While Colorado doesn’t typically see the massive tornadoes that hit Oklahoma, Texas and the southeast, it ranks 10th in the United States when it comes to tornado activity.
A chunk of Colorado’s Eastern Plains does lie in Tornado Alley, which is where the bulk of the state’s activity takes place.
[ Related: U.S. tornadoes 1950-2017: Interactive maps and charts ]
While Colorado ranks in the top 10 states for tornado frequency, the state ranks relatively low in tornado-related injuries and deaths.
U.S. tornado rankings
Colorado ranks 10th in the number of tornadoes since 1950 (2,129), 32nd in injuries (289) and 31st in fatalities (5).
Number of tornadoes
Tornado fatalities
[ Related: U.S. tornadoes 1950-2014: Interactive map and charts ]
Colorado tornadoes by year
Since 1950, 2,129 tornadoes have been spotted in Colorado. Since 1980, about 41 tornadoes on average are spotted every year, ranging from a low of 19 last year to a high of 98 in 1996.
Colorado tornadoes by month
Tornado season in Colorado kicks off in earnest in May, with June being the most active month.
Colorado tornadoes by county
Weld County has the most reported tornadoes since 1950 — 269. In the Denver Metro area, Adams County (172) and Arapahoe County (91) have the most sightings. Denver ties for 22nd with 16 sightings.
Number of tornadoes
Tornado injuries
The majority of tornadoes that are spotted in Colorado have wind speeds between 65 and 85 mph (F0 on the Enhanced F-Scale). Only one F4 tornado (estimated wind speeds between 166 and 200 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 more than 200 mph — has never been recorded in Colorado.
Colorado tornadoes by F-scale
Casualties in Colorado by tornado F-scale
Tornadoes have killed five people and injured 289 in Colorado since 1950:
- Two people died and nine were injured in an F3 tornado that struck Holly in Prowers County 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 an F3 tornado that struck Windsor in Weld County at 11:26 a.m. May 22, 2008
Colorado tornadoes by time of day
Tornadoes can occur at any time of the day, but most often occur in late afternoon.
