Montebello, CA Tornado History — 56 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Montebello, CA had?
Montebello has had 56 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Montebello?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Montebello was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in Montebello?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Montebello, with 12 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 Montebello
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 Montebello been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Montebello from any of the 56 tornadoes since 1950, though 50 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Montebello
About Tornadoes in Montebello
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.
Montebello, California, and the surrounding 25-mile area have experienced 56 documented tornadoes since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. Unlike the central United States where tornadoes peak in spring and early summer, this region sees its highest tornado activity in January, with 12 events recorded during that month. This winter peak reflects the influence of Pacific storm systems and atmospheric conditions unique to Southern California.
The distribution of tornadoes by decade shows considerable variation, with the 1990s recording the most events at 15, followed by 13 in the 1980s. Activity was notably lower in the 2010s with just 2 tornadoes, though 5 have already occurred in the 2020s. The vast majority of these tornadoes have been weak, with 31 rated EF0 and 20 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest). Only 5 tornadoes reached EF2 intensity, and none have been recorded at EF3 or higher.
Remarkably, no tornado-related fatalities have been recorded in this area since 1950. The costliest event was an F2 tornado on March 1, 1983, which caused $27.5 million in property damage along a 3.5-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards. The widest tornado on record was an F2 that struck on November 9, 1982, reaching 1,300 yards across and traveling 10 miles while causing $2.75 million in damage. The longest-tracked tornado was an F1 on March 17, 1977, which traveled 10.9 miles despite being only 10 yards wide at its maximum.
The most recent tornado occurred on March 13, 2025, an EF0 event that traveled one mile with a maximum width of 80 yards and caused no reported damage or injuries. This recent activity demonstrates that while tornadoes in the Montebello area are typically weak and rarely cause significant damage, they remain a meteorological phenomenon that residents should be aware of, particularly during the winter months when conditions are most favorable for their formation.