred on May 2, 1983, when an F3 tornado traveled 12 miles with a 100-yard width, resulting in one fatality and $27.5 million in damage. The widest tornado touched down on August 21, 1962, reaching 500 yards across during its half-mile path and causing four fatalities with $2.75 million in damage.
The most recent tornado occurred on July 7, 2025, when an EF0 tornado with a maximum width of 40 yards traveled 1.3 miles, causing $20,000 in property damage and no injuries. While tornadoes can occur throughout the year, spring and summer months typically see increased activity nationwide due to the collision of warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico with cooler, drier air masses, creating the atmospheric instability necessary for severe thunderstorm development.