Watertown, SD Tornado History — 87 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Watertown, SD had?
Watertown has had 87 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 4 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Watertown?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Watertown was an EF0 on August 16, 2025.
When is tornado season in Watertown?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Watertown, with 29 on record. April through June account for 53 of the 87 tornadoes on record near Watertown.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Watertown
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 26 total, averaging 1.3 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Watertown since December 29, 2025
This is a preliminary report, not confirmed tornadoes. It has not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and is not counted in the confirmed totals above.
Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.
Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.
(ABR)
Within 25 miles of Watertown. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Watertown
2 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Watertown and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on June 28, 2025 and the most recent on July 27, 2025. They are already counted in the Watertown totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
Several storm chasers have reported a tornado. (ABR)
Trees blown down and abandoned structure was damaged/hit. (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 Watertown
1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Watertown since 1950, across 1 event. 22 injuries have been reported across all events. 1961 was the deadliest year on record near Watertown.
The deadliest single event was an F3 on June 21, 1961, which caused 1 fatality along a 156.3-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Watertown
What the record shows near Watertown
The 2020s are the busiest decade on record so far near Watertown, with 23 of the 87 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles. The Watertown record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Watertown, 71 reached EF0 or EF1 and 15 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Watertown is rated EF3, of which 4 are logged. A further 1 near Watertown is unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Watertown has averaged 1.3 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 26 in total. 2022 was the busiest of them with 11, and 14 of those years passed with none at all.