Highland, CA Tornado History — 13 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Highland, CA had?
Highland has had 13 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Highland?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Highland was an EF0 on September 9, 2012.
When is tornado season in Highland?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Highland, with 4 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 Highland
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 6 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 Highland been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Highland from any of the 13 tornadoes since 1950, though 1 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Highland
About Tornadoes in Highland
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.
Highland, California, located in San Bernardino County, has experienced 13 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This relatively modest tornado activity reflects the broader pattern across much of California, where tornadoes are far less frequent than in the central and southeastern United States. The majority of these events have been weak, with 12 rated EF0 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest).
Tornado activity in the Highland area has shown a gradual increase over recent decades. The region recorded one tornado each in the 1950s, 1970s, and 1980s, followed by three in the 1990s and five in the 2000s. The 2010s saw two tornadoes before the most recent event on September 9, 2012, an EF0 tornado with a maximum width of just 10 yards that caused no damage or injuries. May has been the most active month historically, accounting for four of the 13 recorded tornadoes, which aligns with springtime severe weather patterns when atmospheric conditions more commonly support tornado development.
The most significant 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. This event caused an estimated $350,000 in property damage but resulted in no fatalities or injuries. This tornado stands as the costliest, widest, and longest-tracked tornado in the area's recorded history. The EF2 rating indicates wind speeds between 111 and 135 miles per hour, capable of causing considerable damage to structures and vegetation.
Notably, no tornadoes within 25 miles of Highland have resulted in any recorded fatalities since 1950. This safety record, combined with the predominance of EF0 events, suggests that while tornadoes do occur in the region, they have historically been brief and relatively weak compared to tornadoes in more tornado-prone regions of the country.