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Laguna Hills, CA Tornado History — 33 Tornadoes Since 1950

California · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Laguna Hills, CA had?

Laguna Hills has had 33 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.

When was the most recent tornado near Laguna Hills?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Laguna Hills was an EF1 on January 19, 2010.

When is tornado season in Laguna Hills?

January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Laguna Hills, with 8 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
33
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
0
0.0% of total
Peak Month
January
8 on record
Per Year Avg
0.4
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Laguna Hills

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 3 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 1
2009 0
2008 1
2007 1

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 1
1960s 4
1970s 2
1980s 6
1990s 14
2000s 5
2010s 1

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 18
EF1 14
EF2 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 8
Feb 8
Mar 3
Apr 2
May 1
Jun 0
Jul 0
Aug 0
Sep 1
Oct 0
Nov 6
Dec 4

Have any tornadoes near Laguna Hills been fatal?

No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Laguna Hills from any of the 33 tornadoes since 1950, though 7 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.

Notable Tornadoes Near Laguna Hills

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
EF1 on January 19, 2010.

About Tornadoes in Laguna Hills

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.

Laguna Hills sits in the Saddleback Valley of coastal Orange County, where tornadoes tend to arrive not with springtime supercells like those of the Plains, but with the winter Pacific storm systems that sweep onshore across Southern California. On November 7, 1966, an F2 tornado touched down in the area, tracking 0.2 miles along a path roughly 10 yards wide and causing $2,750 in property damage; an F1 struck the same day.

That cool-season signature repeats throughout the local history. December 7, 1992 brought F1 tornadoes to the area, and mid-January 1993 delivered an F1 on January 14 followed by F0 touchdowns on January 18. Late 1997 saw F1 tornadoes on both November 11 and December 21, and February produced F0 touchdowns in 1998, 2001, and 2005. Spring has not been exempt: an F1 struck on April 1, 1958, another on April 8, 1965, and an F1 tracked through the area on March 17, 1977.

In the Enhanced Fujita era, an EF0 touched down on September 22, 2007, another EF0 followed on May 23, 2008, and an EF1 struck on January 19, 2010 — a reminder that brief, narrow circulations remain part of the weather picture along the Orange County coast whenever a vigorous Pacific system moves through.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Laguna Hills, CA had?
Since 1950, 33 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Laguna Hills. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
When is tornado season in Laguna Hills?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Laguna Hills, with 8 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 Laguna Hills?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Laguna Hills was an EF1 on January 19, 2010.
How do I get tornado warnings for Laguna Hills?
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.

Official Resources

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