North Highlands, CA Tornado History — 26 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has North Highlands, CA had?
North Highlands has had 26 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near North Highlands?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of North Highlands was an EF0 on November 8, 2022.
When is tornado season in North Highlands?
February is historically the peak month for tornadoes near North Highlands, with 7 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 North Highlands
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 13 total, averaging 0.7 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 North Highlands been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of North Highlands from any of the 26 tornadoes since 1950. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near North Highlands
About Tornadoes in North Highlands
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.
North Highlands, California has experienced 26 tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. Unlike the traditional spring peak seen in much of the central United States, tornado activity in this region shows a distinct winter pattern, with February accounting for the most events at 6 tornadoes. This seasonal distribution reflects the influence of Pacific storm systems that bring unstable atmospheric conditions to Northern California during the cooler months.
The vast majority of tornadoes recorded near North Highlands have been weak, with 20 rated EF0 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest). An additional 5 tornadoes reached EF1 intensity, and only 1 tornado achieved EF2 strength. Notably, there have been no fatalities on record from any tornado in the area, reflecting both the generally weak nature of these events and the lower population density compared to more tornado-prone regions.
Tornado frequency has increased in recent decades, with 10 tornadoes occurring during the 2010s compared to just 2 in the 1970s and 2 in the 1990s. The 2000s saw 6 events, while the 1980s recorded 4. The costliest and longest-tracked tornado on record occurred on December 24, 2015, when an EF1 tornado carved a 6.2-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards, causing $1,000,000 in property damage but no injuries or fatalities.
The most recent tornado struck on November 8, 2022, rated EF0 with a path length of 0.8 miles. This event also holds the record as the widest tornado in the area's history, reaching a maximum width of 400 yards despite causing no property damage or casualties. The widest tornado on record demonstrates that path dimensions do not always correlate directly with damage intensity, particularly for weaker tornadoes.