Lake Forest, CA Tornado History — 34 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Lake Forest, CA had?
Lake Forest has had 34 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Lake Forest?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Lake Forest was an EF0 on February 23, 2023.
When is tornado season in Lake Forest?
February is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Lake Forest, with 9 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 Lake Forest
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 4 total, averaging 0.2 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 Lake Forest been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Lake Forest from any of the 34 tornadoes since 1950, though 7 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Lake Forest
About Tornadoes in Lake Forest
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.
Lake Forest sits in Orange County's Saddleback Valley, a few miles inland from the Pacific, and the tornadoes that have touched down near the city follow a distinctly Southern California rhythm: they ride in on cool-season storms, with activity concentrated from November through February rather than in spring.
An F2 tornado struck on November 7, 1966, cutting a 0.2-mile path only 10 yards wide and causing $2,750 in property damage; an F1 touched down in the area that same day. Wet winters have produced bursts of activity — an F1 on December 7, 1992 was followed that winter by an F1 on January 14, 1993, F0 touchdowns on January 18, 1993, and another F0 on February 8, 1993. Later cool seasons brought an F1 on November 11, 1997, an F1 on December 21, 1997, and an EF1 on January 19, 2010.
The pattern is not exclusively wintry, though. An F1 crossed the area on April 8, 1965, an EF0 was confirmed on September 22, 2007, and another EF0 followed on May 23, 2008. As recently as February 23, 2023, an EF0 touched down near the city — brief and weak, and very much in character for this corner of Orange County, where marine air and passing winter fronts, not Plains-style supercells, drive the tornadoes that do occur.