Kirkland, WA Tornado History — 9 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Kirkland, WA had?
Kirkland has had 9 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 1 violent (EF3+) tornado.
When was the most recent tornado near Kirkland?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Kirkland was an EF2 on December 18, 2018.
When is tornado season in Kirkland?
December is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Kirkland, with 3 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 Kirkland
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 1 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 Kirkland been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Kirkland from any of the 9 tornadoes since 1950, though 1 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Kirkland
About Tornadoes in Kirkland
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.
Kirkland, Washington, and the surrounding 25-mile radius have experienced nine tornadoes since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. Unlike the central United States where tornadoes peak in spring and early summer, the Pacific Northwest sees a different pattern: three of Kirkland's nine recorded tornadoes occurred in December, making it the peak month for tornado activity in this area. This reflects the region's unique meteorological conditions, where tornadoes are often associated with strong Pacific storm systems moving inland during the cool season rather than the classic supercell thunderstorms common in other parts of the country.
The tornado record shows activity concentrated in two earlier periods, with three events in the 1960s and two in the 1970s, followed by sporadic occurrences in later decades. The 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s each recorded one or two tornadoes. Most of these events have been weak, with four rated EF0 and three rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage. However, the area has also seen stronger tornadoes: one EF2 and one EF3 have been recorded within the 25-mile search radius.
The most significant tornado in the modern record occurred on December 18, 2018, when an EF2 tornado touched down with a maximum width of 285 yards and traveled 1.4 miles. This event caused $1,180,000 in property damage but resulted in no fatalities. It stands as the costliest, widest, and most recent tornado on record for the area. The longest-tracked tornado was an F0 that traveled 5.2 miles on August 18, 1964, though it caused no reported damage despite its 30-yard width.
Notably, none of the nine tornadoes on record resulted in any fatalities, reflecting both the generally weak nature of Pacific Northwest tornadoes and the relatively low population density compared to tornado-prone regions elsewhere. While tornadoes remain rare events in the Kirkland area, the historical record demonstrates that they do occur and can cause property damage when conditions align.