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Ladera Ranch, CA Tornado History — 30 Tornadoes Since 1950

California · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Ladera Ranch, CA had?

Ladera Ranch has had 30 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.

When was the most recent tornado near Ladera Ranch?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Ladera Ranch was an EF0 on May 22, 2008.

When is tornado season in Ladera Ranch?

February is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Ladera Ranch, with 7 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 Since 1950
30
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
0
0.0% of total
Peak Month
February
7 on record
Per Year Avg
0.4
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Ladera Ranch

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 2 total, averaging 0.1 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 0
2024 0
2023 0
2022 0
2021 0
2020 0
2019 0
2018 0
2017 0
2016 0
2015 0
2014 0
2013 0
2012 0
2011 0
2010 0
2009 0
2008 1
2007 1

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 1
1960s 4
1970s 2
1980s 6
1990s 12
2000s 5

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.

EF0 17
EF1 12
EF2 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 6
Feb 7
Mar 3
Apr 2
May 1
Jun 0
Jul 0
Aug 0
Sep 1
Oct 0
Nov 6
Dec 4

Have any tornadoes near Ladera Ranch been fatal?

No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Ladera Ranch from any of the 30 tornadoes since 1950, though 7 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.

Notable Tornadoes Near Ladera Ranch

Costliest Tornado
F0 on January 17, 1993 — est. ~$2.8M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F1 on November 11, 1997 — 200 yards wide.
Longest Path
F1 on March 16, 1977 — 10.9 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on May 22, 2008.

About Tornadoes in Ladera Ranch

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.

Ladera Ranch occupies the rolling foothills of southern Orange County, set between the Santa Ana Mountains and the Pacific shoreline, and the tornadoes that have touched down around the community tell a distinctly Southern California story. Rather than arriving with springtime supercells, they have clustered in the cool season, spun up by winter Pacific storm systems sweeping across the coastal plain.

The area's history includes genuinely damaging weather. On November 7, 1966, an F2 tornado carved a 0.2-mile path roughly 10 yards wide and caused $2,750 in property damage, and an F1 touched down that same day. Cool-season activity continued through later decades: F1 tornadoes struck on December 7, 1992, F0 tornadoes followed on January 18, 1993, and February produced F0 tornadoes in 1994, 1998, 2001, and 2005, including one on February 19, 2005, and another a week later on February 26, 2005.

Warm-season events have been the exception, though an F1 was recorded on April 1, 1958, another F1 on April 8, 1965, and, in the Enhanced Fujita era, an EF0 touched down on September 22, 2007, followed by an EF0 on May 23, 2008.

For residents of Ladera Ranch's hillside neighborhoods, the pattern matters: when vigorous winter storms move in off the Pacific, brief tornadoes can spin up across this corner of Orange County.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Ladera Ranch, CA had?
Since 1950, 30 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Ladera Ranch. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
When is tornado season in Ladera Ranch?
February is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Ladera Ranch, with 7 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
When was the most recent tornado near Ladera Ranch?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Ladera Ranch was an EF0 on May 22, 2008.
How do I get tornado warnings for Ladera Ranch?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

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