Arcadia, CA Tornado History — 39 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Arcadia, CA had?
Arcadia has had 39 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Arcadia?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Arcadia was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in Arcadia?
March is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Arcadia, with 9 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 Arcadia
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 Arcadia been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Arcadia from any of the 39 tornadoes since 1950, though 49 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Arcadia
About Tornadoes in Arcadia
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.
Arcadia lies in Los Angeles County at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains, and the tornadoes documented within 25 miles of the city have overwhelmingly arrived with the cool-season Pacific storm systems that sweep the San Gabriel Valley between late fall and early spring.
On March 1, 1983, an F2 tornado carved a 3.5-mile path up to 100 yards wide through the area, injuring 30 people and causing $27.5 million in property damage. The area had seen destructive weather just months earlier: on November 9, 1982, an F2 tracked 10 miles with a path as much as 1,300 yards across, causing $2,750,000 in damage, and a second F2 the same day cut a shorter, one-mile swath. A generation before that, on November 7, 1966, an F2 traveled 10.3 miles and injured 10 people.
Later touchdowns have generally been weaker but follow the same seasonal rhythm. An EF0 touched down on December 12, 2014, and a stormy stretch in 2023 brought an EF0 on February 23, an EF1 on March 22, and further EF0 touchdowns on May 4 — a reminder that the season can stretch into late spring. On March 13, 2025, another EF0 touched down in the area, continuing the pattern of brief, weak tornadoes spun up by winter and springtime storms crossing the valley.