Arlington, WA Tornado History — 6 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Arlington, WA had?
Arlington has had 6 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Arlington?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Arlington was a F1 on May 18, 2005.
When is tornado season in Arlington?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Arlington, with 2 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
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 Arlington been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Arlington from any of the 6 tornadoes since 1950. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Arlington
About Tornadoes in Arlington
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.
Arlington, Washington, located in the Pacific Northwest, has experienced relatively infrequent tornado activity compared to regions in the central United States. According to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, six tornadoes have been documented within 25 miles of the city since record-keeping began in 1950. This low frequency reflects the region's maritime climate, where atmospheric conditions conducive to tornado formation occur far less often than in the Great Plains or Southeast.
The recorded tornadoes span several decades, with two occurring in the 1970s, one in the 1980s, one in the 1990s, and two in the 2000s. The distribution across the Enhanced Fujita scale shows an even split: two tornadoes rated EF0, two rated EF1, and two rated EF2. While EF2 tornadoes can produce considerable damage with wind speeds between 111 and 135 miles per hour, none of the tornadoes on record in the Arlington area resulted in fatalities. May has been the most active month, accounting for two of the six documented events.
The most significant tornado in the area's recorded history occurred on October 26, 1971. This F1-rated tornado carved a 3.0-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards, causing $27,500 in property damage but no injuries or deaths. This event stands as the costliest, widest, and longest-track tornado documented near Arlington. The most recent tornado touched down on May 19, 2005, also rated F1, but was considerably smaller with a path length of just 0.2 miles and a maximum width of only 10 yards. This brief event caused no property damage and no casualties.
While tornadoes remain uncommon in western Washington, the historical record demonstrates that they can and do occur in the region. The Enhanced Fujita scale, implemented in 2007 to replace the original Fujita scale, rates tornadoes based on damage indicators and wind speed estimates, providing meteorologists with a standardized method for assessing tornado intensity across diverse geographic settings.