La Presa, CA Tornado History — 11 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has La Presa, CA had?
La Presa has had 11 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near La Presa?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of La Presa was a F0 on February 23, 2005.
When is tornado season in La Presa?
February is historically the peak month for tornadoes near La Presa, with 5 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
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 Presa been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of La Presa from any of the 11 tornadoes since 1950, though 1 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near La Presa
About Tornadoes in La Presa
This overview was written July 29, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
La Presa occupies the hills of southwestern San Diego County, tucked between Spring Valley and the Sweetwater Reservoir just east of San Diego. Tornadoes here belong to the Pacific cool season, arriving with the winter and early-spring storm systems that push ashore along the Southern California coast — a rhythm far removed from the springtime outbreaks of the central United States.
The dated events tell that story plainly. An F1 tornado touched down in the La Presa area on March 19, 1991. Other F1 tornadoes struck on April 13, 1956, and February 21, 1980, and one arrived on November 10, 2000, an autumn date that sits apart from the area's usual midwinter timing.
The F0 events carry the same seasonal signature. Tornadoes of that rating were documented near the community on January 18, 1979, March 18, 1982, February 4, 1985, January 14, 1990, and February 8, 1998. In a quirk of the calendar, F0 tornadoes also touched down on February 23 in both 1971 and 2005. For a community set in San Diego County's inland hills, tornado weather remains largely a midwinter concern, worth minding whenever a vigorous Pacific storm bears down on the county.