Lake Oswego, OR Tornado History — 24 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Lake Oswego, OR had?
Lake Oswego has had 24 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 1 violent (EF3+) tornado.
When was the most recent tornado near Lake Oswego?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Lake Oswego was an EF0 on October 24, 2022.
When is tornado season in Lake Oswego?
October is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Lake Oswego, with 10 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 Lake Oswego
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 12 total, averaging 0.6 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 Lake Oswego
6 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Lake Oswego since 1950, across 1 event. 300 injuries have been reported across all events. 1972 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F3 on April 5, 1972, which caused 6 fatalities along a 8.7-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Lake Oswego
About Tornadoes in Lake Oswego
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.
Lake Oswego, Oregon has experienced 24 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records. While tornadoes are relatively uncommon in the Pacific Northwest compared to the central United States, the region does experience these events, particularly during the fall and winter months when atmospheric conditions occasionally favor rotating storms. The majority of tornadoes recorded near Lake Oswego have been weak, with 15 rated EF0 and 7 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage indicators.
The most significant tornado event in the area's recorded history occurred on April 5, 1972, when an F3 tornado caused 6 fatalities and approximately $27.5 million in property damage. This tornado carved an 8.7-mile path with a maximum width of 440 yards, making it both the deadliest and costliest tornado on record for the region. Only one other tornado has reached EF2 intensity or higher in the area since 1950, underscoring how unusual strong tornadoes are in this part of Oregon.
Tornado activity near Lake Oswego has increased in recent decades, with 8 tornadoes documented in the 2010s compared to just 1 in the 1950s, 1 in the 1970s, and 1 in the 1980s. October stands out as the peak month for tornado occurrence, accounting for 10 of the 24 recorded events. This autumn peak differs from the spring maximum typical of the Great Plains, reflecting the Pacific Northwest's distinct weather patterns driven by Pacific storm systems and terrain interactions.
Recent tornadoes have been notably weaker than the 1972 event. The longest-tracked tornado was an EF1 on January 10, 2008, which traveled 10.1 miles and caused $525,000 in damage. The widest tornado was an EF1 on December 10, 2015, reaching 528 yards across. The most recent tornado occurred on October 24, 2022, rated EF0 with minimal damage of approximately $25,000 and a maximum width of just 17 yards, demonstrating the typically brief and weak nature of tornadoes in western Oregon.