While Colorado doesn’t typically see the , it ranks ninth in the United States when it comes to tornado activity.
A chunk of the state’s Eastern Plains , and that’s where the bulk of the activity takes place.
While Colorado ranks in the top 10 states in tornado frequency, the state ranks relatively low in tornado casualties and property damage.
U.S. tornado rankings
Colorado ranks 9th in the number of tornadoes since 1950 (2,110), 32nd in injuries (289), 31st in fatalities (5) and 25th in property losses ($178.3 million). Note: Property loss estimates are from 1996 to 2016; prior to 1996, the National Weather Service estimated losses in broad categories.
Number of tornadoes
Tornado fatalities
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Since 1950, about 2,100 tornadoes have been spotted in Colorado. Since 1976, about 41 tornadoes on average are spotted every year, ranging from a low of 19 in 1978 to a high of 98 in 1996.
Colorado tornadoes by year
Tornado season in Colorado kicks off in earnest in May, with June being the most active month.
Colorado tornadoes by month
Weld County has the most reported tornadoes since 1950 — 268. In the Denver Metro area, Adams County (172) and Arapahoe County (89) have the most sightings.
Colorado tornadoes by county
Number of tornadoes
Tornado injuries
The majority of tornadoes that are spotted in Colorado have wind speeds up to 72 mph (F0 on the ). Only one F4 tornado (estimated wind speeds between 207 and 260 mph) has ever been recorded in Colorado: May 18, 1977 in Baca County, in the southeast corner of the state near the Oklahoma border. No one was injured.
An F5 tornado — winds between 261 and 318 mph — has never been recorded in Colorado.
Colorado tornadoes by F-scale
Tornadoes have killed five people and injured 289 in Colorado since 1950:
- Two people died and nine were injured in at 7:54 p.m. March 28, 2007
- Two people died and three were injured in an F3 tornado that struck in Sedgwick County at 6:45 p.m. June 27, 1960
- One person died and 78 were injured in at 11:26 a.m. May 22, 2008
Casualties in Colorado by tornado F-scale
Tornadoes can occur at any time of the day, but most often occur in late afternoon.
