Los Angeles, CA Tornado History — 46 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Los Angeles, CA had?
Los Angeles has had 46 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Los Angeles?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Los Angeles was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in Los Angeles?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles
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 Los Angeles been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Los Angeles from any of the 46 tornadoes since 1950, though 50 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Los Angeles
About Tornadoes in Los Angeles
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 Angeles, California has experienced 46 tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records. While tornadoes are often associated with the Great Plains and Southeast, the Los Angeles area sees occasional tornado activity, though these events are typically weaker and shorter-lived than those in more tornado-prone regions of the country. None of the recorded tornadoes in this area have resulted in fatalities.
The distribution of tornadoes by intensity reflects the generally weaker nature of West Coast tornado events. Of the 46 recorded tornadoes, 26 were rated EF0, 15 were rated EF1, and 5 reached EF2 intensity. The Enhanced Fujita scale, which rates tornadoes from EF0 to EF5 based on damage indicators, shows that no tornado in the Los Angeles area has exceeded EF2 status since modern record-keeping began. The costliest event occurred on March 1, 1983, when an F2 tornado caused $27.5 million in property damage along a 3.5-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards.
Tornado activity in the Los Angeles area peaked during the 1980s and 1990s, with 11 tornadoes recorded in each of those decades. The 1950s and 2010s saw the least activity, with only 2 tornadoes each. Interestingly, January is the peak month for tornado occurrence in this region with 9 events, a pattern that differs significantly from the spring and early summer peak seen in much of the central United States. This winter maximum reflects the influence of Pacific storm systems and atmospheric conditions unique to coastal Southern California.
The most unusual tornado on record was an F2 event on November 9, 1982, which achieved a maximum width of 1,300 yards and traveled 10 miles, causing $2.75 million in damage. The longest-track tornado occurred on March 17, 1977, when an F1 tornado traveled 10.9 miles. Most recently, an EF0 tornado touched down on March 13, 2025, traveling one mile with an 80-yard maximum width and causing no reported damage.