Fairwood, WA Tornado History — 12 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Fairwood, WA had?
Fairwood has had 12 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 1 violent (EF3+) tornado.
When was the most recent tornado near Fairwood?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Fairwood was an EF2 on December 18, 2018.
When is tornado season in Fairwood?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Fairwood, 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 Fairwood
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 3 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 Fairwood been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Fairwood from any of the 12 tornadoes since 1950, though 1 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Fairwood
About Tornadoes in Fairwood
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.
Fairwood, Washington has experienced 12 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This relatively modest tornado count 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 tornadoes recorded near Fairwood have ranged from brief EF0 touchdowns to more substantial events, with the most active decade being the 2000s, which saw three tornadoes.
The intensity distribution shows that most tornadoes in the area have been weak to moderate. Seven events were rated EF1, three were rated EF0, and only two reached stronger intensities: one EF2 and one EF3. Notably, none of the tornadoes on record resulted in fatalities. The Enhanced Fujita scale, which rates tornado intensity based on damage indicators, ranges from EF0 (65-85 mph winds) to EF5 (over 200 mph winds), making even the single EF3 tornado a significant meteorological event for the region.
June has been the peak month for tornado activity near Fairwood, with four events occurring during this month. This aligns with broader patterns in the Pacific Northwest, where late spring and early summer can produce the atmospheric instability necessary for tornadic development. However, tornadoes have occurred outside the typical season as well, including 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.
The longest-tracked tornado near Fairwood was an EF1 event on September 6, 2009, which traveled 9.6 miles and caused $180,000 in damage. The widest tornado reached 400 yards across during an F1 event on June 28, 2001, which carved a 2.3-mile path but resulted in no reported property damage. Tornado activity has been documented sporadically across multiple decades, with events recorded in the 1960s, 1970s, 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s, though none were recorded in the 1950s, 1980s, or most recently in the 2020s within this dataset.