Spokane Valley, WA Tornado History — 17 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Spokane Valley, WA had?
Spokane Valley has had 17 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Spokane Valley?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Spokane Valley was an EF0 on April 18, 2024.
When is tornado season in Spokane Valley?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Spokane Valley, with 6 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 Spokane Valley
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 5 total, averaging 0.3 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 Spokane Valley been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Spokane Valley from any of the 17 tornadoes since 1950. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Spokane Valley
About Tornadoes in Spokane Valley
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.
Spokane Valley, Washington, sits in a region not typically associated with frequent tornado activity, yet records from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center document 17 tornadoes within 25 miles of the city since 1950. This modest total reflects the Pacific Northwest's generally lower tornado frequency compared to the central United States, though the area is not immune to these weather events. All recorded tornadoes have been rated EF2 or lower on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage, with the majority classified as EF0, indicating wind speeds of 65–85 mph.
Tornado activity in the Spokane Valley area has been relatively consistent across the decades, with a slight uptick in the 1990s when four tornadoes were recorded. The 1950s saw two events, followed by single tornadoes in the 1960s and 1970s. Three tornadoes occurred in the 1980s, one in the 2000s, two in the 2010s, and three in the 2020s. The distribution by intensity shows 10 EF0 tornadoes, 5 EF1 tornadoes with winds of 86–110 mph, and 2 EF2 tornadoes with winds of 111–135 mph.
May stands out as the peak month for tornado occurrence, accounting for six of the 17 recorded events. This aligns with broader national patterns, as spring months typically see increased severe weather due to the collision of warm, moist air masses with cooler systems. The costliest tornado on record struck on May 7, 2022, an EF0 event that caused $40,000 in property damage along a 2.1-mile path with a maximum width of 250 yards. The widest tornado, rated F0, occurred on September 10, 1994, reaching 500 yards across during its half-mile track and causing $27,500 in damage.
Remarkably, none of the tornadoes recorded near Spokane Valley have resulted in fatalities. The longest-tracked tornado was an F1 event on May 31, 1997, which traveled five miles with a narrow 50-yard width and caused no reported property damage. Most recently, an EF0 tornado touched down on April 18, 2024, with a minimal five-yard width and no recorded damage or injuries, continuing the area's fortunate history of relatively weak tornado events.