Anaheim, CA Tornado History — 59 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Anaheim, CA had?
Anaheim has had 59 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Anaheim?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Anaheim was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in Anaheim?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Anaheim, with 11 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 Anaheim
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 8 total, averaging 0.4 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 Anaheim been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Anaheim from any of the 59 tornadoes since 1950, though 20 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Anaheim
About Tornadoes in Anaheim
This overview was written April 23, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Anaheim, California, located in Orange County, has experienced 59 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. Unlike the central United States where tornadoes peak during spring and early summer, the Anaheim area sees its highest tornado activity in January, with 11 events recorded during that month. This winter peak reflects the influence of Pacific storm systems that can produce weak tornadoes when atmospheric conditions align during the region's wet season.
The vast majority of tornadoes near Anaheim have been weak, with 34 rated EF0 and 21 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest). Only four tornadoes have reached EF2 intensity. Remarkably, no tornadoes in the area have resulted in fatalities since record-keeping began in 1950. The costliest event occurred on January 18, 1993, when an F0 tornado caused $2.75 million in property damage despite having a path length of just 0.1 miles and a maximum width of only 10 yards.
Tornado frequency in the region varied considerably by decade, with the 1990s recording the most activity at 18 events, while the 1970s and 2010s each saw only two tornadoes. The widest tornado on record was an F2 that carved a 10-mile path on November 9, 1982, reaching a maximum width of 1,300 yards and causing $2.75 million in damage. The longest-track tornado occurred on March 17, 1977, when an F1 traveled 10.9 miles, though it remained narrow at just 10 yards wide.
The most recent tornado struck on March 13, 2025, an EF0 event with a one-mile path and maximum width of 80 yards that caused no damage or injuries. While tornadoes remain relatively uncommon in Southern California compared to other regions of the country, the historical record demonstrates that they do occur and are most likely during the winter and early spring months when storm systems from the Pacific Ocean bring unstable atmospheric conditions to the area.