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Tornado in Fairfax County, Virginia
22 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
NCEI records 22 tornado events in Fairfax County, Virginia, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 19 years.
April is the busiest month, with 4 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 9 events against 7 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 2.4% of the 913 tornado events recorded in Virginia; its 5.6 per 100 square miles compares with 2.3 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 12 at (E)F0, 4 at (E)F1, 4 at (E)F2, 2 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Virginia
| Measure | Fairfax County | Virginia | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 22 | 913 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 5.6 | 2.3 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 0.2 | 1.1 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 39 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
3Apr
4May
0Jun
1Jul
3Aug
3Sep
4Oct
4Nov
0Dec
0
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 22 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Mar 2022 | Tornado | EF0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2022 | Tornado | EF0 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2019 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Oct 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Oct 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Sep 2004 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | 1 | County |
| 24 Sep 2001 | Tornado | F1 | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 1996 | Tornado | F2 | $4.0M | — | — | 1 | County |
| 27 Sep 1993 | Tornado | F0 | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 1992 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Oct 1990 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 1987 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Oct 1983 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 1981 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Sep 1979 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | 1 | 6 | County |
| 1 Apr 1973 | Tornado | F3 | $25M | — | — | 37 | County |
| 9 Aug 1969 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 1952 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Fairfax County had?
22 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Fairfax County?
31 Mar 2022 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Fairfax County?
The tornado of 1 Apr 1973, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25M.
How does Fairfax County compare with Virginia for tornado?
5.6 events per 100 square miles against 2.3 statewide; the county holds 22 of the state's 913 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.