Artesia, CA Tornado History — 61 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Artesia, CA had?
Artesia has had 61 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Artesia?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Artesia was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in Artesia?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Artesia, with 12 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 Artesia
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 Artesia been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Artesia from any of the 61 tornadoes since 1950, though 53 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Artesia
About Tornadoes in Artesia
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.
Since 1950, the area within 25 miles of Artesia, California has experienced 61 documented tornadoes, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This record reveals a pattern quite different from the spring-dominated tornado seasons seen in the central United States. In this coastal Southern California region, January stands out as the peak month with 12 recorded events, reflecting the influence of winter storm systems moving through the area during the wet season.
The vast majority of these tornadoes have been relatively weak. Of the 61 events on record, 35 were rated EF0 and 21 were rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which classifies tornadoes based on estimated wind speeds and observed damage. Only five tornadoes reached EF2 intensity. Notably, none of the tornadoes in this dataset resulted in fatalities, though several caused significant property damage.
Tornado activity in the region peaked during the 1990s, when 19 tornadoes were recorded within the 25-mile radius. The 1980s saw 12 events, while the 2010s had just 2. The current decade has recorded 5 tornadoes through 2025, including an EF0 event on March 13, 2025 with a one-mile path length and maximum width of 80 yards that caused no damage or injuries.
The costliest tornado on record occurred on March 1, 1983, when an F2-rated tornado carved a 3.5-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards, causing $27.5 million in property damage. The widest tornado struck on November 9, 1982, reaching a maximum width of 1,300 yards as it traveled 10 miles and caused $2.75 million in damage. The longest-tracked tornado was an F1 event on March 17, 1977, which maintained a narrow 10-yard width over a 10.9-mile path, also resulting in $2.75 million in damage.