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Rancho San Diego, CA Tornado History — 13 Tornadoes Since 1950

California · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Rancho San Diego, CA had?

Rancho San Diego has had 13 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.

When was the most recent tornado near Rancho San Diego?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Rancho San Diego was an Unrated on April 22, 2019.

When is tornado season in Rancho San Diego?

February is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Rancho San Diego, with 5 on record. April through June account for 2 of the 13 tornadoes on record near Rancho San Diego.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
13
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
0
0.0% of total
Peak Month
February
5 on record
Per Year Avg
0.2
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Rancho San Diego

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 1 total, averaging 0.1 per year over this window.

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

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 1
1970s 2
1980s 3
1990s 3
2000s 3
2010s 1

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 8
EF1 4
Unrated 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 2
Feb 5
Mar 3
Apr 2
May 0
Jun 0
Jul 0
Aug 0
Sep 0
Oct 0
Nov 1
Dec 0

Have any tornadoes near Rancho San Diego been fatal?

No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Rancho San Diego from any of the 13 tornadoes since 1950, though 1 injuries have been reported, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.

Notable Tornadoes Near Rancho San Diego

Costliest Tornado
F1 on March 19, 1991 — est. ~$275K (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F1 on March 19, 1991 — 440 yards wide.
Longest Path
F0 on February 8, 1998 — 3.0 mile track.
Most Recent
Unrated on April 22, 2019.

What the record shows near Rancho San Diego

The 1980s were the busiest decade near Rancho San Diego, with 3 of the 13 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2010s have produced 1 so far. The Rancho San Diego record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Rancho San Diego, 12 reached EF0 or EF1 and 0 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Rancho San Diego is rated EF1, of which 4 are logged. A further 1 near Rancho San Diego is unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.

Across the last 20 years Rancho San Diego has averaged 0.1 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 1 in total. 2019 was the busiest of them with 1, and 19 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Rancho San Diego, CA had?
Since 1950, 13 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Rancho San Diego. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
When is tornado season in Rancho San Diego?
February is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Rancho San Diego, with 5 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 Rancho San Diego?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Rancho San Diego was an Unrated on April 22, 2019.
How do I get tornado warnings for Rancho San Diego?
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.

Official Resources

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