Napa, CA Tornado History — 8 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Napa, CA had?
Napa has had 8 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Napa?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Napa was an EF0 on April 27, 2016.
When is tornado season in Napa?
December is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Napa, with 3 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 Napa
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 2 total, averaging 0.1 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 Napa been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Napa from any of the 8 tornadoes since 1950, though 1 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Napa
About Tornadoes in Napa
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.
Napa, California has experienced 8 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This relatively modest tornado activity reflects the region's location along the Pacific Coast, where atmospheric conditions less frequently support the strong wind shear and instability required for tornadic development compared to the central United States.
The recorded tornadoes have all been weak events, with 6 rated EF0 and 2 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which classifies tornadoes from EF0 (winds 65-85 mph) to EF5 (winds over 200 mph). No tornadoes in the area have resulted in fatalities. The costliest event occurred on February 27, 1983, when an F1 tornado caused $27,500 in property damage along a 0.8-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards. The longest and widest tornado on record touched down on December 6, 1998, traveling 1.5 miles with a maximum width of 150 yards, though it caused minimal damage.
Tornado activity in the Napa area has been distributed across recent decades, with 1 event in the 1980s, 3 in the 1990s, 2 in the 2000s, and 2 in the 2010s. Unusually for most tornado-prone regions, December is the peak month for tornado occurrence here, accounting for 3 of the 8 recorded events. This winter peak aligns with the Pacific storm season, when strong low-pressure systems moving inland can occasionally produce brief, weak tornadoes. The most recent tornado occurred on April 27, 2016, an EF0 event with a 0.2-mile path length, 10-yard maximum width, and no reported damage.
While tornadoes remain rare in the Napa region compared to areas with more frequent severe weather, the historical record demonstrates that they can occur, particularly during the winter and spring months when atmospheric dynamics are most favorable for their development.