Reedley, CA Tornado History — 31 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Reedley, CA had?
Reedley has had 31 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Reedley?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Reedley was an EF1 on January 17, 2019.
When is tornado season in Reedley?
March is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Reedley, with 10 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 Reedley
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 5 total, averaging 0.3 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Reedley since December 29, 2025
These are 3 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are not counted in the confirmed totals above.
Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.
Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.
Within 25 miles of Reedley. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
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 Reedley been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Reedley from any of the 31 tornadoes since 1950, though 5 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Reedley
About Tornadoes in Reedley
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.
Reedley, California has experienced 31 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This relatively modest total reflects the region's position in California's Central Valley, where tornadoes occur less frequently than in the nation's central plains but are not uncommon during certain weather patterns. The majority of these events have been weak, with 22 rated EF0 and 7 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest). Only 2 tornadoes reached EF2 intensity.
Tornado activity near Reedley has varied considerably by decade. The 1950s and 1960s saw minimal activity with just 1 and 2 tornadoes respectively, while the 1970s recorded 2 events. Activity increased notably during the 1980s and 1990s, with 8 tornadoes documented in each decade. The 2000s brought 6 tornadoes, and the 2010s recorded 4 events. March stands out as the peak month for tornado occurrence, accounting for 11 of the 31 total events, reflecting the influence of spring storm systems moving through California.
No tornadoes in the Reedley area have resulted in fatalities since record-keeping began in 1950. The costliest tornado on record was an F1 that struck on February 19, 1980, causing $2,750,000 in property damage along a 1.7-mile path with a maximum width of 10 yards. The longest-track tornado was an F2 on April 5, 1980, which traveled 15.0 miles with a narrow 10-yard width and caused $275,000 in damage. The widest tornado reached 100 yards across during a February 15, 1986 F0 event that caused $275,000 in damage over a half-mile path.
The most recent tornado occurred on January 17, 2019, when an EF1 touched down with a maximum width of 20 yards. This event traveled 0.3 miles and caused $500,000 in property damage, with no fatalities reported. Winter and early spring tornadoes are characteristic of California's tornado climatology, often associated with strong Pacific storm systems that bring dynamic weather conditions to the Central Valley.