Rensselaer County, New York tornadoes
10confirmed tornadoes since NOAA records began in 1950 (the first here in 1973). Most recent: August 29, 2020, EF1. 2026 so far: 0 preliminary reports preliminary
Every tornado path in the county
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.
At a glance
Deaths and injuries are NOAA's totals for each tornado's whole path, which can extend beyond Rensselaer County.
When tornadoes hit here
By month
May is the peak month, with 4 of 10 tornadoes.
By time of day
Most often around 2:00 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
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.
Notable tornadoes
All 10 tornadoes, newest first
| Date | Rating | Path length | Width | Deaths | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 2020 | EF1 | 2.17 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 21, 2003 | F1 | 4.8 mi | 90 yd | 0 | 0 |
| May 31, 1998 | F2 | 8 mi | 200 yd | 0 | 0 |
| May 31, 1998 | F3 | 30.5 mi | 970 yd | 0 | 68 |
| Apr 27, 1994 | F1 | 1.5 mi | 23 yd | 0 | 0 |
| May 2, 1992 | F1 | 2 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 0 |
| May 2, 1992 | F1 | 0.5 mi | 20 yd | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 16, 1989 | F0 | 0.1 mi | 17 yd | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 27, 1974 | F1 | 0.1 mi | 10 yd | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 28, 1973 | F2 | 2.3 mi | 83 yd | 0 | 1 |
Nearby counties
Free tornado alerts for Rensselaer County
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Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025, and SPC preliminary reports for 2026. Page built October 12, 2026.