Los Altos, CA Tornado History — 12 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Los Altos, CA had?
Los Altos has had 12 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Los Altos?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Los Altos was an EF1 on December 14, 2024.
When is tornado season in Los Altos?
December is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Los Altos, with 3 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 Los Altos
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 1 total, averaging 0.1 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 Los Altos been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Los Altos from any of the 12 tornadoes since 1950, though 8 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Los Altos
About Tornadoes in Los Altos
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.
Los Altos, California, and the surrounding 25-mile radius have experienced 12 documented tornadoes since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This relatively modest total reflects the rarity of tornadic activity in the San Francisco Bay Area compared to the central and southeastern United States, where atmospheric conditions more frequently support severe thunderstorm development and rotation.
The distribution of these events shows notable clustering in the 1990s, when six tornadoes occurred within the search area, while the 1950s and 1980s each recorded two events. The 2000s saw one tornado, and the most recent event took place on December 14, 2024, when an EF1 tornado with a 30-yard maximum width traveled 0.3 miles. Interestingly, December stands out as the peak month for tornado activity in this region with three recorded events, a pattern that differs markedly from the spring and early summer peak typical of tornado activity nationwide.
All 12 tornadoes have been rated EF2 or lower on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which classifies tornado intensity based on damage indicators. The record includes five EF0 tornadoes, five EF1 tornadoes, and two EF2 tornadoes. Notably, none of these events resulted in fatalities. The costliest and longest-tracked tornado occurred on January 11, 1951, when an F2 tornado carved a 5.7-mile path with a maximum width of just 10 yards, causing $2,750,000 in property damage. The widest tornado on record reached 100 yards during a brief 0.6-mile track on May 6, 1998, though it caused minimal documented damage.
The winter timing of several significant events, including both the costliest tornado and the most recent one, highlights the unique meteorological patterns affecting coastal California. While tornadoes can occur in any month given the right atmospheric conditions, the concentration of December events in this area's historical record underscores the importance of year-round weather awareness, even in regions where tornadoes are uncommon.