Coronado, CA Tornado History — 12 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Coronado, CA had?
Coronado has had 12 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Coronado?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Coronado was an EF0 on September 22, 2007.
When is tornado season in Coronado?
February is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Coronado, with 5 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 Coronado
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 1 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 Coronado been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Coronado from any of the 12 tornadoes since 1950, though 1 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Coronado
About Tornadoes in Coronado
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.
Coronado, California, situated along the Pacific coast in San Diego County, experiences tornadoes far less frequently than many other regions of the United States, yet the area is not entirely immune to these atmospheric phenomena. According to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, twelve tornadoes have been documented within a 25-mile radius of Coronado since 1950, with activity distributed unevenly across the decades. The 1980s and 1990s each recorded three events, as did the 2000s, while the 1970s saw two tornadoes and only one occurred during the 1950s.
All recorded tornadoes in the Coronado area have been relatively weak on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with eight rated EF0 and four rated EF1. None of these events resulted in fatalities, reflecting both their limited intensity and the generally sparse development patterns when and where they occurred. The costliest and widest tornado on record was an F1 that struck on March 19, 1991, causing $275,000 in property damage along a one-mile path with a maximum width of 440 yards. The longest-tracked tornado was an F0 on February 8, 1998, which traveled three miles but caused no reported damage despite its 30-yard width.
February stands out as the peak month for tornado activity near Coronado, accounting for five of the twelve recorded events. This winter peak is unusual compared to the spring maximum seen in much of the continental United States, but aligns with the timing of Pacific storm systems that occasionally produce weak tornadoes along the California coast. The most recent tornado occurred on September 22, 2007, an EF0 event that traveled just one-tenth of a mile with a maximum width of only 15 yards and caused minimal damage estimated at $100.
While tornadoes remain rare in coastal Southern California, the historical record demonstrates that conditions occasionally align to produce these short-lived vortices, typically associated with winter storm fronts or unusual atmospheric instability. Residents should remain aware that tornado warnings can be issued even in regions where such events are infrequent.