Kennewick, WA Tornado History — 5 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Kennewick, WA had?
Kennewick has had 5 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Kennewick?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Kennewick was an EF0 on March 31, 2020.
When is tornado season in Kennewick?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Kennewick, 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
Recent Tornado Activity Near Kennewick
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 2 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 Kennewick been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Kennewick from any of the 5 tornadoes since 1950. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Kennewick
About Tornadoes in Kennewick
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.
Kennewick, Washington has experienced five documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since record-keeping began in 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This relatively low frequency reflects the Pacific Northwest's generally unfavorable conditions for tornado development, as the region's marine influence and mountainous terrain typically disrupt the atmospheric instability and wind shear necessary for tornadic storms.
The recorded tornadoes span several decades, with two events occurring in the 1950s and single tornadoes documented in the 1980s, 2010s, and 2020s. By intensity, three have been rated EF0—the weakest category on the Enhanced Fujita scale, indicating wind speeds of 65–85 mph—while one reached EF1 and one reached EF2 strength. May has been the most active month historically, accounting for two of the five events, though tornadoes have also occurred in March and April.
None of the tornadoes on record in the Kennewick area have resulted in fatalities. The costliest event was an F1 tornado on April 23, 1983, which caused $27,500 in property damage along a 3.0-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards. The longest-tracked tornado occurred on May 9, 1956, when an F0 traveled 10.2 miles with a maximum width of 80 yards but caused no reported damage. The widest tornado, reaching 100 yards across, touched down on May 22, 2016, as an EF0 that caused $20,000 in damage over a brief 0.1-mile path.
The most recent tornado in the area was an EF0 on March 31, 2020, which traveled just 0.1 miles with a maximum width of only 20 yards and caused no damage or injuries. This event underscores the typically weak and short-lived nature of tornadoes in the region, where atmospheric conditions rarely support the sustained supercell thunderstorms that produce stronger, longer-lasting tornadoes more common in other parts of the United States.