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Riverside, CA Tornado History — 18 Tornadoes Since 1950

California · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Riverside, CA had?

Riverside has had 18 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.

When was the most recent tornado near Riverside?

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

When is tornado season in Riverside?

May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Riverside, with 5 on record. April through June account for 6 of the 18 tornadoes on record near Riverside.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
18
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
0
0.0% of total
Peak Month
May
5 on record
Per Year Avg
0.2
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Riverside

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 1
2014 0
2013 0
2012 2
2011 0
2010 0
2009 0
2008 4
2007 0

What storm spotters reported near Riverside

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Riverside and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 9, 2025 and the most recent on May 9, 2025. It is already counted in the Riverside totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.

May 9, 2025
1 NNW Fontana, San Bernardino County, CA
[Landspout] Time of occurrence is approximate. Dust devil did damage to a carport. (SGX)

Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 1
1960s 1
1970s 1
1980s 1
1990s 3
2000s 7
2010s 3
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 15
EF1 2
EF2 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 1
Feb 1
Mar 4
Apr 1
May 5
Jun 0
Jul 1
Aug 1
Sep 1
Oct 2
Nov 1
Dec 0

Have any tornadoes near Riverside been fatal?

No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Riverside from any of the 18 tornadoes since 1950, though 5 injuries have been reported, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.

Notable Tornadoes Near Riverside

Costliest Tornado
F1 on March 16, 1977 — est. ~$2.8M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
EF2 on May 22, 2008 — 75 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 Riverside

The 2000s were the busiest decade near Riverside, with 7 of the 18 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 1 so far. The Riverside record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Riverside, 17 reached EF0 or EF1 and 1 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Riverside is rated EF2, of which 1 is logged.

Across the last 20 years Riverside 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 Riverside, CA had?
Since 1950, 18 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Riverside. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
When is tornado season in Riverside?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Riverside, 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 Riverside?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Riverside was an EF0 on October 8, 2022.
How do I get tornado warnings for Riverside?
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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