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Rancho Santa Margarita, CA Tornado History — 39 Tornadoes Since 1950

California · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Rancho Santa Margarita, CA had?

Rancho Santa Margarita has had 39 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.

When was the most recent tornado near Rancho Santa Margarita?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Rancho Santa Margarita was an EF0 on October 8, 2022.

When is tornado season in Rancho Santa Margarita?

February is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Rancho Santa Margarita, with 8 on record. April through June account for 6 of the 39 tornadoes on record near Rancho Santa Margarita.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
39
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
0
0.0% of total
Peak Month
February
8 on record
Per Year Avg
0.5
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Rancho Santa Margarita

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 8 total, averaging 0.4 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 0
2024 0
2023 0
2022 1
2021 0
2020 0
2019 0
2018 0
2017 0
2016 0
2015 0
2014 0
2013 0
2012 2
2011 0
2010 0
2009 0
2008 4
2007 1

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 1
1960s 4
1970s 2
1980s 7
1990s 14
2000s 8
2010s 2
2020s 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 25
EF1 12
EF2 2

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 7
Feb 8
Mar 4
Apr 2
May 4
Jun 0
Jul 0
Aug 1
Sep 2
Oct 1
Nov 6
Dec 4

Have any tornadoes near Rancho Santa Margarita been fatal?

No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Rancho Santa Margarita from any of the 39 tornadoes since 1950, though 8 injuries have been reported, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.

Notable Tornadoes Near Rancho Santa Margarita

Costliest Tornado
F0 on January 17, 1993 — est. ~$2.8M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F1 on November 11, 1997 — 200 yards wide.
Longest Path
F1 on March 16, 1977 — 10.9 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on October 8, 2022.

What the record shows near Rancho Santa Margarita

The 1990s were the busiest decade near Rancho Santa Margarita, with 14 of the 39 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 1 so far. The Rancho Santa Margarita record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Rancho Santa Margarita, 37 reached EF0 or EF1 and 2 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Rancho Santa Margarita is rated EF2, of which 2 are logged.

Across the last 20 years Rancho Santa Margarita has averaged 0.4 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 8 in total. 2008 was the busiest of them with 4, and 16 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Rancho Santa Margarita, CA had?
Since 1950, 39 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Rancho Santa Margarita. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
When is tornado season in Rancho Santa Margarita?
February is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Rancho Santa Margarita, with 8 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 Santa Margarita?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Rancho Santa Margarita was an EF0 on October 8, 2022.
How do I get tornado warnings for Rancho Santa Margarita?
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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