Moreno Valley, CA Tornado History — 20 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Moreno Valley, CA had?
Moreno Valley has had 20 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Moreno Valley?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Moreno Valley was an EF0 on October 8, 2022.
When is tornado season in Moreno Valley?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Moreno Valley, with 5 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 Moreno Valley
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 8 total, averaging 0.4 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 Moreno Valley been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Moreno Valley from any of the 20 tornadoes since 1950, though 2 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Moreno Valley
About Tornadoes in Moreno Valley
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.
Moreno Valley, California has experienced 20 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This relatively modest total reflects the region's location outside the primary tornado corridors of the central United States, though Southern California does occasionally produce tornadoes under specific atmospheric conditions. The vast majority of these events have been weak, with 18 rated EF0 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest).
Tornado activity near Moreno Valley has increased notably in recent decades. The 2000s saw the highest concentration with 9 tornadoes, while the 1990s recorded 4 events. Earlier decades showed minimal activity, with single tornadoes documented in the 1950s, 1970s, and 1980s. The 2010s brought 3 additional tornadoes, and the most recent event occurred on October 8, 2022, when an EF0 tornado traveled 1.6 miles with a maximum width of 50 yards, causing no injuries or property damage.
May has been the most active month for tornadoes in the area, accounting for 5 of the 20 recorded events. This aligns with broader patterns in which springtime atmospheric instability can occasionally generate severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes, even in regions not typically associated with such weather phenomena. The peak of tornado season nationally occurs during spring and early summer when contrasting air masses collide most frequently.
The most significant tornado on record occurred on May 22, 2008, when an EF2-rated tornado carved a 2.8-mile path with a maximum width of 75 yards. This event caused $350,000 in property damage but resulted in no fatalities, making it simultaneously the costliest, widest, and longest-tracked tornado in the area's recorded history. Only one other tornado has exceeded EF0 intensity—an EF1 event—and no tornadoes within the 25-mile radius have caused any recorded deaths since systematic record-keeping began in 1950.