Ontario, CA Tornado History — 27 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Ontario, CA had?
Ontario has had 27 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Ontario?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Ontario was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in Ontario?
February is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Ontario, with 6 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 Ontario
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 4 total, averaging 0.2 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 Ontario been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Ontario from any of the 27 tornadoes since 1950, though 5 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Ontario
About Tornadoes in Ontario
This overview was written July 29, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Ontario sits in the Inland Empire of southwestern San Bernardino County, where tornadoes typically spin up during the cool season, as Pacific storm systems push across the valleys below the San Gabriel Mountains. Winter and early-spring touchdowns are a recurring local theme: an F1 crossed the area on March 17, 1977, another F1 struck on March 16, 1986, and an F0 touched down on November 9, 1982. F0 tornadoes also arrived in the winters of 1993, 1994, and 2001.
Late-spring events here can be serious too. On May 22, 2008, an EF2 carved a 2.8-mile path up to 75 yards wide through the area, injuring one person and causing $350,000 in property damage; a second, weaker EF0 touched down the same day. Other touchdowns outside the winter window include an F0 on April 6, 1955, an F0 on September 7, 1976, and an F0 on June 16, 1995.
More recently, EF0 tornadoes touched down on February 23, 2023, and again on March 13, 2025 — both in keeping with the cool-season rhythm that has long characterized tornado activity around Ontario.