Updated: 8 August 2012

The values in this report are preliminary, and the final counts and results will change as tornado events are investigated and confirmed. This month’s report will not be updated with final statistics. For final information please visit the following sites:



According to data from the Storm Prediction Center, during July, there were only 24 preliminary tornado reports. This is the least number of tornadoes reported during the month since 23 tornadoes occurred in July 1950 and July 1951. It is possible the number will be revised lower once storm surveys are completed. On average, the U.S. experiences 134 tornadoes during July. This also marks the least active tornado month since January 2011, when 16 tornadoes were confirmed. The weather pattern during the month that contributed to the low tornado count was also associated with the worsening drought conditions that impacted over 60 percent of the country.

On July 28th, a tornado touched down along the northeastern slope of Mount Evans in Colorado at an elevation of approximately 11,900 feet above sea level. The location was remote and no structural damage or injuries were reported. The tornado was uncommon due to the high elevation of its occurrence, marking the second highest elevation at which a tornado has been observed in the nation. Mountainous terrain and high elevations typically create unfavorable conditions for tornadoes, making these events rare, but not impossible. The highest elevation of an observed tornado in the country occurred in July 2004 at 12,000 feet above sea level in California’s Sequoia National Park.

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Citing This Report

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Monthly Tornadoes Report for July 2012, published online August 2012, retrieved on March 29, 2024 from https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/tornadoes/201207.