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Aliso Viejo, CA Tornado History — 29 Tornadoes Since 1950

California · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Aliso Viejo, CA had?

Aliso Viejo has had 29 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.

When was the most recent tornado near Aliso Viejo?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Aliso Viejo was an EF1 on January 19, 2010.

When is tornado season in Aliso Viejo?

January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Aliso Viejo, with 7 on record. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
29
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
0
0.0% of total
Peak Month
January
7 on record
Per Year Avg
0.4
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Aliso Viejo

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 2 total, averaging 0.1 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 0
2024 0
2023 0
2022 0
2021 0
2020 0
2019 0
2018 0
2017 0
2016 0
2015 0
2014 0
2013 0
2012 0
2011 0
2010 1
2009 0
2008 0
2007 1

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 1
1960s 4
1970s 2
1980s 6
1990s 12
2000s 3
2010s 1

Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating

F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.

EF0 15
EF1 13
EF2 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 7
Feb 6
Mar 3
Apr 2
May 0
Jun 0
Jul 0
Aug 0
Sep 1
Oct 0
Nov 6
Dec 4

Have any tornadoes near Aliso Viejo been fatal?

No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Aliso Viejo from any of the 29 tornadoes since 1950, though 7 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.

Notable Tornadoes Near Aliso Viejo

Costliest Tornado
F0 on January 17, 1993 — est. ~$2.8M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F1 on November 11, 1997 — 200 yards wide.
Longest Path
F1 on March 16, 1977 — 10.9 mile track.
Most Recent
EF1 on January 19, 2010.

About Tornadoes in Aliso Viejo

This overview was written July 28, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.

Aliso Viejo sits in the San Joaquin Hills of southern Orange County, only a few miles inland from the Pacific, and the tornadoes documented within 25 miles of the city reflect that coastal setting: they arrive mostly with the cool-season storm systems that push ashore from late fall through early spring, rather than in the springtime peak familiar to the Plains.

That pattern showed early. On November 7, 1966, an F2 tornado touched down in the area, cutting a short path about 0.2 miles long and roughly 10 yards wide and causing $2,750 in property damage; an F1 was recorded the same day. Winter dates recur through the years that followed — an F1 on January 31, 1979, F0 and F1 tornadoes on November 9, 1982, and F1 touchdowns on December 7, 1992, followed within weeks by an F0 on December 29, 1992 and F0 tornadoes on January 18, 1993. The late 1990s brought more cool-season activity, including F1 tornadoes on November 11, 1997 and December 21, 1997 and an F0 on February 24, 1998.

More recent events have stayed in character: an EF0 on September 22, 2007 and an EF1 on January 19, 2010, both weak tornadoes of the kind Pacific fronts occasionally spin up over coastal Southern California.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Aliso Viejo, CA had?
Since 1950, 29 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Aliso Viejo. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
When is tornado season in Aliso Viejo?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Aliso Viejo, with 7 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
When was the most recent tornado near Aliso Viejo?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Aliso Viejo was an EF1 on January 19, 2010.
How do I get tornado warnings for Aliso Viejo?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

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