Tornado History

California Tornado History

This page summarizes tornado history for California. The local dataset contains 440 tornado records from 1951 through 2025, with a strongest listed rating of F3 (Severe damage) and at least $122.7M in reported property damage. The latest tornado record in this group is April 1, 2025. Across these records, NOAA lists 0 deaths and 94 injuries.

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440recorded tornadoes
F3 (Severe damage)highest rating
$122.7Mminimum property damage
April 1, 2025latest tornado
26.37 milongest listed path
1300 ydwidest listed path

Historical Track Sketch

F3 February 9, 19781978F3 August 16, 19731973F2 March 1, 19831983F2 May 5, 19981998F2 January 11, 19511951F2 November 9, 19821982F2 November 9, 19821982F2 September 24, 19861986EF2 May 22, 20082008F2 November 7, 19661966F2 February 7, 19781978F2 April 5, 19801980EF2 May 25, 20112011F2 June 1, 19581958F2 May 9, 1980F2 September 7, 1982F2 May 19, 1953F2 April 27, 1953F2 March 29, 1958F2 March 22, 1962F2 November 7, 1966F2 November 7, 1966F2 April 5, 1980F2 March 11, 1985F2 June 25, 1954EF2 September 5, 2020EF1 August 6, 2015F1 March 16, 1977F1 February 19, 1980F1 March 16, 1986F1 December 17, 1992F1 December 5, 1998EF1 November 15, 2015EF1 December 24, 2015F1 March 20, 2005EF1 January 19, 2010EF1 January 17, 2019F1 December 16, 2002F1 May 5, 1998F1 March 4, 1978F1 January 14, 1980F1 March 22, 1983F1 March 22, 1983F1 April 19, 1988F1 March 17, 1991F1 March 19, 1991F1 February 28, 1991F1 December 2, 1992F1 December 6, 1992F1 December 7, 1992F1 November 22, 1996F1 December 20, 2001F1 December 23, 1996EF1 May 25, 2011F1 January 27, 2005EF1 May 25, 2011F1 May 20, 2002F1 February 14, 1998F1 February 19, 2005F1 November 10, 2000EF1 March 18, 2011F1 November 22, 1996F1 April 13, 1956F1 October 8, 1961F1 May 14, 1962F1 November 25, 1965F1 July 20, 1974F1 February 20, 1980F1 November 9, 1982F1 March 28, 1982F1 February 27, 1983F1 April 19, 1988F1 December 2, 1992F1 December 2, 1992F1 December 17, 1992F1 December 30, 1992EF1 January 23, 2010F1 January 8, 2005EF1 March 11, 2023EF1 December 19, 2023© OpenStreetMap contributors

Rating Breakdown

  • F3 (Severe damage)2
  • F2 (Considerable damage)21
  • EF2 (Considerable damage)3
  • F1 (Moderate damage)73
  • EF1 (Moderate damage)28
  • F0 (Light damage)174
  • EF0 (Light damage)95
  • Unknown rating38
  • Unknown rating6

Most Active Years

  • 200530
  • 199823
  • 199622
  • 199220
  • 199116
  • 201915
  • 197814
  • 198214

Notable Tornado Records

The table highlights the strongest and most damaging records in this page's local dataset. Damage totals are NOAA-reported minimum estimates where available.

DateRatingAreaLengthWidthDeathsInjuriesMin. property damage
February 9, 1978F3Orange, California2 mi67 yd06$2.5M
August 16, 1973F3Riverside, California0 mi33 yd00$25K
March 1, 1983F2Los Angeles, California3.5 mi100 yd030$25.0M
May 5, 1998F2Santa Clara, California0.6 mi100 yd01$3.8M
January 11, 1951F2Santa Clara, California5.7 mi33 yd00$2.5M
November 9, 1982F2Los Angeles, California1 mi150 yd00$2.5M
November 9, 1982F2Los Angeles, California10 mi1300 yd00$2.5M
September 24, 1986F2Tehama, California2 mi100 yd01$2.5M
May 22, 2008EF2Riverside, California2.8 mi75 yd01$350K
November 7, 1966F2Los Angeles, California10.3 mi50 yd010$250K
February 7, 1978F2Sacramento, California1.9 mi20 yd00$250K
April 5, 1980F2Kings, California8.9 mi10 yd01$250K

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Source And Limits

Data source: NOAA/NCEI. TornadoTrace summarizes historical records for screening and research. Coordinates, damage estimates, narratives, and event details can be approximate, incomplete, revised, or missing. Do not use this page as legal, insurance, engineering, real estate, emergency management, or safety advice.