Pleasanton, CA Tornado History — 13 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Pleasanton, CA had?
Pleasanton has had 13 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Pleasanton?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Pleasanton was an EF1 on January 23, 2010.
When is tornado season in Pleasanton?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Pleasanton, 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 Pleasanton
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 1 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 Pleasanton been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Pleasanton from any of the 13 tornadoes since 1950, though 3 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Pleasanton
About Tornadoes in Pleasanton
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.
Pleasanton, California, located in the San Francisco Bay Area's Tri-Valley region, has experienced 13 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This relatively modest count reflects the area's position outside the nation's primary tornado corridors, though the region is not immune to these atmospheric phenomena. The majority of recorded events have been weak, with eight rated EF0 and three rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest).
The temporal distribution of tornadoes near Pleasanton shows notable clustering in the 1980s and 1990s, with four and seven events respectively during those decades. Only one tornado was recorded in the 1950s and one in the 2010s, with no documented events in the 1960s, 1970s, 2000s, or 2020s through the data collection period. Interestingly, January emerges as the peak month for tornado activity with three recorded events, a pattern that differs markedly from the spring and early summer peak typical of the central United States. This winter concentration aligns with California's wet season, when atmospheric instability can accompany Pacific storm systems.
Two tornadoes have reached EF2 intensity in the area's recorded history. The costliest and longest-tracked event occurred on January 11, 1951, carving a 5.7-mile path with a maximum width of just 10 yards and causing $2,750,000 in property damage. The widest tornado on record touched down on May 6, 1998, reaching 100 yards across during its 0.6-mile track, though it caused minimal documented damage of just $4. The most recent tornado struck on January 23, 2010, rated EF1 with a 1.6-mile path, 2-yard maximum width, and $25,000 in property damage.
Significantly, none of the tornadoes recorded within 25 miles of Pleasanton have resulted in fatalities. This safety record, combined with the predominance of weak tornadoes and relatively infrequent occurrence, characterizes the tornado climatology of this Northern California community as low-risk compared to many other regions of the United States.