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Downey, CA Tornado History — 61 Tornadoes Since 1950

California · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Downey, CA had?

Downey has had 61 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.

When was the most recent tornado near Downey?

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

When is tornado season in Downey?

January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Downey, with 12 on record. April through June account for 9 of the 61 tornadoes on record near Downey.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
61
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
0
0.0% of total
Peak Month
January
12 on record
Per Year Avg
0.8
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Downey

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 8 total, averaging 0.4 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 1

What storm spotters reported near Downey

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Downey and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on December 25, 2025 and the most recent on December 25, 2025. It is already counted in the Downey totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.

December 25, 2025
2 WSW East Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA
The National Weather Service conducted a storm survey in the neighborhood of Boyle Heights in Los Angeles County... CA for damage associated with a low-topped mini supe (LOX)

Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 2
1960s 8
1970s 6
1980s 13
1990s 17
2000s 8
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 34
EF1 21
EF2 6

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 12
Feb 10
Mar 10
Apr 2
May 6
Jun 1
Jul 0
Aug 0
Sep 3
Oct 0
Nov 9
Dec 8

Have any tornadoes near Downey been fatal?

No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Downey from any of the 61 tornadoes since 1950, though 50 injuries have been reported, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.

Notable Tornadoes Near Downey

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.

What the record shows near Downey

The 1990s were the busiest decade near Downey, with 17 of the 61 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 5 so far. The Downey record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Downey, 55 reached EF0 or EF1 and 6 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Downey is rated EF2, of which 6 are logged.

Across the last 20 years Downey has averaged 0.4 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 8 in total. 2023 was the busiest of them with 4, and 15 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Downey, CA had?
Since 1950, 61 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Downey. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
When is tornado season in Downey?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Downey, with 12 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 Downey?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Downey was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Downey?
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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