Bellflower, CA Tornado History — 62 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Bellflower, CA had?
Bellflower has had 62 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Bellflower?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Bellflower was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in Bellflower?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Bellflower, 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 Bellflower
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 Bellflower been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Bellflower from any of the 62 tornadoes since 1950, though 52 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Bellflower
About Tornadoes in Bellflower
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.
Bellflower, California, and the surrounding 25-mile area have experienced 62 documented tornadoes since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. Unlike the central United States where tornadoes peak in spring and early summer, this region sees its highest tornado activity in January, with 12 events recorded during that month. The majority of these tornadoes have been weak, with 35 rated EF0 and 22 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage. Only five tornadoes have reached EF2 strength.
Tornado activity in the area has varied considerably by decade. The 1990s saw the most events with 18 tornadoes, followed by the 1980s with 12 occurrences. Activity declined notably in the 2010s, which recorded just 2 tornadoes, though 5 have already occurred in the 2020s. The earliest decades of the record period showed relatively sparse activity, with only 2 tornadoes in the 1950s and 9 in the 1960s.
The costliest tornado on record struck on March 1, 1983, causing $27.5 million in property damage. This F2-rated tornado carved a 3.5-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards. The widest tornado occurred on November 9, 1982, reaching 1,300 yards across and traveling 10 miles while causing $2.75 million in damage. The longest-tracked tornado moved 10.9 miles on March 17, 1977, though it was only 10 yards wide at its maximum and rated F1.
Remarkably, none of the tornadoes in this area since 1950 have resulted in recorded fatalities. The most recent tornado touched down on March 13, 2025, as an EF0 event that traveled one mile with a maximum width of 80 yards and caused no reported property damage. While tornadoes in Southern California are relatively rare compared to other parts of the country, this historical record demonstrates that they do occur with some regularity in the Bellflower vicinity.