Oak Grove, OR Tornado History — 25 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Oak Grove, OR had?
Oak Grove has had 25 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 1 violent (EF3+) tornado.
When was the most recent tornado near Oak Grove?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Oak Grove was an EF0 on October 24, 2022.
When is tornado season in Oak Grove?
October is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Oak Grove, 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 Oak Grove
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 13 total, averaging 0.7 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 Oak Grove
6 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Oak Grove 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 Oak Grove
About Tornadoes in Oak Grove
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.
Oak Grove, Oregon, located in the Willamette Valley, has experienced 25 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This relatively modest total reflects the Pacific Northwest's generally lower tornado frequency compared to the central United States, though the region is not immune to these severe weather events.
The majority of tornadoes in the Oak Grove area have been weak, with 16 rated EF0 and 7 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage. However, the area has recorded two stronger events: one EF2 and one EF3. The most significant tornado on record occurred on April 5, 1972, when an F3 tornado carved an 8.7-mile path with a maximum width of 440 yards, tragically claiming 6 lives and causing $27.5 million in property damage. This event remains both the deadliest and costliest tornado in the area's recorded history.
Tornado activity near Oak Grove has increased in recent decades, with only 3 events recorded from the 1950s through the 1980s combined, compared to 8 tornadoes in the 2010s alone. Unusually for most of the country where tornadoes peak in spring and early summer, October stands out as the most active month locally with 10 recorded events. This pattern aligns with the Pacific Northwest's tendency for autumn severe weather as atmospheric dynamics shift with the changing seasons.
Recent tornadoes have been relatively minor, including the most recent event on October 24, 2022, an EF0 with a maximum width of just 17 yards that caused $25,000 in damage. The longest-tracked tornado in the area's history was an EF1 on January 10, 2008, which traveled 10.1 miles and caused $525,000 in damage, while the widest was an EF1 on December 10, 2015, reaching 528 yards across.