Manhattan Beach, CA Tornado History — 37 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Manhattan Beach, CA had?
Manhattan Beach has had 37 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Manhattan Beach?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Manhattan Beach was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in Manhattan Beach?
March is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Manhattan Beach, with 8 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 Manhattan Beach
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 Manhattan Beach been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Manhattan Beach from any of the 37 tornadoes since 1950, though 50 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Manhattan Beach
About Tornadoes in Manhattan Beach
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.
Manhattan Beach, California, and its surrounding 25-mile radius have experienced 37 documented tornadoes since 1950, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records. While tornadoes are often associated with the Great Plains and southeastern United States, coastal Southern California does see occasional tornado activity, typically associated with winter storm systems and atmospheric instability from Pacific weather patterns. All tornadoes recorded in this area have been rated EF2 or lower on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage indicators.
The temporal distribution shows notable variation across decades, with the 1980s recording the highest activity at 10 tornadoes, followed by the 1990s with 6 events. The 1950s and 2010s each saw only 2 tornadoes, while the current decade through 2025 has already recorded 5 events. March stands out as the peak month for tornado occurrence with 8 documented events, reflecting the season when cold Pacific storm systems are most likely to produce the atmospheric conditions conducive to tornado formation along the California coast.
By intensity, the breakdown shows 19 EF0 tornadoes, 13 EF1 tornadoes, and 5 EF2 tornadoes. The costliest tornado on record occurred on March 1, 1983, when an F2-rated tornado caused $27,500,000 in property damage along a 3.5-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards. The widest tornado struck on November 9, 1982, reaching 1,300 yards across and traveling 10 miles while causing $2,750,000 in damage. The longest-tracked tornado occurred on March 17, 1977, when an F1 tornado traveled 10.9 miles with a narrow 10-yard width.
Remarkably, none of the 37 tornadoes recorded in this area since 1950 have resulted in fatalities. The most recent event was an EF0 tornado on March 13, 2025, which traveled one mile with an 80-yard maximum width and caused no reported property damage or injuries.