Martinez, CA Tornado History — 9 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Martinez, CA had?
Martinez has had 9 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Martinez?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Martinez was an EF0 on April 7, 2011.
When is tornado season in Martinez?
December is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Martinez, 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 Martinez
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 2 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 Martinez been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Martinez from any of the 9 tornadoes since 1950, though 1 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Martinez
About Tornadoes in Martinez
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.
Martinez, California, and the surrounding 25-mile area have experienced 9 tornadoes on record since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. Unlike the severe tornado activity common in the central United States during spring and early summer, this region's tornado climatology reflects the distinct weather patterns of Northern California, where tornadoes are relatively rare and typically weak when they do occur.
The recorded tornadoes have been concentrated in three decades: 2 events in the 1980s, 5 in the 1990s, and 2 in the 2010s. By intensity, 8 of the 9 tornadoes were rated EF0 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, indicating wind speeds of 65–85 mph, while only 1 reached EF1 intensity with winds of 86–110 mph. Notably, none of these tornadoes resulted in fatalities. The most significant event in terms of property damage was an EF0 tornado on April 7, 2011, which caused $26,000 in damage along a 0.1-mile path with a maximum width of 10 yards. This event also stands as the most recent tornado on record in the area.
December has been the peak month for tornado activity near Martinez, with 3 events recorded during that month. The widest tornado on record was an F0 that touched down on December 6, 1998, reaching a maximum width of 150 yards and traveling 1.5 miles, though it caused no property damage. The longest-track tornado was an EF1 on January 23, 2010, which traveled 1.6 miles with a narrow 2-yard maximum width and caused $25,000 in damage.
The winter peak in tornado occurrence reflects the influence of Pacific storm systems that occasionally produce weak tornadoes when atmospheric conditions align favorably. While tornadoes can occur in any month given the right meteorological setup, the historical record for Martinez shows a pattern distinctly different from regions where warm-season severe thunderstorms dominate the tornado climatology.