Fontana, CA Tornado History — 16 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Fontana, CA had?
Fontana has had 16 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Fontana?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Fontana was an EF0 on September 9, 2012.
When is tornado season in Fontana?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Fontana, 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 Fontana
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 5 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 Fontana been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Fontana from any of the 16 tornadoes since 1950, though 1 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Fontana
About Tornadoes in Fontana
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.
Fontana, California, located in San Bernardino County east of Los Angeles, has experienced 16 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records. This relatively modest total reflects the rarity of tornadoes in Southern California compared to regions where atmospheric conditions more frequently support severe thunderstorm development. No tornado-related fatalities have been recorded in the area during this period.
The vast majority of tornadoes near Fontana have been weak, with 14 rated EF0 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage. Only two tornadoes have exceeded EF0: one EF1 event and one EF2. The strongest and costliest tornado on record occurred on May 22, 2008, when an EF2 tornado carved a 2.8-mile path with a maximum width of 75 yards, causing $350,000 in property damage but no injuries. This same event also holds the record as the longest-tracked tornado in the area's history.
Tornado activity near Fontana has shown variability across decades, with the 2000s accounting for six events—the most active decade on record. The 1950s and 1960s each saw only one tornado, while the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s recorded two, two, and three tornadoes respectively. The 2010s saw a return to lower activity with just one tornado. May has been the peak month for tornado occurrence, with five tornadoes recorded during that month, consistent with the broader pattern of springtime severe weather activity when temperature contrasts and atmospheric instability are more pronounced.
The widest tornado on record was an F0 event on August 14, 2004, which reached a maximum width of 800 yards along a one-mile path but caused no damage. The most recent tornado occurred on September 9, 2012, a brief EF0 event with a maximum width of only 10 yards and no measurable path length or damage. While tornadoes remain uncommon in the Fontana area, these records demonstrate that the region is not entirely immune to such atmospheric phenomena.