Salt Lake City, UT Tornado History — 25 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Salt Lake City, UT had?
Salt Lake City has had 25 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Salt Lake City?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Salt Lake City was an EF1 on September 2, 2021.
When is tornado season in Salt Lake City?
August is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Salt Lake City, with 6 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 Salt Lake City
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
Casualties on Record Near Salt Lake City
1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Salt Lake City since 1950, across 1 event. 82 injuries have been reported across all events. 1999 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F2 on August 11, 1999, which caused 1 fatality along a 4.3-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Salt Lake City
About Tornadoes in Salt Lake City
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.
Salt Lake City, Utah has experienced 25 tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. While tornadoes are less common in the Intermountain West than in the central United States, the city's location at the base of the Wasatch Range has not prevented these weather events from occurring over the past seven decades.
The distribution of tornado activity has been uneven across time. The 1990s saw the highest concentration with 13 recorded tornadoes, while the 1950s and 1970s each recorded only one event. The 1980s brought four tornadoes, the 1960s had three, and the 2000s recorded two. The current decade has seen one tornado as of 2021. In terms of intensity, the majority have been relatively weak: 13 tornadoes rated EF0, nine rated EF1, and three rated EF2 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which classifies tornadoes based on estimated wind speeds and resulting damage.
August has been the most active month for tornado formation in the area, with six events recorded during this period. This late-summer peak differs from the traditional spring maximum seen in many other parts of the country, likely reflecting the region's unique topography and seasonal weather patterns. The most significant tornado on record occurred on August 11, 1999, when an F2 tornado resulted in one fatality, caused $170 in property damage, traveled 4.3 miles, and reached a maximum width of 150 yards. The costliest tornado struck on May 4, 1993, producing $275,000 in damage despite being rated only F1 and traveling just 0.1 miles with a width of 13 yards.
The longest-tracked tornado in the area's history occurred on July 26, 1991, traveling 10.0 miles with a width of 100 yards and causing $2,750 in damage. The widest tornado on record was an EF1 event on September 3, 2021, which reached 350 yards in width over a 2.0-mile path but caused no reported damage or injuries. This September 2021 tornado remains the most recent event recorded within the 25-mile search radius.