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Compton, CA Tornado History — 54 Tornadoes Since 1950

California · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Compton, CA had?

Compton has had 54 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.

When was the most recent tornado near Compton?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Compton was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.

When is tornado season in Compton?

January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Compton, with 11 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 Since 1950
54
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
0
0.0% of total
Peak Month
January
11 on record
Per Year Avg
0.7
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Compton

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 7 total, averaging 0.3 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 1
2024 0
2023 4
2022 0
2021 0
2020 0
2019 0
2018 0
2017 0
2016 0
2015 0
2014 1
2013 0
2012 0
2011 0
2010 1
2009 0
2008 0
2007 0

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 2
1960s 6
1970s 5
1980s 12
1990s 15
2000s 7
2010s 2
2020s 5

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.

EF0 29
EF1 19
EF2 6

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 11
Feb 8
Mar 10
Apr 1
May 5
Jun 1
Jul 0
Aug 0
Sep 2
Oct 0
Nov 8
Dec 8

Have any tornadoes near Compton been fatal?

No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Compton from any of the 54 tornadoes since 1950, though 50 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.

Notable Tornadoes Near Compton

Costliest Tornado
F2 on March 1, 1983 — est. ~$27.5M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F2 on November 9, 1982 — 1,300 yards wide.
Longest Path
F1 on March 16, 1977 — 10.9 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on March 13, 2025.

About Tornadoes in Compton

This overview was written July 28, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.

Compton sits on the flat coastal plain of southern Los Angeles County, between downtown Los Angeles and the harbor at Long Beach, and its tornado history reads nothing like the Plains': the twisters here ride in on cool-season Pacific storms, clustering from November through the end of the rainy season in early spring.

Some of those storms have hit hard. On November 7, 1966, an F2 tornado carved a 10.3-mile path roughly 50 yards wide, injuring 10 people and causing $275,000 in property damage. On November 9, 1982, another F2 tracked 10 miles across the basin, spreading to 1,300 yards wide and leaving $2,750,000 in damage. And on March 1, 1983, an F2 cut a 3.5-mile path up to 100 yards across, injuring 30 people and doing $27.5 million in property damage.

The modern era has kept to the same season. An EF1 touched down on January 19, 2010, and an EF0 on December 12, 2014. In 2023, one stormy stretch produced an EF0 on February 23, an EF1 on March 22, and EF0 touchdowns on May 4; an EF0 on March 13, 2025 continued the late-winter pattern.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Compton, CA had?
Since 1950, 54 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Compton. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
When is tornado season in Compton?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Compton, with 11 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
When was the most recent tornado near Compton?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Compton was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Compton?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

Official Resources

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