La Palma, CA Tornado History — 62 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has La Palma, CA had?
La Palma has had 62 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near La Palma?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of La Palma was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in La Palma?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near La Palma, 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 Palma
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 Palma been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of La Palma from any of the 62 tornadoes since 1950, though 53 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near La Palma
About Tornadoes in La Palma
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 Palma, California, sits within a 25-mile radius that has recorded 62 tornadoes since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. Unlike the central United States where tornadoes peak in spring and early summer, this Southern California area experiences its highest tornado activity in January, with 12 events recorded in that month alone. The majority of these tornadoes have been weak, with 35 rated EF0 and 22 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest). Only five tornadoes have reached EF2 intensity in the area's recorded history.
Tornado activity within 25 miles of La Palma peaked during the 1990s, when 19 tornadoes were documented. The 1980s saw 12 events, while the 1960s recorded nine. Activity declined notably in the 2010s with just two tornadoes, though five have already occurred in the 2020s. Remarkably, none of the tornadoes on record in this area have resulted in fatalities, distinguishing the region from tornado-prone areas elsewhere in the country where deadly events are more common.
The costliest tornado struck on March 1, 1983, an F2-rated event that caused $27.5 million in property damage while traveling a 3.5-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards. The widest tornado on record occurred on November 9, 1982, also rated F2, reaching 1,300 yards across during its 10-mile path and causing $2.75 million in damage. The longest-tracked tornado was an F1 that traveled 10.9 miles on March 17, 1977, though it remained narrow at just 10 yards wide while causing $2.75 million in damage.
The most recent tornado in the area was an EF0 that touched down on March 13, 2025, traveling one mile with a maximum width of 80 yards and causing no reported damage or injuries. This event continues the area's pattern of relatively weak tornadoes that, while noteworthy for California, lack the intensity commonly observed in traditional tornado-prone regions of the United States.