Orem, UT Tornado History — 12 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Orem, UT had?
Orem has had 12 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Orem?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Orem was an EF0 on September 7, 2013.
When is tornado season in Orem?
September is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Orem, 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 Orem
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 1 total, averaging 0.1 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 Orem been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Orem from any of the 12 tornadoes since 1950. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Orem
About Tornadoes in Orem
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.
Orem, Utah has experienced 12 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. All of these events have been relatively weak, with seven rated EF0 and five rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which classifies tornado intensity based on damage. Notably, no tornadoes in this area have resulted in fatalities during the period of record.
The distribution of tornado activity has been relatively sparse and uneven across the decades. The 1980s saw the highest concentration with four tornadoes, while the 1960s, 1970s, 2000s, and 2010s each recorded one or two events. Unlike many regions of the central and southeastern United States where tornado activity peaks during spring months, the Orem area shows its highest frequency in September, with three tornadoes occurring during that month. Interestingly, tornadoes have also occurred during winter months in this region, including events in December and January.
The costliest tornado on record struck on January 10, 1989, producing $27,500 in property damage. This F1 tornado carved a 0.2-mile path with a maximum width of 23 yards. The widest and longest tornado occurred on December 2, 1970, reaching 300 yards in width and traveling one mile, though it caused no reported property damage despite its F1 rating. The most recent tornado touched down on September 7, 2013, as a brief EF0 event that traveled just 0.1 miles with a minimal width of three yards and caused $10,000 in damage.
The Enhanced Fujita scale, used to rate tornado intensity since 2007, replaced the original Fujita scale and ranges from EF0 (winds 65-85 mph) to EF5 (winds over 200 mph). The relatively low intensity and infrequent nature of tornadoes near Orem reflects the area's geographic and climatic characteristics, which differ significantly from regions where tornadoes are more common and intense.