Moses Lake, WA Tornado History — 6 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Moses Lake, WA had?
Moses Lake has had 6 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Moses Lake?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Moses Lake was an EF0 on May 26, 2023.
When is tornado season in Moses Lake?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Moses Lake, 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 Moses Lake
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 Moses Lake been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Moses Lake from any of the 6 tornadoes since 1950. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Moses Lake
About Tornadoes in Moses Lake
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.
Moses Lake, Washington has experienced six tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since modern record-keeping began in 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This relatively low count reflects the Pacific Northwest's position outside the nation's primary tornado corridors, where cool marine air from the Pacific Ocean typically suppresses the severe thunderstorm development that spawns tornadoes.
The recorded tornadoes have been overwhelmingly weak, with five rated EF0 and only one reaching EF1 intensity on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado damage from EF0 (minor) to EF5 (strongest). None of the six events resulted in fatalities. The costliest tornado on record occurred on May 20, 2010, when an EF0 tornado carved a 0.2-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards, causing $2,000 in property damage. This same event also holds the distinction of being the widest tornado documented in the area.
Tornado activity near Moses Lake has been sporadic across the decades, with one event in the 1970s, two in the 1980s, one in the 2000s, one in the 2010s, and one in the 2020s. May stands out as the peak month for tornado occurrence, accounting for three of the six recorded events. This spring concentration aligns with broader meteorological patterns, as warmer temperatures and increased atmospheric instability during late spring create more favorable conditions for severe weather development, even in regions where tornadoes are uncommon.
The most recent tornado touched down on May 26, 2023, as an EF0 event that traveled 0.4 miles with a maximum width of 25 yards and caused no damage or injuries. The longest-tracked tornado in the area's history was an F1 that traveled one mile on August 10, 1985, with a path width of 100 yards, though it also resulted in no reported damage or casualties.