El Cajon, CA Tornado History — 13 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has El Cajon, CA had?
El Cajon has had 13 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near El Cajon?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of El Cajon was an EF0 on September 22, 2007.
When is tornado season in El Cajon?
February is historically the peak month for tornadoes near El Cajon, with 5 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 El Cajon
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 El Cajon been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of El Cajon from any of the 13 tornadoes since 1950, though 1 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near El Cajon
About Tornadoes in El Cajon
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.
El Cajon, California, located in San Diego County, experiences tornadoes far less frequently than many other parts of the United States, but the region is not entirely immune to these events. According to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, 13 tornadoes have been documented within 25 miles of El Cajon since 1950, with all of them rated EF0 or EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, indicating relatively weak intensity with maximum winds below 110 mph.
The distribution of tornadoes over time shows modest variability, with one event recorded in the 1950s, two in the 1970s, three each in the 1980s and 1990s, and four in the 2000s. Of the 13 tornadoes on record, nine were rated EF0 and four were rated EF1. Notably, none of these tornadoes resulted in any fatalities, reflecting both their limited strength and the relatively sparse development patterns in affected areas at the times of occurrence.
February stands out as the peak month for tornado activity near El Cajon, accounting for five of the 13 recorded events. This winter peak is consistent with the meteorological patterns of Southern California, where the region's tornado season differs markedly from the spring and early summer peaks common in the central United States. Cool-season storm systems moving through the area can occasionally produce the wind shear and instability necessary for tornadogenesis, though conditions rarely support the development of stronger tornadoes.
The costliest and widest tornado on record occurred on March 19, 1991, when an F1 tornado carved a one-mile path with a maximum width of 440 yards, causing $275,000 in property damage but no injuries or fatalities. The longest-track tornado was an F0 event on February 8, 1998, which traveled three miles with a narrow 30-yard width and caused no damage. The most recent tornado near El Cajon was an EF0 on September 22, 2007, which traveled just 0.1 miles with a 15-yard width and caused minimal damage estimated at $100.