East Los Angeles, CA Tornado History — 48 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has East Los Angeles, CA had?
East Los Angeles has had 48 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near East Los Angeles?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of East Los Angeles was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in East Los Angeles?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near East Los Angeles, with 9 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 East Los Angeles
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 7 total, averaging 0.3 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 East Los Angeles been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of East Los Angeles from any of the 48 tornadoes since 1950, though 50 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near East Los Angeles
About Tornadoes in East Los Angeles
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.
East Los Angeles, California has experienced 48 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records. While tornadoes in Southern California are far less frequent than in the Great Plains, the region does see periodic tornado activity, particularly during the winter and early spring months when atmospheric conditions occasionally support rotating thunderstorms.
The historical record shows notable variation across decades, with the 1980s recording the highest activity at 12 tornadoes, followed by 11 in the 1990s. The 1950s and 2010s each saw only 2 tornadoes, while the 1960s, 1970s, 2000s, and 2020s recorded between 5 and 6 events each. January stands out as the peak month for tornado occurrence in this area with 9 events on record, reflecting the influence of winter storm systems moving through the region.
The vast majority of tornadoes near East Los Angeles have been relatively weak on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which rates tornado intensity from EF0 to EF5 based on damage indicators. Of the 48 recorded events, 26 were rated EF0, 17 were rated EF1, and only 5 reached EF2 intensity. Remarkably, none of these tornadoes resulted in fatalities. The costliest tornado occurred on March 1, 1983, when an F2-rated storm caused $27.5 million in property damage along a 3.5-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards. The widest tornado on record touched down on November 9, 1982, reaching 1,300 yards in width and traveling 10 miles, while the longest-tracked tornado occurred on March 17, 1977, covering 10.9 miles.
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. This recent activity serves as a reminder that while tornadoes are uncommon in the Los Angeles basin, they remain a meteorological possibility that residents should be aware of during severe weather events.