El Monte, CA Tornado History — 48 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has El Monte, CA had?
El Monte has had 48 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near El Monte?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of El Monte was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in El Monte?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near El Monte, with 10 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 Monte
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 El Monte been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of El Monte from any of the 48 tornadoes since 1950, though 50 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near El Monte
About Tornadoes in El Monte
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 Monte, California, situated in the San Gabriel Valley east of Los Angeles, has experienced 48 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. While tornadoes are far less common in California than in the Great Plains or Southeast, the region around El Monte sees occasional touchdowns, particularly during the winter and early spring months when Pacific storm systems can produce the atmospheric instability necessary for tornado formation.
The majority of tornadoes recorded near El Monte have been weak, with 26 rated EF0 and 18 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage. Only four events reached EF2 strength. Remarkably, no tornadoes in this area have resulted in fatalities since record-keeping began in 1950. The costliest tornado occurred on March 1, 1983, when an F2 tornado carved a 3.5-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards, causing $27.5 million in property damage. The widest tornado on record struck on November 9, 1982, reaching 1,300 yards across and traveling 10 miles, while the longest-track tornado occurred on March 17, 1977, covering 10.9 miles with a narrow 10-yard width.
Tornado activity near El Monte peaked during the 1980s and 1990s, with 11 events recorded in each decade. Activity has been lower in recent years, with only two tornadoes in the 2010s, though five have already been documented in the 2020s. January stands out as the peak month for tornado occurrence, accounting for 10 of the 48 total events. This winter peak reflects Southern California's rainy season, when cold fronts and low-pressure systems moving through the region can occasionally spawn brief tornadoes. The most recent tornado touched down on March 13, 2025, an EF0 event that traveled one mile with an 80-yard maximum width and caused no damage or injuries.