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Lake Forest, CA Tornado History — 34 Tornadoes Since 1950

California · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

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. April through June account for 3 of the 34 tornadoes on record near Lake Forest.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
34
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
0
0.0% of total
Peak Month
February
9 on record
Per Year Avg
0.4
Across 76 years

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.

2026 0
2025 0
2024 0
2023 1
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
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 19
EF1 14
EF2 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 8
Feb 9
Mar 3
Apr 2
May 1
Jun 0
Jul 0
Aug 0
Sep 1
Oct 0
Nov 6
Dec 4

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, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.

Notable Tornadoes Near Lake Forest

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 February 23, 2023.

What the record shows near Lake Forest

The 1990s were the busiest decade near Lake Forest, with 14 of the 34 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 1 so far. The Lake Forest record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Lake Forest, 33 reached EF0 or EF1 and 1 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Lake Forest is rated EF2, of which 1 is logged.

Across the last 20 years Lake Forest has averaged 0.2 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 4 in total. 2007 was the busiest of them with 1, and 16 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Lake Forest, CA had?
Since 1950, 34 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Lake Forest. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
When is tornado season in Lake Forest?
February is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Lake Forest, with 9 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 Forest?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Lake Forest was an EF0 on February 23, 2023.
How do I get tornado warnings for Lake Forest?
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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