Milpitas, CA Tornado History — 9 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Milpitas, CA had?
Milpitas has had 9 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Milpitas?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Milpitas was a F1 on May 5, 1998.
When is tornado season in Milpitas?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Milpitas, with 2 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
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 Milpitas been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Milpitas from any of the 9 tornadoes since 1950, though 3 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Milpitas
About Tornadoes in Milpitas
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.
Milpitas, California, has experienced nine documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records. This relatively modest tornado count reflects the region's position outside the nation's most active tornado corridors, though the Bay Area does occasionally produce tornadoes under specific atmospheric conditions.
The majority of recorded events occurred during the 1990s, which saw six tornadoes, while the 1980s recorded two and the 1950s one. Most of these tornadoes have been weak, with five rated EF0 and two rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest). Two tornadoes reached EF2 intensity, representing the most significant events in the area's recorded history. Notably, none of the tornadoes on record resulted in fatalities.
The costliest and longest-tracked tornado occurred on January 11, 1951, when an F2 tornado carved a 5.7-mile path with a maximum width of just 10 yards, causing $2,750,000 in property damage. The widest tornado on record touched down on May 6, 1998, reaching a maximum width of 100 yards during its 0.6-mile track, though it caused minimal damage of only $4. That same day produced the most recent tornado in the area's records, an F1 event with an 80-yard width and 0.3-mile path that caused no reported damage.
January stands out as the peak month for tornado activity near Milpitas, with two recorded events. This winter maximum differs from the national pattern, where tornadoes peak in spring and early summer, and reflects the influence of Pacific storm systems that can occasionally generate weak tornadoes when they move inland with sufficient instability and wind shear.