Pittsburg, CA Tornado History — 12 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Pittsburg, CA had?
Pittsburg has had 12 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Pittsburg?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Pittsburg was an Unrated on April 21, 2022.
When is tornado season in Pittsburg?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Pittsburg, with 3 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 Pittsburg
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 Pittsburg been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Pittsburg from any of the 12 tornadoes since 1950, though 1 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Pittsburg
About Tornadoes in Pittsburg
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.
Pittsburg, California, located in the eastern San Francisco Bay Area, has experienced 12 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records. This relatively modest count reflects the region's coastal climate, where tornadoes are far less common than in the central United States. None of these events resulted in fatalities, and the vast majority caused minimal damage.
The Enhanced Fujita scale classifies tornado intensity based on damage indicators, ranging from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest). Of the 12 tornadoes recorded near Pittsburg, 10 were rated EF0, one reached EF1 intensity, and one remains unrated. The strongest event on record occurred on January 23, 2010, when an EF1 tornado traveled 1.6 miles with a maximum width of just 2 yards, causing $25,000 in property damage. This narrow path length is typical of weak tornadoes that form in environments with limited atmospheric energy.
Tornado activity in the Pittsburg area has been sporadic across the decades. The 1990s saw the highest concentration with five events, followed by three in the 1980s, two in the 2010s, and one each in the 2000s and 2020s. April has been the most active month, accounting for three tornadoes, which aligns with springtime patterns when temperature contrasts and atmospheric instability increase across California. The costliest tornado struck on April 25, 1994, producing $27,500 in property damage along a 0.7-mile path with a maximum width of 30 yards.
The most recent tornado near Pittsburg occurred on April 21, 2022. This unrated event had a maximum width of 16 yards and caused no reported damage or injuries. The widest tornado on record, at 30 yards, touched down on May 12, 1998, traveling just 0.2 miles without causing property damage. These characteristics underscore the generally weak nature of tornadoes in the Bay Area, where geographic and climatic factors typically prevent the development of the large, violent tornadoes more common in other parts of the country.