Bellevue, WA Tornado History — 8 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Bellevue, WA had?
Bellevue has had 8 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 1 violent (EF3+) tornado.
When was the most recent tornado near Bellevue?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Bellevue was an EF2 on December 18, 2018.
When is tornado season in Bellevue?
December is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Bellevue, 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 Bellevue
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 Bellevue been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Bellevue from any of the 8 tornadoes since 1950, though 1 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Bellevue
About Tornadoes in Bellevue
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.
Bellevue, Washington, has experienced eight tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records. This relatively low frequency reflects the Pacific Northwest's maritime climate, where the atmospheric conditions that produce tornadoes—particularly the strong wind shear and instability common in the central United States—occur far less often. None of the recorded tornadoes resulted in fatalities, though property damage has occurred during several events.
The most active decade was the 1960s with three tornadoes, followed by two in the 1990s, and one each in the 1970s, 2000s, and 2010s. The distribution by intensity shows four EF0 tornadoes, two EF1 events, one EF2, and one EF3. The Enhanced Fujita scale, used since 2007 to replace the original Fujita scale, rates tornadoes based on observed damage to structures and vegetation, with EF0 representing the weakest category and EF5 the strongest.
Unusually for most tornado-prone regions, December is the peak month for tornado activity near Bellevue, with three events recorded during that month. This winter maximum contrasts sharply with the spring and early summer peak typical of the Great Plains, and likely relates to occasional strong Pacific storm systems that can generate brief tornadoes when they make landfall with sufficient instability.
The most significant tornado on record occurred on December 18, 2018, when an EF2 tornado carved a 1.4-mile path with a maximum width of 285 yards, causing $1,180,000 in property damage. This event stands as the costliest, widest, and most recent tornado in the area's history. The longest-tracked tornado was an F0 that traveled 5.2 miles on August 18, 1964, though it caused no reported property damage with its narrow 30-yard width.