Kent, WA Tornado History — 13 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Kent, WA had?
Kent has had 13 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 1 violent (EF3+) tornado.
When was the most recent tornado near Kent?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Kent was an EF2 on December 18, 2018.
When is tornado season in Kent?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Kent, 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 Kent
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 Kent been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Kent from any of the 13 tornadoes since 1950, though 1 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Kent
About Tornadoes in Kent
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.
Kent, Washington, and the surrounding 25-mile area have experienced 13 tornadoes since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This relatively modest total reflects the Pacific Northwest's position outside the nation's most tornado-prone regions, though the area is not immune to these storms. Notably, no tornadoes in the local record have resulted in fatalities, a fortunate outcome given the region's population density.
Tornado activity near Kent has been distributed unevenly across the decades. The 1960s saw three events, followed by two in the 1970s. After a quiet period in the 1980s with no recorded tornadoes, activity resumed with two events in the 1990s and three each in the 2000s and 2010s. The majority of these tornadoes have been weak, with eight rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage. Three tornadoes were rated EF0, the weakest category. However, the area has also experienced one EF2 and one EF3 tornado, demonstrating that stronger events, while rare, can occur.
June stands out as the peak month for tornado activity, accounting for four of the 13 recorded events. This seasonal pattern aligns with the broader meteorological understanding that tornadoes in the Pacific Northwest tend to occur during the warmer months when atmospheric instability increases, though the region can experience tornadoes outside the typical spring peak seen in other parts of the country.
The most significant tornado in the local record occurred on December 18, 2018, when an EF2 tornado carved a 1.4-mile path with a maximum width of 285 yards, causing $1.18 million in property damage. This event also stands as the most recent tornado recorded in the area. The longest-tracked tornado was an EF1 on September 6, 2009, which traveled 9.6 miles and caused $180,000 in damage. The widest tornado reached 400 yards across during a June 28, 2001 F1 event that traveled 2.3 miles but caused no reported property damage.