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Arlington, VA Tornado History — 105 Tornadoes Since 1950

Virginia · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Arlington, VA had?

Arlington has had 105 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 4 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Arlington?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Arlington was an EF0 on June 18, 2025.

When is tornado season in Arlington?

June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Arlington, with 18 on record. April through June account for 48 of the 105 tornadoes on record near Arlington.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
105
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
4
3.8% of total
Peak Month
June
18 on record
Per Year Avg
1.4
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Arlington

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 46 total, averaging 2.3 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 1
2024 2
2023 1
2022 4
2021 2
2020 1
2019 2
2018 1
2017 5
2016 0
2015 2
2014 2
2013 3
2012 5
2011 8
2010 1
2009 0
2008 6
2007 0

What storm spotters reported near Arlington

2 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Arlington and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on June 18, 2025 and the most recent on June 19, 2025. They are already counted in the Arlington totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.

EF0° June 19, 2025
Odenton, Anne Arundel County, MD
NWS Storm Survey confirmed an EF-0 tornado briefly touched down in Odenton... MD at approximately 440 pm... with peak winds estimated at 80mph. Path length was 0.1 mile (LWX)
EF0° June 18, 2025
Odenton, Anne Arundel County, MD
Corrected for time/date. NWS Storm Survey confirmed an EF-0 tornado briefly touched down in Odenton... MD at approximately 215 pm... with peak winds estimated at 80mph. (LWX)

Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 3
1960s 3
1970s 7
1980s 5
1990s 23
2000s 24
2010s 29
2020s 11

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.

EF0 53
EF1 39
EF2 9
EF3 3
EF4 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 1
Feb 2
Mar 3
Apr 17
May 13
Jun 18
Jul 16
Aug 9
Sep 13
Oct 9
Nov 3
Dec 1

Casualties on Record Near Arlington

6 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Arlington since 1950, across 3 events. 238 injuries have been reported across all events. 2002 was the deadliest year on record near Arlington.

The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 28, 2002, which caused 3 fatalities along a 38.0-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Arlington

Deadliest Tornado
F4 on April 28, 2002 — 3 fatalities, 38.0 mi path, 650 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F3 on April 1, 1973 — est. ~$27.5M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F4 on April 28, 2002 — 650 yards wide.
Longest Path
F4 on April 28, 2002 — 38.0 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on June 18, 2025.

What the record shows near Arlington

The 2010s were the busiest decade near Arlington, with 29 of the 105 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 11 so far. The Arlington record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Arlington, 92 reached EF0 or EF1 and 13 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Arlington is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged.

Across the last 20 years Arlington has averaged 2.3 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 46 in total. 2011 was the busiest of them with 8, and 4 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Arlington, VA had?
Since 1950, 105 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Arlington. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Arlington?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Arlington was an F4 on April 28, 2002, which caused 3 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Arlington?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Arlington, with 18 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
Has Arlington been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Arlington, there has been 0 EF5 and 1 EF4 tornado recorded since 1950. EF4 and EF5 tornadoes are the most destructive ratings on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with winds above 166 mph.
When was the most recent tornado near Arlington?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Arlington was an EF0 on June 18, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Arlington?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

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