Pacific Grove, CA Tornado History — 8 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Pacific Grove, CA had?
Pacific Grove has had 8 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Pacific Grove?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Pacific Grove was an EF0 on January 6, 2019.
When is tornado season in Pacific Grove?
December is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Pacific Grove, with 4 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 Pacific Grove
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 3 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 Pacific Grove been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Pacific Grove from any of the 8 tornadoes since 1950, though 2 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Pacific Grove
About Tornadoes in Pacific Grove
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.
Pacific Grove, California has experienced 8 tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This relatively modest count reflects the region's coastal California location, where tornado formation is far less common than in the central and southeastern United States. The majority of these events have been weak, with 6 rated EF0 and 2 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which classifies tornadoes from EF0 (weakest, 65–85 mph winds) to EF5 (strongest, over 200 mph winds).
Tornado activity near Pacific Grove has been sporadic across the decades. Two tornadoes occurred in the 1980s, followed by three in the 1990s. No tornadoes were recorded in the 2000s, but three events returned in the 2010s. Notably, none of the tornadoes on record have resulted in fatalities, underscoring their generally weak intensity and the area's low population density in affected zones.
December stands out as the peak month for tornado activity, accounting for 4 of the 8 recorded events. This winter peak is unusual compared to the national pattern, where tornadoes are most common in spring and early summer. The December 7, 1992 tornado remains the most significant on record for the area, rated F1 with a path length of 7.0 miles and a maximum width of 73 yards. It caused $275,000 in property damage but no injuries or deaths, making it simultaneously the costliest, widest, and longest tornado in the Pacific Grove area's recorded history.
The most recent tornado occurred on January 6, 2019, rated EF0 with a brief 0.1-mile path and maximum width of just 6 yards. It caused no property damage or injuries. While tornadoes remain rare events in coastal California, the historical record demonstrates that they can and do occur, typically during the winter months when atmospheric conditions occasionally support weak, short-lived funnel clouds.