Sherwood, OR Tornado History — 23 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Sherwood, OR had?
Sherwood has had 23 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 1 violent (EF3+) tornado.
When was the most recent tornado near Sherwood?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Sherwood was an EF0 on October 24, 2022.
When is tornado season in Sherwood?
October is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Sherwood, 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 Sherwood
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 10 total, averaging 0.5 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 Sherwood
6 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Sherwood 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 Sherwood
About Tornadoes in Sherwood
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.
Since 1950, the Sherwood, Oregon area has experienced 23 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius, 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 tornadoes recorded here have ranged from brief, narrow touchdowns to more substantial events, with the vast majority classified as EF0 (16 occurrences) or EF1 (5 occurrences) on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage.
The most significant tornado in the area's recorded history occurred on April 5, 1972, when an F3 tornado carved an 8.7-mile path with a maximum width of 440 yards. This event resulted in six fatalities and approximately $27.5 million in property damage, making it both the deadliest and costliest tornado on record for the region. The F3 rating indicates estimated wind speeds between 158 and 206 mph, capable of causing severe structural damage. Only one other tornado has reached EF2 intensity in the area since 1950, while the remaining events have been weaker.
Tornado activity near Sherwood shows an unusual seasonal pattern, with October accounting for 10 of the 23 recorded events—the peak month by a significant margin. This autumn concentration differs from the typical spring and early summer peak seen across much of the country, likely reflecting the Pacific Northwest's unique weather patterns influenced by Pacific storm systems. Temporal distribution shows relatively consistent activity from the 1990s through the 2010s, with six tornadoes recorded in each of those three decades, while the 1970s and 1980s saw fewer events.
The most recent tornado touched down on October 24, 2022, as an EF0 event with a maximum width of just 17 yards and causing $25,000 in property damage. The longest-tracked tornado in the area's history was an EF1 that traveled 10.1 miles on January 10, 2008, also notable for matching the maximum width of 440 yards set by the 1972 F3 tornado. That 2008 event caused $525,000 in damage but resulted in no fatalities.