Lakewood, CA Tornado History — 59 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Lakewood, CA had?
Lakewood has had 59 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Lakewood?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Lakewood was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in Lakewood?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Lakewood, with 10 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 Lakewood
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 8 total, averaging 0.4 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 Lakewood been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Lakewood from any of the 59 tornadoes since 1950, though 52 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Lakewood
About Tornadoes in Lakewood
This overview was written April 23, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Since 1950, the area within 25 miles of Lakewood, California has experienced 59 documented tornadoes according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This relatively high count reflects the unique meteorological conditions of coastal Southern California, where cold Pacific air masses can interact with warmer inland air to produce waterspouts that occasionally move onshore as weak tornadoes. The vast majority of these events have been minor, with 33 rated EF0 and 21 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which classifies tornado intensity based on observed damage. Only five tornadoes reached EF2 strength, and remarkably, no fatalities have been recorded from any tornado event in this area during the period of record.
Tornado activity near Lakewood has varied considerably by decade. The 1990s saw the highest concentration with 18 tornadoes, while the 1980s recorded 11 events and the 1960s documented nine. In contrast, the 2010s experienced only two tornadoes, though activity has picked up slightly in the 2020s with five events recorded through early 2025. Unlike much of the central United States where tornadoes peak in spring and early summer, the Lakewood area sees its highest activity in January, with 10 tornadoes occurring during that month historically. This winter peak aligns with the season when Pacific storm systems are most active along the California coast.
The costliest tornado on record struck on March 1, 1983, an F2-rated event that carved a 3.5-mile path up to 100 yards wide and caused $27.5 million in property damage. The widest tornado occurred on November 9, 1982, also rated F2, which reached a maximum width of 1,300 yards over its 10-mile path and caused $2.75 million in damage. The longest-tracked tornado traveled 10.9 miles on March 17, 1977, rated F1 with a narrow 10-yard width and $2.75 million in damage. Most recently, an EF0 tornado touched down on March 13, 2025, traveling one mile with an 80-yard width and causing no reported damage or injuries.