Westerly, RI Tornado History — 9 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Westerly, RI had?
Westerly has had 9 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Westerly?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Westerly was an EF0 on November 13, 2021.
When is tornado season in Westerly?
November is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Westerly, with 3 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 Westerly
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 6 total, averaging 0.3 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 Westerly been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Westerly from any of the 9 tornadoes since 1950. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Westerly
About Tornadoes in Westerly
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.
Westerly, Rhode Island has experienced 9 documented tornadoes within 25 miles of the city since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. All of these events have been relatively weak, with 6 rated EF0 and 3 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which classifies tornadoes from EF0 (65-85 mph winds) to EF5 (over 200 mph winds). None of the tornadoes on record resulted in fatalities.
Tornado activity in the Westerly area has been concentrated in recent decades, with no recorded events in the 1950s, 1960s, or 1980s. The first documented tornado occurred in the 1970s, followed by 2 events in the 1990s. Activity increased notably in the 2010s with 3 tornadoes, and the 2020s have already matched that total with 3 additional events through the end of the available data period.
Unusually for most locations, November has been the peak month for tornado activity near Westerly, accounting for 3 of the 9 recorded events. This differs from the national pattern, where tornadoes are most common during spring months when warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico collides with cooler air masses. The concentration of November tornadoes suggests that late-season coastal weather systems may play a role in the area's tornado climatology.
The most significant tornado event occurred on November 13, 2021, when three separate tornadoes touched down in the area. The costliest of these was an EF1 tornado that caused $63,500 in property damage along a 1.4-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards. The same day also produced the widest tornado on record for the area, an EF0 with a 150-yard maximum width that caused $50,000 in damage, and the longest-track tornado, an EF0 that traveled 6.1 miles and caused $35,000 in damage. This multi-tornado outbreak represents the most recent tornado activity recorded near Westerly.