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. 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 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Within 25 miles of Merced. 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. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Merced
About Tornadoes in Merced
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.
Merced, California has experienced 22 documented tornadoes within 25 miles of the city since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. While tornadoes are relatively uncommon in California's Central Valley compared to the Great Plains, the region does see occasional tornado activity, particularly during the cooler months when atmospheric conditions align favorably for severe weather development.
The majority of tornadoes near Merced have been weak, with 15 rated EF0 and 7 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which classifies tornado intensity based on damage. The Enhanced Fujita scale ranges from EF0, indicating winds of 65-85 mph with light damage, to EF5, with winds exceeding 200 mph. Notably, none of the tornadoes on record in the Merced area have resulted in fatalities. March has been the most active month, accounting for 8 of the 22 recorded events, reflecting the influence of spring storm systems moving through California.
Tornado activity near Merced has varied considerably by decade. The 1990s and 2000s each saw 8 tornadoes, representing the peak periods of activity, while the 1950s recorded 2 events and the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 2010s each saw only a single tornado. The costliest tornado occurred on January 15, 1995, when an F1 tornado caused $2,750,000 in property damage along a 1.0-mile path with a maximum width of 10 yards. The widest tornado on record touched down on March 4, 1978, reaching a maximum width of 880 yards while traveling 1.0 mile and causing $275,000 in damage.
The most recent tornado near Merced occurred on November 15, 2015, when an EF1 tornado traveled 3.0 miles—the longest path length on record for the area—with a maximum width of 150 yards and caused $1,000,000 in property damage. This event also stands as the longest-tracked tornado documented in the Merced vicinity since systematic record-keeping began in 1950.