La Mirada, CA Tornado History — 62 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has La Mirada, CA had?
La Mirada has had 62 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near La Mirada?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of La Mirada was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in La Mirada?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near La Mirada, 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 Mirada
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 Mirada been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of La Mirada from any of the 62 tornadoes since 1950, though 53 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near La Mirada
About Tornadoes in La Mirada
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 Mirada, California, and the surrounding 25-mile area have experienced 62 documented tornadoes since 1950, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records. Unlike the typical spring peak seen in much of the United States, tornado activity in this region shows a distinct winter maximum, with January accounting for 12 events—the most of any month. This pattern reflects Southern California's unique meteorological conditions, where cool-season storm systems moving in from the Pacific can occasionally produce tornadoes.
The majority of recorded tornadoes have been relatively weak, with 35 rated EF0 and 22 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which classifies tornado intensity based on damage. Only five tornadoes reached EF2 strength. Notably, no tornadoes in this area's recorded history have resulted in fatalities. The costliest event 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 on record struck on November 9, 1982, reaching 1,300 yards across and traveling 10 miles, while the longest-track tornado moved 10.9 miles on March 17, 1977.
Tornado frequency in the area has varied considerably by decade. The 1990s saw the highest activity with 19 tornadoes, while the 1950s and 2010s each recorded only two events. The 1980s brought 12 tornadoes, and the 1960s saw nine. So far in the 2020s, five tornadoes have been documented, including the most recent EF0 tornado on March 13, 2025, which traveled one mile with a maximum width of 80 yards and caused no reported damage or injuries.
While tornadoes are relatively infrequent compared to many other parts of the country, the historical record demonstrates that they do occur in the La Mirada area, primarily during the cooler months. The Enhanced Fujita scale, used since 2007 to replace the original Fujita scale, rates tornadoes from EF0 (65-85 mph winds) through EF5 (over 200 mph winds) based on the damage they cause to structures and vegetation.