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Lake Stevens, WA Tornado History — 7 Tornadoes Since 1950

Washington · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Lake Stevens, WA had?

Lake Stevens has had 7 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.

When was the most recent tornado near Lake Stevens?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Lake Stevens was a F0 on June 16, 2006.

When is tornado season in Lake Stevens?

May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Lake Stevens, 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 Since 1950
7
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
0
0.0% of total
Peak Month
May
2 on record
Per Year Avg
0.1
Across 76 years

Tornadoes by Decade

1970s 2
1980s 1
1990s 1
2000s 3

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.

EF0 3
EF1 2
EF2 2

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 0
Mar 0
Apr 0
May 2
Jun 2
Jul 0
Aug 1
Sep 0
Oct 1
Nov 1
Dec 0

Have any tornadoes near Lake Stevens been fatal?

No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Lake Stevens from any of the 7 tornadoes since 1950. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.

Notable Tornadoes Near Lake Stevens

Costliest Tornado
F1 on October 26, 1971 — est. ~$28K (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F1 on October 26, 1971 — 100 yards wide.
Longest Path
F1 on October 26, 1971 — 3.0 mile track.
Most Recent
F0 on June 16, 2006.

About Tornadoes in Lake Stevens

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.

Lake Stevens, Washington, has experienced seven documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records. This relatively modest tornado count reflects the Pacific Northwest's generally lower tornado frequency compared to regions east of the Rocky Mountains, where atmospheric conditions more regularly support severe thunderstorm development and tornadic activity.

The recorded tornadoes span four decades, with the earliest events occurring in the 1970s. Two tornadoes touched down during that decade, followed by one in the 1980s, one in the 1990s, and three in the 2000s. The intensity distribution shows three EF0 tornadoes, two EF1 tornadoes, and two EF2 tornadoes. The Enhanced Fujita scale, which rates tornadoes from EF0 to EF5 based on damage indicators, classifies EF0 and EF1 events as weak tornadoes with wind speeds typically below 110 miles per hour, while EF2 tornadoes produce winds between 111 and 135 miles per hour.

May has been the most active month for tornado activity in the area, with two recorded events, though tornadoes have occurred in other months as well. The most significant tornado on record struck on October 26, 1971, rated F1 on the original Fujita scale. This event carved a 3.0-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards and caused $27,500 in property damage. It stands as the costliest, widest, and longest-track tornado documented near Lake Stevens. The most recent tornado occurred on June 16, 2006, an F0-rated event that traveled half a mile with a maximum width of 50 yards and caused no reported property damage.

Notably, none of the seven tornadoes on record resulted in fatalities. This safety record, combined with the relatively low frequency and generally weak intensity of local tornadoes, characterizes the tornado climatology of the Lake Stevens area as considerably less active than many other parts of the United States.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Lake Stevens, WA had?
Since 1950, 7 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Lake Stevens. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
When is tornado season in Lake Stevens?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Lake Stevens, with 2 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
When was the most recent tornado near Lake Stevens?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Lake Stevens was a F0 on June 16, 2006.
How do I get tornado warnings for Lake Stevens?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

Official Resources

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