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Pico Rivera, CA Tornado History — 58 Tornadoes Since 1950

California · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Pico Rivera, CA had?

Pico Rivera has had 58 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.

When was the most recent tornado near Pico Rivera?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Pico Rivera was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.

When is tornado season in Pico Rivera?

January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Pico Rivera, with 12 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 Since 1950
58
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
0
0.0% of total
Peak Month
January
12 on record
Per Year Avg
0.8
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Pico Rivera

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 7 total, averaging 0.3 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 1
2024 0
2023 4
2022 0
2021 0
2020 0
2019 0
2018 0
2017 0
2016 0
2015 0
2014 1
2013 0
2012 0
2011 0
2010 1
2009 0
2008 0
2007 0

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 2
1960s 6
1970s 6
1980s 13
1990s 17
2000s 7
2010s 2
2020s 5

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.

EF0 33
EF1 20
EF2 5

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 12
Feb 10
Mar 10
Apr 1
May 6
Jun 1
Jul 0
Aug 0
Sep 2
Oct 0
Nov 8
Dec 8

Have any tornadoes near Pico Rivera been fatal?

No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Pico Rivera from any of the 58 tornadoes since 1950, though 50 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.

Notable Tornadoes Near Pico Rivera

Costliest Tornado
F2 on March 1, 1983 — est. ~$27.5M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F2 on November 9, 1982 — 1,300 yards wide.
Longest Path
F1 on March 16, 1977 — 10.9 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on March 13, 2025.

About Tornadoes in Pico Rivera

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.

Pico Rivera sits on the flat floodplain between the Rio Hondo and the San Gabriel River in southeastern Los Angeles County, and its tornado history follows a distinctly Californian rhythm: the twisters that have touched down nearby arrive mostly in the cooler months, delivered by winter Pacific storms moving through the Los Angeles Basin rather than by springtime supercells.

The area's rougher episodes have come in late fall and winter. On November 7, 1966, an F2 tornado tracked 10.3 miles through the region, injuring 10 people and causing $275,000 in property damage. F2 damage returned on November 9, 1982, when one tornado traveled 10 miles with a path as wide as 1,300 yards and caused $2.75 million in losses. A few months later, on March 1, 1983, an F2 tornado injured 30 people along a 3.5-mile path and left $27.5 million in property damage.

More recent activity near the city has been weaker but persistent, and still keyed to the cool season. An EF1 touched down on January 19, 2010, and another EF1 struck on March 22, 2023 — a stormy year that also produced EF0 tornadoes on February 23 and May 4. An EF0 followed on March 13, 2025, a reminder that even this corner of Southern California sees tornadoes when the right Pacific system comes ashore.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Pico Rivera, CA had?
Since 1950, 58 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Pico Rivera. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
When is tornado season in Pico Rivera?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Pico Rivera, with 12 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
When was the most recent tornado near Pico Rivera?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Pico Rivera was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Pico Rivera?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

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