Los Banos, CA Tornado History — 10 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Los Banos, CA had?
Los Banos has had 10 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Los Banos?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Los Banos was an EF0 on February 9, 2009.
When is tornado season in Los Banos?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Los Banos, with 4 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 Banos
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 1 total, averaging 0.1 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Los Banos since December 29, 2025
These are 2 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are not counted in the confirmed totals above.
Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.
Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.
Within 25 miles of Los Banos. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
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 Banos been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Los Banos from any of the 10 tornadoes since 1950, though 1 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Los Banos
About Tornadoes in Los Banos
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 Banos, California, located in the Central Valley, has experienced 10 tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This relatively modest tornado activity reflects the region's position outside the nation's most active tornado corridors, though the Central Valley does occasionally produce tornadoes when atmospheric conditions align favorably.
The majority of recorded tornadoes near Los Banos have been weak, with 7 rated EF0 and 3 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which classifies tornadoes from EF0 (65–85 mph winds) to EF5 (over 200 mph winds). None of these events resulted in fatalities. The costliest and widest tornado on record occurred on March 4, 1978, an F1 event that carved a 1.0-mile path with a maximum width of 880 yards and caused $275,000 in property damage. The longest-tracked tornado touched down on February 14, 1998, traveling 3.0 miles with a narrow 30-yard width but causing no reported damage.
Tornado activity near Los Banos has been sporadic across the decades. A single event was recorded in the 1960s, followed by 2 in the 1970s. The 1990s saw the highest concentration with 5 tornadoes, while the 2000s recorded 2 events. April has been the peak month for tornado occurrence with 4 events, though tornadoes have also touched down during the late winter months. The most recent tornado was an EF0 on February 9, 2009, which traveled just 0.1 miles with a 20-yard width and caused no damage.
While tornadoes remain relatively uncommon in this part of California compared to the Great Plains, the historical record demonstrates that the Central Valley can produce these phenomena under the right meteorological conditions, particularly during the spring months when temperature contrasts and wind shear are most favorable for rotating thunderstorms.