La Habra, CA Tornado History — 60 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has La Habra, CA had?
La Habra has had 60 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near La Habra?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of La Habra was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in La Habra?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near La Habra, with 12 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 La Habra
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 8 total, averaging 0.4 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 La Habra been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of La Habra from any of the 60 tornadoes since 1950, though 53 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near La Habra
About Tornadoes in La Habra
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.
La Habra, California, located in northern Orange County, has experienced 60 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records. Unlike the central United States where tornadoes peak in spring and early summer, the La Habra area sees its highest tornado activity in January, with 12 events recorded in that month alone. This winter peak reflects Southern California's unique meteorological patterns, where cool-season storms moving in from the Pacific can occasionally produce rotating thunderstorms and weak tornadoes.
The distribution of tornadoes by decade shows considerable variation, with the 1990s recording the highest activity at 19 events, followed by the 1980s with 12 tornadoes. The 1950s and 2010s each saw only 2 tornadoes, while the current decade through 2025 has recorded 5 events. The vast majority of these tornadoes have been weak: 34 rated EF0 and 21 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest). Only 5 tornadoes reached EF2 intensity, and none have been recorded stronger than that level.
Remarkably, no tornado-related fatalities have been recorded in the La Habra area since 1950. The costliest event occurred on March 1, 1983, when an F2 tornado 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 struck on November 9, 1982, reaching 1,300 yards across and traveling 10 miles while causing $2.75 million in damage. The longest-track tornado occurred on March 17, 1977, when an F1 tornado traveled 10.9 miles with a narrow 10-yard width.
The most recent tornado in the area was an EF0 event on March 13, 2025, which traveled one mile with an 80-yard maximum width and caused no reported damage or injuries. While tornadoes remain relatively uncommon in Southern California compared to other regions of the country, the historical record demonstrates that they do occur with some regularity in the La Habra area, particularly during the winter months.