Cottage Lake, WA Tornado History — 7 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Cottage Lake, WA had?
Cottage Lake has had 7 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 1 violent (EF3+) tornado.
When was the most recent tornado near Cottage Lake?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Cottage Lake was a F0 on June 16, 2006.
When is tornado season in Cottage Lake?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Cottage Lake, 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 Cottage Lake been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Cottage Lake from any of the 7 tornadoes since 1950, though 1 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Cottage Lake
About Tornadoes in Cottage 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.
Cottage Lake, Washington has experienced seven documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This relatively modest tornado activity reflects the Pacific Northwest's generally lower frequency of severe convective storms compared to regions farther east, though the area is not immune to these events when atmospheric conditions align favorably.
The majority of recorded tornadoes in the area have been weak, with four rated EF0 and two rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which classifies tornado intensity based on observed damage. However, the region's most significant event occurred on December 12, 1969, when an F3 tornado carved a 3.8-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards, causing $275,000 in property damage. This December tornado stands out not only for its intensity but also for its unusual timing, as tornadoes in the Pacific Northwest more commonly occur during warmer months when atmospheric instability increases.
Temporal patterns show that tornado activity near Cottage Lake peaked during the 1960s with three events, followed by isolated occurrences in subsequent decades. The 2000s saw two tornadoes, including the most recent on June 16, 2006—a brief EF0 event with a half-mile path. June has been the most active month historically, with two recorded tornadoes. The longest-tracked tornado on record was an EF0 that traveled 5.2 miles on August 18, 1964, though its narrow 30-yard width limited its impact.
Notably, none of the seven tornadoes on record resulted in fatalities, and several caused no reported property damage. The widest tornado, reaching 100 yards, occurred on October 26, 1971, as an F1 event that caused $27,500 in damage along a three-mile path. While tornadoes remain rare in western Washington compared to the nation's central plains, these historical records demonstrate that residents should maintain awareness of severe weather potential during spring and summer months when conditions occasionally support tornadic development.