Pendleton, OR Tornado History — 8 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Pendleton, OR had?
Pendleton has had 8 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Pendleton?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Pendleton was an EF0 on March 5, 2024.
When is tornado season in Pendleton?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Pendleton, with 4 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 Pendleton
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 3 total, averaging 0.1 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
Have any tornadoes near Pendleton been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Pendleton from any of the 8 tornadoes since 1950. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Pendleton
About Tornadoes in Pendleton
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.
Pendleton, Oregon has experienced 8 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since record-keeping began in 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This relatively modest tornado activity reflects the region's location in the Pacific Northwest, where tornadoes are far less common than in the central and southern United States. None of these events have resulted in fatalities, and the vast majority have been weak, short-lived phenomena.
The temporal distribution of these tornadoes shows no activity in the first four decades of records, with the earliest event occurring on May 22, 1964. This F0 tornado holds the distinction of being the longest-tracked tornado near Pendleton, traveling 10.7 miles with a maximum width of just 10 yards and causing only $25 in property damage. Activity increased modestly in recent decades, with two tornadoes in the 1990s, three in the 2000s, and two in the 2020s.
By intensity, six of the eight tornadoes were rated EF0 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, indicating wind speeds between 65 and 85 mph. Only one tornado reached EF1 intensity, occurring on May 6, 2009, which also stands as both the costliest and widest tornado on record for the area. This event carved a 1.6-mile path with a maximum width of 40 yards and caused $50,000 in property damage. One historical tornado remains unrated in the records.
May emerges as the peak month for tornado activity near Pendleton, accounting for four of the eight recorded events. This pattern aligns with broader springtime tornado climatology, when atmospheric conditions most favor the development of severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes. The most recent tornado touched down on March 5, 2024, an EF0 event that traveled just 0.1 miles with a maximum width of 3 yards and caused no damage.