Barstow Heights, CA Tornado History — 8 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Barstow Heights, CA had?
Barstow Heights has had 8 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Barstow Heights?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Barstow Heights was an EF0 on May 7, 2017.
When is tornado season in Barstow Heights?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Barstow Heights, 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 Barstow Heights
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 Barstow Heights been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Barstow Heights from any of the 8 tornadoes since 1950. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Barstow Heights
About Tornadoes in Barstow Heights
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.
Barstow Heights, California, situated in the Mojave Desert, has experienced eight documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This relatively modest total reflects the region's desert climate, where atmospheric conditions conducive to tornadic development occur far less frequently than in the central and eastern United States. Despite the arid environment, localized severe thunderstorms can occasionally produce brief tornadoes, particularly during the spring months when temperature contrasts and upper-level disturbances are most pronounced.
The historical record shows tornado activity clustered in specific decades, with four events occurring during the 1990s and two in the 2010s. Single tornadoes were documented in both the 1950s and 1980s, while other decades saw no recorded activity in the area. May has been the most active month, accounting for three of the eight tornadoes, followed by June. The majority of these events have been weak, with five rated EF0 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, two rated EF1, and only one reaching EF2 intensity.
The strongest tornado on record occurred on June 25, 1954, when an F2 tornado caused $275 in property damage along a brief 0.1-mile path with a maximum width of just 10 yards. The longest-tracked tornado traveled 9.0 miles on May 18, 1997, rated F1 with a maximum width of 40 yards, while the widest tornado—also on May 18, 1997—reached 100 yards across during a 3.5-mile path. Remarkably, none of the tornadoes recorded in the Barstow Heights area have resulted in fatalities, and most have caused minimal or no reported property damage.
The most recent tornado touched down on May 7, 2017, rated EF0 with a maximum width of 50 yards and no measurable path length, causing no damage or injuries. While tornadoes remain uncommon in this desert region compared to areas with more frequent severe weather, the historical record demonstrates that they can occur under the right atmospheric conditions, typically during the late spring months when storm systems moving through the region encounter sufficient instability and wind shear.