Belmont, CA Tornado History — 10 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Belmont, CA had?
Belmont has had 10 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Belmont?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Belmont was a F1 on March 20, 2005.
When is tornado season in Belmont?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Belmont, with 2 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
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 Belmont been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Belmont from any of the 10 tornadoes since 1950, though 3 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Belmont
About Tornadoes in Belmont
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.
Belmont, California, located on the San Francisco Peninsula, experiences tornadoes far less frequently than many other parts of the United States, but the region is not entirely immune to these atmospheric phenomena. According to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, ten tornadoes have been documented within 25 miles of Belmont since 1950, with activity concentrated primarily in the 1990s, when five events occurred. The area saw two tornadoes each in the 1950s and 1980s, and one in the 2000s, with no recorded events in the 1960s, 1970s, or since 2005.
The tornadoes recorded near Belmont have been relatively weak by national standards. Four events were rated EF0, four were rated EF1, and two reached EF2 intensity on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which classifies tornadoes based on estimated wind speeds and resulting damage. Notably, none of these tornadoes resulted in fatalities. The costliest and longest-tracked tornado occurred on January 11, 1951, when an F2 tornado carved a 5.7-mile path with a maximum width of just 10 yards, causing $2.75 million in property damage. The widest tornado on record reached 100 yards across during a brief 0.6-mile track on May 6, 1998.
Unlike much of the central United States, where tornado activity peaks in spring and early summer, the Belmont area shows an unusual seasonal pattern. January has been the most active month, with two recorded events, reflecting the influence of Pacific storm systems that can occasionally produce weak tornadoes during the winter months along the California coast. This pattern differs markedly from the traditional tornado season associated with warm-season severe thunderstorms in other regions.
The most recent tornado near Belmont touched down on March 20, 2005, as an F1 event that traveled three miles with a maximum width of 30 yards. Since then, no tornadoes have been documented within the 25-mile search radius, though residents should remain aware that California's Mediterranean climate and coastal geography can still support isolated tornado development under the right atmospheric conditions.