Cupertino, CA Tornado History — 9 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Cupertino, CA had?
Cupertino has had 9 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Cupertino?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Cupertino was an EF1 on December 14, 2024.
When is tornado season in Cupertino?
December is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Cupertino, with 3 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 Cupertino
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 Cupertino been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Cupertino from any of the 9 tornadoes since 1950, though 8 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Cupertino
About Tornadoes in Cupertino
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.
Cupertino, California has experienced 9 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This relatively modest total reflects the rarity of tornadoes along the central California coast compared to the nation's more active tornado regions. The majority of these events have been weak, with 4 rated EF0 and 3 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest). Two tornadoes reached EF2 intensity, capable of causing considerable damage to structures.
Tornado activity near Cupertino has been sporadic across the decades. The area recorded one tornado in the 1950s, another in the 1980s, then a notable cluster of 6 tornadoes during the 1990s. The most recent event occurred on December 14, 2024, when an EF1 tornado with a 30-yard maximum width traveled 0.3 miles, causing minimal reported damage. Remarkably, none of the tornadoes on record in this area have resulted in fatalities.
December stands out as the peak month for tornado activity near Cupertino, with 3 events recorded during that month. This winter peak differs from the typical spring and early summer tornado season observed across much of the United States, reflecting the unique meteorological patterns of California's coastal and inland valley regions where cool-season storm systems can occasionally produce rotating thunderstorms.
The costliest and longest-tracked tornado on record occurred on January 11, 1951, when an F2 tornado carved a 5.7-mile path with a maximum width of just 10 yards. This narrow but intense tornado caused $2,750,000 in property damage, a substantial sum for that era. In contrast, the widest tornado reached 100 yards across on December 6, 1998, though this F0-rated event caused no reported property damage and traveled only 1.0 mile. The historical record demonstrates that while tornadoes do occur in the Cupertino area, they remain infrequent and have fortunately not resulted in loss of life.