Pleasant Hill, CA Tornado History — 11 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Pleasant Hill, CA had?
Pleasant Hill has had 11 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Pleasant Hill?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Pleasant Hill was an EF0 on April 7, 2011.
When is tornado season in Pleasant Hill?
December is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Pleasant Hill, 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 Pleasant Hill
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 2 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 Pleasant Hill been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Pleasant Hill from any of the 11 tornadoes since 1950, though 1 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Pleasant Hill
About Tornadoes in Pleasant Hill
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.
Pleasant Hill, California, has experienced 11 tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This relatively modest total reflects the region's position along the Pacific Coast, where tornado formation is less common than in the central United States due to cooler ocean temperatures and different atmospheric dynamics. The vast majority of these events have been weak, with 10 rated EF0 and only one reaching EF1 intensity on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado strength from EF0 (65–85 mph winds) to EF5 (over 200 mph winds).
Tornado activity near Pleasant Hill peaked during the 1990s, when six tornadoes were recorded in the area. Three tornadoes occurred in the 1980s, and two more were documented in the 2010s. Notably, December has been the most active month, with three tornadoes on record, a pattern that differs from the traditional spring peak seen in much of the country. This winter maximum likely relates to the region's wet season, when Pacific storm systems bring the moisture and instability necessary for severe weather development.
None of the tornadoes recorded near Pleasant Hill have resulted in fatalities. The costliest event occurred on April 25, 1994, when an F0 tornado caused $27,500 in property damage along a 0.7-mile path with a maximum width of 30 yards. The widest tornado touched down on December 6, 1998, reaching 150 yards across during its 1.5-mile track, though it caused no reported damage. The longest-tracked tornado was an EF1 that traveled 1.6 miles on January 23, 2010, with a narrow 2-yard width and $25,000 in damage.
The most recent tornado in the area was an EF0 that struck on April 7, 2011, causing $26,000 in damage along a brief 0.1-mile path just 10 yards wide. The limited damage figures and short path lengths associated with these events underscore their generally weak nature, consistent with the atmospheric conditions typical of California's coastal and near-coastal regions.