Lomita, CA Tornado History — 45 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Lomita, CA had?
Lomita has had 45 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Lomita?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Lomita was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in Lomita?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Lomita, 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 Lomita
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 7 total, averaging 0.3 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 Lomita been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Lomita from any of the 45 tornadoes since 1950, though 50 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Lomita
About Tornadoes in Lomita
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.
Lomita, California, located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, has experienced 45 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. Unlike the central United States where tornadoes peak in spring and early summer, the Lomita area sees its highest tornado activity in January, with 9 events recorded during that month. This winter peak reflects Southern California's unique tornado climatology, driven by Pacific storm systems that occasionally produce waterspouts moving onshore or weak tornadoes associated with cold-season frontal passages.
The majority of tornadoes near Lomita have been relatively weak, with 23 rated EF0 and 17 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which classifies tornado intensity based on damage. Only 5 tornadoes have reached EF2 strength. Remarkably, no tornado in the area has resulted in a recorded fatality since 1950. The costliest event occurred on March 1, 1983, when an F2 tornado caused $27,500,000 in property damage along a 3.5-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards. The widest tornado on record struck on November 9, 1982, reaching 1,300 yards across and traveling 10.0 miles while causing $2,750,000 in damage, also rated F2.
Tornado frequency in the Lomita area has varied considerably by decade. The 1990s saw the highest activity with 13 tornadoes, while the 1980s recorded 10 events. Activity declined in the 2000s and 2010s, with only 4 and 2 tornadoes respectively, before upticking to 5 events in the 2020s thus far. The longest-tracked tornado occurred on March 17, 1977, when an F1 tornado traveled 10.9 miles with a narrow 10-yard width, causing $2,750,000 in damage.
The most recent tornado in the area was an EF0 event on March 13, 2025, which traveled 1.0 mile with a maximum width of 80 yards and caused no reported damage or injuries. While tornadoes remain relatively uncommon in coastal Southern California compared to other regions of the United States, the historical record demonstrates that they do occur and can occasionally cause significant property damage even when remaining at lower intensity ratings.