Gardena, CA Tornado History — 49 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Gardena, CA had?
Gardena has had 49 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Gardena?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Gardena was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in Gardena?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Gardena, 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 Gardena
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 Gardena been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Gardena from any of the 49 tornadoes since 1950, though 50 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Gardena
About Tornadoes in Gardena
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.
Gardena, California, located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, has experienced 49 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This tornado activity stands in stark contrast to the Great Plains, as Southern California tornadoes are typically weaker and occur under different meteorological conditions, often associated with winter storm systems moving in from the Pacific Ocean rather than the classic supercell thunderstorms common in other parts of the country.
The temporal distribution of tornadoes near Gardena reveals notable variation across decades. Activity peaked during the 1980s and 1990s, with 13 and 14 tornadoes respectively, while the 1950s and 2010s each recorded only 2 events. The 2020s have seen 5 tornadoes through early 2025, including an EF0 tornado on March 13, 2025, with a one-mile path length and 80-yard maximum width that caused no injuries or property damage. Interestingly, January is the peak month for tornado activity in this area with 10 recorded events, reflecting the influence of winter storm patterns rather than the spring and early summer peak typical of much of the United States.
The intensity distribution shows that tornadoes near Gardena have been relatively weak on the Enhanced Fujita scale. Of the 49 recorded events, 25 were rated EF0, 19 were rated EF1, and only 5 reached EF2 intensity. No tornadoes with fatalities have been recorded in the area. The costliest tornado occurred on March 1, 1983, an F2-rated event that 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 was an F2 that struck on November 9, 1982, reaching 1,300 yards in width over a 10-mile path and causing $2.75 million in damage, while the longest-track tornado was an F1 on March 17, 1977, traveling 10.9 miles with a narrow 10-yard width and also producing $2.75 million in damage.