Merced, CA Tornado History — 22 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Merced, CA had?
Merced has had 22 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Merced?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Merced was an EF1 on November 15, 2015.
When is tornado season in Merced?
March is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Merced, with 8 on record. April through June account for 5 of the 22 tornadoes on record near Merced.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Merced
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 2 total, averaging 0.1 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Merced 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
NWS Hanford Storm Survey team found damage indicative of an EF-1 tornado with maximum winds at 110 mph. Video shows multiple large pieces of metal roofing material alof (HNX)
***Date of event was 4/21... time corrected to 3:30 PM PDT*** Corrects previous tornado report from 3 WSW Atwater. NWS Hanford Storm Survey team found damage indicative (HNX)
Within 25 miles of Merced. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. 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 Merced been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Merced from any of the 22 tornadoes since 1950, though 1 injuries have been reported, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Merced
What the record shows near Merced
The 1990s were the busiest decade near Merced, with 8 of the 22 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2010s have produced 1 so far. The Merced record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Merced, 22 reached EF0 or EF1 and 0 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Merced is rated EF1, of which 7 are logged.
Across the last 20 years Merced has averaged 0.1 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 2 in total. 2009 was the busiest of them with 1, and 18 of those years passed with none at all.