Bonney Lake, WA Tornado History — 13 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Bonney Lake, WA had?
Bonney Lake has had 13 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 1 violent (EF3+) tornado.
When was the most recent tornado near Bonney Lake?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Bonney Lake was an EF1 on January 18, 2015.
When is tornado season in Bonney Lake?
September is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Bonney Lake, 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 Bonney Lake
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 Bonney Lake been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Bonney Lake from any of the 13 tornadoes since 1950, though 1 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Bonney Lake
About Tornadoes in Bonney Lake
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.
Bonney Lake, Washington, has experienced 13 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. Unlike the central United States where tornadoes are most common in spring and early summer, the peak month for tornado activity near Bonney Lake has been September, with 4 events recorded during that month. This pattern reflects the Pacific Northwest's distinct meteorological conditions, where tornadoes can occur during transitions between weather systems.
The majority of tornadoes in the area have been relatively weak, with 4 rated EF0 and 8 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage. However, one notable exception occurred on December 12, 1969, when an F3 tornado tracked 3.8 miles with a maximum width of 100 yards, causing $275,000 in property damage. This remains the costliest tornado on record for the region, though remarkably it resulted in no fatalities.
Tornado activity near Bonney Lake has been distributed across several decades, with 3 events in the 1960s, 2 in the 1970s, 1 in the 1980s, 2 in the 1990s, 2 in the 2000s, and 3 in the 2010s. The longest-tracked tornado occurred on September 6, 2009, when an EF1 tornado traveled 9.6 miles with a maximum width of 170 yards, causing $180,000 in property damage. The widest tornado, measuring 400 yards across, touched down on June 28, 2001, following a 2.3-mile path but causing no reported damage.
The most recent tornado within the 25-mile radius was an EF1 event on January 18, 2015, which traveled 4.1 miles with a maximum width of 175 yards. Notably, none of the tornadoes on record for the Bonney Lake area have resulted in fatalities, reflecting both the generally lower intensity of Pacific Northwest tornadoes and the region's lower population density compared to more tornado-prone areas of the country.