Arroyo Grande, CA Tornado History — 5 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Arroyo Grande, CA had?
Arroyo Grande has had 5 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Arroyo Grande?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Arroyo Grande was an EF1 on February 7, 2024.
When is tornado season in Arroyo Grande?
February is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Arroyo Grande, with 3 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 Arroyo Grande
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 Arroyo Grande been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Arroyo Grande from any of the 5 tornadoes since 1950. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Arroyo Grande
About Tornadoes in Arroyo Grande
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.
Arroyo Grande, California, has experienced five documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records. This relatively low frequency reflects the region's coastal California location, where atmospheric conditions conducive to tornado formation occur far less often than in the central and southeastern United States. All recorded tornadoes have been rated EF0 or EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, indicating wind speeds below 110 mph and generally minor damage potential.
The temporal distribution of these events shows notable clustering in recent decades, with one tornado in the 1990s, two in the 2000s, and two in the 2020s. No tornadoes were recorded in the area during the 1950s through 1980s. February stands out as the peak month for tornado activity, accounting for three of the five total events. This winter concentration aligns with the season when Pacific storm systems occasionally produce the wind shear and instability necessary for tornadic development along California's central coast.
The most significant tornado on record occurred on February 7, 2024, an EF1-rated event that traveled 4.9 miles with a maximum width of 50 yards. This tornado holds the distinction of being both the longest-tracked and widest tornado documented near Arroyo Grande, as well as the most recent. Despite its relatively strong rating for the area, it caused no reported property damage and no fatalities. In fact, none of the five tornadoes on record have resulted in any deaths, and no damage figures have been recorded for any of these events.
The Enhanced Fujita scale, used to rate tornado intensity based on damage indicators, ranges from EF0 (65-85 mph winds) to EF5 (over 200 mph winds). The three EF0 tornadoes and two EF1 tornadoes recorded near Arroyo Grande all fall at the lower end of this spectrum, consistent with the weaker tornadic environments typically found in coastal California compared to regions where stronger tornadoes are more common.