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Lake Elsinore, CA Tornado History — 26 Tornadoes Since 1950

California · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Lake Elsinore, CA had?

Lake Elsinore has had 26 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.

When was the most recent tornado near Lake Elsinore?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Lake Elsinore was an EF0 on October 8, 2022.

When is tornado season in Lake Elsinore?

January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Lake Elsinore, with 5 on record. April through June account for 6 of the 26 tornadoes on record near Lake Elsinore.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
26
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
0
0.0% of total
Peak Month
January
5 on record
Per Year Avg
0.3
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Lake Elsinore

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 8 total, averaging 0.4 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 0
2024 0
2023 0
2022 1
2021 0
2020 0
2019 0
2018 0
2017 0
2016 0
2015 1
2014 0
2013 0
2012 2
2011 0
2010 0
2009 0
2008 4
2007 0

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 1
1970s 1
1980s 4
1990s 5
2000s 11
2010s 3
2020s 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 22
EF1 3
EF2 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 5
Feb 5
Mar 1
Apr 1
May 5
Jun 0
Jul 3
Aug 1
Sep 1
Oct 2
Nov 1
Dec 1

Have any tornadoes near Lake Elsinore been fatal?

No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Lake Elsinore from any of the 26 tornadoes since 1950, though 3 injuries have been reported, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.

Notable Tornadoes Near Lake Elsinore

Costliest Tornado
F0 on January 17, 1993 — est. ~$2.8M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
EF2 on May 22, 2008 — 75 yards wide.
Longest Path
EF2 on May 22, 2008 — 2.8 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on October 8, 2022.

What the record shows near Lake Elsinore

The 2000s were the busiest decade near Lake Elsinore, with 11 of the 26 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 1 so far. The Lake Elsinore record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Lake Elsinore, 25 reached EF0 or EF1 and 1 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Lake Elsinore is rated EF2, of which 1 is logged.

Across the last 20 years Lake Elsinore has averaged 0.4 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 8 in total. 2008 was the busiest of them with 4, and 16 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Lake Elsinore, CA had?
Since 1950, 26 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Lake Elsinore. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
When is tornado season in Lake Elsinore?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Lake Elsinore, with 5 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 Lake Elsinore?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Lake Elsinore was an EF0 on October 8, 2022.
How do I get tornado warnings for Lake Elsinore?
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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