Denver Tornadoes
Denver tornadoes: history including 1988 airport EF3, 2008 Windsor, and Front Range storms. Colorado metro tornado safety guide.
Notable Denver Metro Events
1988 Denver Airport area F3 tornado struck the future DIA site during construction.
2008 Windsor EF3 hit the northern Front Range foothills.
Multiple weak tornadoes across eastern metro annually.
Regular late-spring supercell activity in eastern Colorado.
Why Denver Sees Tornadoes
Eastern plains position at edge of Tornado Alley.
Dry line often forms across eastern Colorado.
Foothills interact with warm surface air.
May-July peak season.
Rocky Mountains limit western tornadoes but eastern metro is exposed.
Neighborhoods at Higher Risk
Aurora - eastern Denver metro
Commerce City - northern metro
Northglenn/Thornton - northern
Eastern DIA area
Prairie communities east of I-25
Living in Denver Metro
NOAA weather radio recommended for eastern residents
Basement or interior room shelter
Understand Colorado seasonal peak
Storm chase interest common along Front Range
Try the interactive simulator
Place an EF0–EF5 tornado anywhere in the world and see modeled fatalities, structural damage, and economic loss based on real census data.
Launch simulator →Try the interactive simulator
Place an EF0–EF5 tornado anywhere in the world and see modeled fatalities, structural damage, and economic loss based on real census data.
Launch simulator →