Hawthorne, CA Tornado History — 40 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Hawthorne, CA had?
Hawthorne has had 40 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Hawthorne?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Hawthorne was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in Hawthorne?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Hawthorne, with 8 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 Hawthorne
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 Hawthorne been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Hawthorne from any of the 40 tornadoes since 1950, though 50 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Hawthorne
About Tornadoes in Hawthorne
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.
Hawthorne, California, located in the Los Angeles Basin, has experienced 40 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. Unlike the traditional spring peak seen in much of the central United States, tornado activity in this coastal region shows a distinct winter maximum, with January accounting for 8 events—the highest monthly total on record. This pattern reflects the influence of Pacific storm systems that can produce brief, low-end tornadoes when atmospheric conditions align during the cool season.
The distribution of tornadoes by intensity reveals that most events have been relatively weak. Of the 40 tornadoes recorded, 20 were rated EF0, 15 were rated EF1, and 5 reached EF2 strength. Notably, there are no tornadoes on record with fatalities in the area. The Enhanced Fujita scale, which ranges from EF0 (65-85 mph winds) to EF5 (over 200 mph winds), categorizes tornadoes based on damage indicators, and the predominance of lower ratings in this region is consistent with the brief, less organized nature of West Coast tornadoes compared to those in the Great Plains.
Tornado frequency has varied considerably by decade. The 1980s saw the highest activity with 10 tornadoes, followed by 9 in the 1990s. In contrast, the 2000s and 2010s each recorded only 2 and 3 events respectively, before activity increased again to 5 tornadoes in the 2020s. The costliest tornado on record occurred on March 1, 1983, when an F2 tornado caused $27,500,000 in property damage along a 3.5-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards. The widest tornado, also rated F2, touched down on November 9, 1982, reaching a maximum width of 1,300 yards over a 10-mile path and causing $2,750,000 in damage.
The most recent tornado struck on March 13, 2025, rated EF0 with a path length of 1.0 mile and maximum width of 80 yards, causing no reported damage or injuries. The longest-tracked tornado in the area's history was an F1 event on March 17, 1977, which traveled 10.9 miles with a narrow 10-yard width and resulted in $2,750,000 in property damage.