Salem, Oregon tornadoes
6confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: December 14, 2010, EF2.
Every tornado path within 10 miles
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 near Salem
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At a glance
Deaths and injuries are NOAA's totals for each tornado's whole path, which can run well beyond Salem.
When tornadoes hit here
By month
September is the peak month, with 2 of 6 tornadoes.
By time of day
Most often around 12:00 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 6 tornadoes, newest first
| Date | Rating | Path length | Width | Deaths | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 14, 2010 | EF2 | 5 mi | 150 yd | 0 | 2 |
| Dec 16, 2006 | F0 | 1.5 mi | 50 yd | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 21, 2003 | F1 | 0.3 mi | 30 yd | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 17, 1997 | F0 | 0.5 mi | 10 yd | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 17, 1997 | F0 | 1 mi | 50 yd | 0 | 0 |
| May 31, 1997 | F0 | 1.5 mi | 50 yd | 0 | 0 |
Salem and its county
Salem spans 2 counties, each with its own record since 1950: Marion County (11 tornadoes) and Polk County (3). 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.