Campbell, CA Tornado History — 13 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Campbell, CA had?
Campbell has had 13 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Campbell?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Campbell was an EF1 on December 14, 2024.
When is tornado season in Campbell?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Campbell, with 4 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 Campbell
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 3 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 Campbell been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Campbell from any of the 13 tornadoes since 1950, though 8 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Campbell
About Tornadoes in Campbell
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.
Campbell, California, located in the Santa Clara Valley, has experienced 13 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This relatively modest tornado count reflects the region's position along the Pacific Coast, where atmospheric conditions conducive to tornado formation occur far less frequently than in the central United States. The tornadoes recorded here have all been weak to moderate in intensity, with six rated EF0, five rated EF1, and two rated EF2 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado strength based on damage indicators.
Tornado activity in the Campbell area shows an unusual seasonal pattern compared to most of the country. January stands out as the peak month with four recorded events, a reflection of the Pacific storm systems that can produce brief, weak tornadoes during the winter rainy season. This winter concentration contrasts sharply with the spring and early summer peak typical of the Great Plains, where warm, moist air colliding with dry air masses creates the most favorable tornado conditions. The area saw its highest activity during the 1990s, when five tornadoes occurred within the 25-mile radius.
The costliest and longest-tracked tornado on record struck on January 11, 1951, an F2-rated event that carved a 5.7-mile path with a maximum width of just 10 yards. Despite its relatively strong rating, this narrow tornado caused $2,750,000 in property damage but resulted in no fatalities. The widest tornado, by contrast, was an F0 that touched down on December 6, 1998, reaching 100 yards in width along a one-mile path but causing no reported damage. No tornadoes in the historical record for this area have resulted in any deaths.
The most recent tornado occurred on December 14, 2024, an EF1 event with a 30-yard maximum width and a 0.3-mile path length. Like all tornadoes documented near Campbell, it produced no fatalities, with minimal reported damage. The area's tornado history demonstrates that while these events do occur in Northern California, they remain infrequent and generally less intense than those observed in more tornado-prone regions of the United States.