Apple Valley, CA Tornado History — 14 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Apple Valley, CA had?
Apple Valley has had 14 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Apple Valley?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Apple Valley was an EF0 on May 7, 2017.
When is tornado season in Apple Valley?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Apple Valley, with 4 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 Apple Valley
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 2 total, averaging 0.1 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 Apple Valley been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Apple Valley from any of the 14 tornadoes since 1950. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Apple Valley
About Tornadoes in Apple Valley
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.
Apple Valley, California, situated in the high desert of San Bernardino County, has experienced 14 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records. This relatively modest tornado activity reflects the region's arid climate and distance from the moisture-rich environments that typically fuel severe thunderstorm development. Despite the desert setting, localized atmospheric conditions occasionally produce rotating storms, particularly during the spring and summer months when monsoonal moisture can interact with daytime heating.
The historical record shows considerable variation by decade, with the 1990s accounting for five tornadoes—the most active period on record for the area. The 1970s saw three events, while the 1950s, 1960s, 1980s, and 2000s each recorded just one tornado. The 2010s added two more events to the total. May has been the peak month for tornado activity with four documented occurrences, though tornadoes have touched down in various months throughout the warm season. The Enhanced Fujita scale distribution reveals that the vast majority of these tornadoes have been weak, with nine rated EF0 and four rated EF1. Only one tornado reached EF2 intensity.
None of the tornadoes recorded near Apple Valley have resulted in fatalities. The costliest event on record was an F1 tornado on September 5, 1976, which caused $27,500 in property damage along a 0.1-mile path with a maximum width of 10 yards. The widest tornado occurred on August 14, 2004, when an F0 tornado reached 800 yards in width over a one-mile path, though it caused no reported damage. The longest-tracked tornado was an F1 on May 18, 1997, which traveled 9.0 miles with a maximum width of 40 yards but also produced no damage. The most recent tornado was an EF0 on May 7, 2017, with a maximum width of 50 yards and no path length or damage recorded.
The Enhanced Fujita scale, used since 2007 to replace the original Fujita scale, estimates tornado intensity based on damage to structures and vegetation. Ratings range from EF0, indicating wind speeds of 65–85 mph, to EF5 for winds exceeding 200 mph. The preponderance of EF0 and EF1 tornadoes in the Apple Valley area is consistent with the brief, relatively weak vortices that can form in desert environments when atmospheric conditions align.