Brookings, SD Tornado History — 83 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Brookings, SD had?
Brookings has had 83 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 5 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Brookings?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Brookings was an Unrated on September 23, 2023.
When is tornado season in Brookings?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Brookings, with 34 on record. April through June account for 55 of the 83 tornadoes on record near Brookings.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Brookings
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 14 total, averaging 0.7 per year over this window.
What storm spotters reported near Brookings
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Brookings and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on June 28, 2025 and the most recent on June 28, 2025. It is already counted in the Brookings totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.
state radio report of a different tornado 1 mile north of Toronto. (ABR)
Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
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 Brookings
1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Brookings since 1950, across 1 event. 25 injuries have been reported across all events. 1961 was the deadliest year on record near Brookings.
The deadliest single event was an F3 on June 21, 1961, which caused 1 fatality along a 156.3-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Brookings
What the record shows near Brookings
The 1970s were the busiest decade near Brookings, with 17 of the 83 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 9 so far. The Brookings record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Brookings, 64 reached EF0 or EF1 and 14 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Brookings is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged. A further 5 near Brookings are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Brookings has averaged 0.7 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 14 in total. 2023 was the busiest of them with 5, and 14 of those years passed with none at all.