Portland, OR Tornado History — 32 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Portland, OR had?
Portland has had 32 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 1 violent (EF3+) tornado.
When was the most recent tornado near Portland?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Portland was an EF0 on October 11, 2023.
When is tornado season in Portland?
October is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Portland, with 9 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 Portland
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 15 total, averaging 0.8 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 Portland
6 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Portland since 1950, across 1 event. 302 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 Portland
About Tornadoes in Portland
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.
Portland, Oregon has experienced 32 documented tornadoes within 25 miles of the city 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 Portland area has seen a gradual increase in recorded events over recent decades, with nine tornadoes occurring in the 2010s alone compared to just one in the 1950s. This upward trend may reflect improvements in detection technology and reporting practices as much as any change in actual tornado frequency.
The vast majority of Portland-area tornadoes have been weak, with 22 rated EF0 and eight rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage. However, the region has recorded two significant exceptions: one EF2 tornado and one EF3 event. The EF3 tornado, which struck on April 5, 1972, remains both the deadliest and costliest on record for the area, causing six fatalities, $27.5 million in property damage, and carving an 8.7-mile path with a maximum width of 440 yards.
Unlike much of the country where tornado activity peaks in spring and early summer, Portland's tornado climatology shows a distinct October maximum, with nine of the 32 recorded tornadoes occurring in that month. This unusual seasonal pattern reflects the Pacific Northwest's unique weather dynamics, where autumn and winter storms moving inland from the Pacific Ocean can occasionally produce the wind shear and instability necessary for tornadogenesis. The most recent tornado touched down on October 11, 2023, as an EF0 event with a half-mile path and no reported damage.
The longest-tracked tornado in the Portland area occurred on January 10, 2008, traveling 10.1 miles as an EF1 and causing $525,000 in damage, while the widest was an EF1 on December 10, 2015, reaching 528 yards across. These winter tornado events underscore the region's atypical tornado season, which differs markedly from the classic spring peak observed across the Great Plains and Southeast.