Lancaster, CA Tornado History — 8 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Lancaster, CA had?
Lancaster has had 8 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Lancaster?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Lancaster was an EF0 on September 9, 2021.
When is tornado season in Lancaster?
September is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Lancaster, with 3 on record. April through June account for 2 of the 8 tornadoes on record near Lancaster.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Lancaster
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 3 total, averaging 0.1 per year over this window.
What storm spotters reported near Lancaster
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Lancaster and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on September 18, 2025 and the most recent on September 18, 2025. It is already counted in the Lancaster totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.
[Landspout] At 305 PM PDT... a developing thunderstorm near Palmdale produced a weak landspout tornado (EF unknown)... confirmed by photos submitted by a member of the (LOX)
Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
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 Lancaster been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Lancaster from any of the 8 tornadoes since 1950, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Lancaster
What the record shows near Lancaster
The 2000s were the busiest decade near Lancaster, with 4 of the 8 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 1 so far. The Lancaster record runs from the 1980s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Lancaster, 8 reached EF0 or EF1 and 0 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Lancaster is rated EF0, of which 8 are logged.
Across the last 20 years Lancaster has averaged 0.1 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 3 in total. 2007 was the busiest of them with 2, and 18 of those years passed with none at all.