Cypress, CA Tornado History — 61 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Cypress, CA had?
Cypress has had 61 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Cypress?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Cypress was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in Cypress?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Cypress, with 12 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 Cypress
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 8 total, averaging 0.4 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 Cypress been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Cypress from any of the 61 tornadoes since 1950, though 53 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Cypress
About Tornadoes in Cypress
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.
Cypress, California, located in Orange County, has experienced 61 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. Unlike the central United States where tornadoes typically peak in spring and early summer, the area around Cypress sees its highest tornado activity in January, with 12 events recorded during that month. This winter peak reflects the influence of Pacific storm systems that can produce waterspouts over the ocean and weak tornadoes when they move onshore.
The vast majority of tornadoes in the Cypress area have been weak, with 35 rated EF0 and 21 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity from EF0 (65-85 mph winds) to EF5 (over 200 mph winds). Only five tornadoes have reached EF2 intensity. Notably, no tornadoes on record in this area have resulted in fatalities. The costliest event occurred on March 1, 1983, when an F2 tornado caused $27.5 million in property damage along a 3.5-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards.
Tornado activity in the region varied considerably by decade. The 1990s saw the highest number of events with 19 tornadoes, while the 1950s and 2010s each recorded only two. The 1980s brought 12 tornadoes, including the widest on record—an F2 tornado on November 9, 1982, that reached 1,300 yards in width and traveled 10 miles, causing $2.75 million in damage. The longest-tracked tornado occurred on March 17, 1977, when an F1 tornado traveled 10.9 miles despite being only 10 yards wide at its maximum.
The most recent tornado in the area was an EF0 event on March 13, 2025, which traveled one mile with a maximum width of 80 yards and caused no reported damage or injuries. Through the 2020s so far, five tornadoes have been documented, continuing the pattern of relatively weak, brief events typical of Southern California's coastal tornado climatology.