Thornton, Colorado tornadoes

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43confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Thornton since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: July 29, 2022, EFU.

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Map

Every tornado path within 10 miles

Fromto

Tornado paths, 1950 to 2025

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(E)F0(E)F1(E)F2(E)F3(E)F4(E)F5Unrated

Each path is a straight line from where the tornado started to where it ended, which is all most NOAA records hold. Tap a path for its details.

Recent warnings

Recent warnings near Thornton

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The record

At a glance

Total43within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025

Per year0.6average since 1950

Peak monthJune21 of 43

StrongestF2May 30, 1976

Deaths0whole paths, see note

Injuries46whole paths, see note

Deaths and injuries are NOAA's totals for each tornado's whole path, which can run well beyond Thornton.

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

June is the peak month, with 21 of 43 tornadoes.

By time of day

Most often around 4:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

The line is the five-year average. Tornadoes before about 1953 were under-reported, and better radar since the 1990s finds more weak ones.

By rating

EF0

EF1

EF2

Unknown

Ratings before February 2007 use the original F scale; the numbers line up with today's EF scale. Unknown means NOAA could not assign a rating.

The record

Notable tornadoes

Strongest

All 43 tornadoes, newest first

Tornadoes, newest first
Date	Rating	Path length	Width	Injuries
Jul 29, 2022	EFU	0.01 mi	50 yd	0
May 26, 2010	EF0	0.1 mi	50 yd	0
Jun 7, 2009	EF0	0.56 mi	50 yd	0
May 24, 2009	EF0	0.1 mi	50 yd	0
May 22, 2008	EF1	0.1 mi	100 yd	1
Jul 8, 2005	F0	0.1 mi	50 yd	0
Oct 4, 2004	F0	0.1 mi	50 yd	0
Oct 4, 2004	F1	0.1 mi	50 yd	0
Oct 4, 2004	F0	0.1 mi	50 yd	0
May 8, 2003	F0	0.1 mi	50 yd	0
Jun 20, 2001	F0	0.1 mi	25 yd	0
Aug 10, 1999	F0	0.1 mi	n/a	0
Jun 22, 1997	F1	0.1 mi	50 yd	0
Jul 12, 1996	F0	0.1 mi	50 yd	0
Jun 22, 1996	F0	0.1 mi	50 yd	0
Jun 6, 1995	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
Jun 20, 1992	F0	0.8 mi	23 yd	0
Jun 20, 1992	F0	0.5 mi	50 yd	0
Jun 20, 1992	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
Aug 22, 1991	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
Jul 9, 1990	F0	0.3 mi	20 yd	0
Jun 30, 1990	F0	0.1 mi	20 yd	0
Jun 1, 1990	F0	0.1 mi	13 yd	0
May 29, 1990	F1	1.1 mi	50 yd	0
Jun 22, 1988	F1	0.5 mi	40 yd	0
Jun 15, 1988	F1	1 mi	100 yd	0
Jun 8, 1988	F1	0.5 mi	30 yd	0
Jun 5, 1988	F2	0.5 mi	50 yd	0
Jun 5, 1988	F2	2 mi	50 yd	0
Apr 21, 1988	F0	0.2 mi	30 yd	0
Jul 26, 1985	F1	0.5 mi	50 yd	3
Jun 3, 1981	F2	2.3 mi	133 yd	42
Jun 2, 1981	F1	0.5 mi	50 yd	0
May 28, 1981	F1	0.1 mi	30 yd	0
Jun 4, 1976	F0	0.1 mi	20 yd	0
Jun 4, 1976	F0	0.1 mi	20 yd	0
Jun 4, 1976	F0	0.1 mi	20 yd	0
May 30, 1976	F2	5.4 mi	67 yd	0
Apr 19, 1971	F1	0.2 mi	27 yd	0
Jul 3, 1967	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
May 30, 1967	F1	0.5 mi	17 yd	0
Jun 30, 1965	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
Apr 25, 1954	F1	0.1 mi	17 yd	0

Nearby

Thornton and its county

Thornton spans 2 counties, each with its own record since 1950: Adams County (194 tornadoes) and Weld County (300). A county's record counts every tornado inside its borders, while this page counts every path within 10 miles of the city, so the two overlap without matching.

Nearby cities

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Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025. City point and population: US Census Bureau, 2024. Each path is a straight line between NOAA's start and end points.