Auburn, WA Tornado History — 14 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Auburn, WA had?
Auburn has had 14 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 1 violent (EF3+) tornado.
When was the most recent tornado near Auburn?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Auburn was an EF2 on December 18, 2018.
When is tornado season in Auburn?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Auburn, with 4 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 Auburn
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 4 total, averaging 0.2 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 Auburn been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Auburn from any of the 14 tornadoes since 1950, though 1 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Auburn
About Tornadoes in Auburn
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.
Auburn, Washington has experienced 14 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This relatively modest total reflects the Pacific Northwest's generally lower tornado frequency compared to the central United States, though the region is not immune to these events. The distribution across decades shows some variability, with three tornadoes recorded in each of the 1960s, 2000s, and 2010s, while the 1980s saw only a single event.
The intensity of tornadoes near Auburn has remained generally low, with the majority rated EF1 or weaker on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado damage from EF0 (minor) to EF5 (strongest). Of the 14 recorded events, four were rated EF0, eight reached EF1 intensity, and only two achieved stronger ratings: one EF2 and one EF3. Notably, none of these tornadoes resulted in fatalities, though property damage has occurred in several instances.
June stands out as the peak month for tornado activity in the Auburn area, with four events recorded during that month. This aligns with broader patterns in the Pacific Northwest, where late spring and early summer can produce the atmospheric instability necessary for tornadic thunderstorms. However, tornadoes can occur outside this typical window, as demonstrated by the most recent and costliest event on record: an EF2 tornado on December 18, 2018, which caused $1,180,000 in property damage along a 1.4-mile path with a maximum width of 285 yards.
Other notable tornadoes include the widest on record, an F1 tornado on June 28, 2001, which reached 400 yards in width across a 2.3-mile path, and the longest-tracked event, an EF1 tornado on September 6, 2009, which traveled 9.6 miles and caused $180,000 in damage. These events underscore that while Auburn's tornado risk is lower than many other regions of the country, residents should remain aware of severe weather potential, particularly during the spring and summer months.