Bell, CA Tornado History — 55 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Bell, CA had?
Bell has had 55 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Bell?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Bell was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in Bell?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Bell, 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 Bell
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 7 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 Bell been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Bell from any of the 55 tornadoes since 1950, though 50 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Bell
About Tornadoes in Bell
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.
Bell, California, a city in Los Angeles County, has experienced 55 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This tornado activity reflects the broader pattern of weak tornadoes that occasionally develop in Southern California, typically associated with winter storm systems moving through the region rather than the classic supercell thunderstorms common in other parts of the country.
The temporal distribution of these events shows considerable variation across decades. Tornado reports increased from just 2 in the 1950s to a peak of 15 in the 1990s, before declining to 2 in the 2010s and rising again to 5 in the 2020s through early 2025. The majority of recorded tornadoes have been weak, with 31 rated EF0 and 19 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage. Only 5 tornadoes reached EF2 intensity, and none have been rated higher. Notably, no tornadoes in this area have resulted in recorded fatalities since 1950.
Unlike much of the United States where tornado season peaks in spring and early summer, the Bell area shows a distinct pattern with January as the most active month, accounting for 12 events. This winter peak aligns with Southern California's rainy season, when atmospheric conditions occasionally become favorable for tornado development. The costliest tornado on record occurred on March 1, 1983, when an F2-rated tornado caused $27.5 million in property damage along a 3.5-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards. The widest tornado, also rated F2, touched down on November 9, 1982, reaching 1,300 yards in width and traveling 10 miles while causing $2.75 million in damage.
The most recent tornado occurred on March 13, 2025, when an EF0 tornado traveled one mile with a maximum width of 80 yards, causing no injuries or property damage. The longest-tracked tornado in the area's history was an F1 event on March 17, 1977, which maintained contact with the ground for 10.9 miles despite being only 10 yards wide at its maximum, causing $2.75 million in damage.