Pacifica, CA Tornado History — 6 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Pacifica, CA had?
Pacifica has had 6 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Pacifica?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Pacifica was a F1 on March 20, 2005.
When is tornado season in Pacifica?
March is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Pacifica, with 2 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
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 Pacifica been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Pacifica from any of the 6 tornadoes since 1950. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Pacifica
About Tornadoes in Pacifica
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.
Pacifica, California has experienced six tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records. This relatively low count reflects the rarity of tornadic activity along the central California coast, where atmospheric conditions typically differ markedly from those in the nation's more tornado-prone regions. All recorded events have been rated EF0 or EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, indicating wind speeds below 110 mph and generally limited structural damage.
The temporal distribution of these tornadoes shows sporadic occurrence across the decades, with one event in the 1950s, one in the 1980s, three during the 1990s, and one in the 2000s. March has been the most active month, accounting for two of the six tornadoes, though events have also occurred in April and December. This seasonal pattern aligns with the passage of strong Pacific storm systems during the cooler months, when wind shear and atmospheric instability can occasionally support weak tornado development in coastal California.
The costliest tornado on record struck on April 1, 1958, producing $27,500 in property damage along a 0.2-mile path with a maximum width of 67 yards. The widest tornado, rated F0, traveled 1.5 miles on December 6, 1998, reaching a maximum width of 150 yards but causing no reported property damage. The longest-track tornado occurred on March 20, 2005, when an F1 tornado carved a three-mile path with a maximum width of 30 yards, causing minimal damage reported at one dollar.
Notably, none of the tornadoes recorded near Pacifica have resulted in fatalities. The combination of weak intensity ratings, short path lengths, and the coastal geography has limited the potential for the most severe outcomes. Four of the six events were rated EF0, the weakest classification, while only two reached EF1 intensity. The most recent tornado on record remains the March 2005 event, which also holds the distinction of being the longest-tracked tornado in the area's documented history.