Altadena, CA Tornado History — 40 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Altadena, CA had?
Altadena has had 40 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Altadena?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Altadena was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in Altadena?
March is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Altadena, with 8 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
Recent Tornado Activity Near Altadena
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 6 total, averaging 0.3 per year over this window.
Tornadoes by Decade
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.
Tornadoes by Month
Have any tornadoes near Altadena been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Altadena from any of the 40 tornadoes since 1950, though 49 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Altadena
About Tornadoes in Altadena
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.
Altadena lies against the San Gabriel Mountains on the northern edge of Los Angeles County, where winter Pacific storms sweeping across the Los Angeles Basin occasionally spin up tornadoes in the surrounding valleys. The area's tornado history bears that signature, with touchdowns clustered in the cooler months from November through March.
On March 1, 1983, an F2 tornado carved a 3.5-mile path up to 100 yards wide, injuring 30 people and causing $27.5 million in property damage. The previous autumn was similarly destructive: on November 9, 1982, an F2 tracked 10 miles with a width reaching 1,300 yards and caused $2.75 million in damage, while a second F2 that same day ran a one-mile path and inflicted another $2.75 million in losses. Decades earlier, on November 7, 1966, an F2 traveled 10.3 miles and injured 10 people.
Recent seasons have kept the pattern alive with weaker storms. An EF1 touched down on March 22, 2023, during a year that also brought EF0 tornadoes on February 23 and May 4, and an EF0 was confirmed on March 13, 2025. Together these events trace a distinctly Southern California tornado climate: brief, cool-season twisters spun from landfalling storm systems rather than the supercell outbreaks familiar to the Plains.