Downey, CA Tornado History — 61 Tornadoes Since 1950
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. 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 Downey
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 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. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Downey
About Tornadoes in Downey
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.
Since 1950, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Storm Prediction Center has documented 61 tornadoes within 25 miles of Downey, California. This relatively high count for a West Coast location reflects the region's susceptibility to waterspouts moving onshore and weak tornadoes associated with winter storm systems moving through Southern California. Notably, none of these events resulted in fatalities, though several caused significant property damage.
The majority of recorded tornadoes have been weak, with 34 rated EF0 and 21 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage. Only six tornadoes reached EF2 intensity. The costliest event occurred on March 1, 1983, when an F2 tornado caused $27,500,000 in property damage along a 3.5-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards. The widest tornado on record struck on November 9, 1982, reaching 1,300 yards across and traveling 10 miles, causing $2,750,000 in damage. The longest-tracked tornado occurred on March 17, 1977, traveling 10.9 miles as an F1 with a narrow 10-yard width.
Tornado activity in the Downey area peaked during the 1990s with 17 recorded events, followed by 13 in the 1980s. Activity has generally declined in recent decades, with only two tornadoes in the 2010s, though five have already occurred in the 2020s. January is the peak month for tornado activity with 12 events, reflecting the influence of Pacific storm systems during the winter months when atmospheric dynamics can occasionally produce rotating thunderstorms. This seasonal pattern differs markedly from the spring and early summer peak typical of the central United States.
The most recent tornado occurred on March 13, 2025, rated EF0 with a path length of one mile and maximum width of 80 yards, causing no injuries or property damage. This event underscores the ongoing, if infrequent, tornado risk in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area.