San Carlos, CA Tornado History — 11 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has San Carlos, CA had?
San Carlos has had 11 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near San Carlos?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of San Carlos was a F1 on March 20, 2005.
When is tornado season in San Carlos?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near San Carlos, with 2 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
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 San Carlos been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of San Carlos from any of the 11 tornadoes since 1950, though 3 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near San Carlos
About Tornadoes in San Carlos
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.
San Carlos, California, sits in a region not typically associated with frequent tornado activity, yet records from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center document 11 tornadoes within 25 miles of the city since 1950. These events have been relatively weak by national standards, with five rated EF0, four rated EF1, and two reaching EF2 intensity. Notably, none of these tornadoes resulted in fatalities, reflecting both their limited strength and the area's lower population density during earlier decades.
The temporal distribution of these tornadoes shows considerable variation. The 1990s accounted for more than half of all recorded events with six tornadoes, while the 1950s and 1980s each saw two occurrences. Only one tornado has been documented since 2000, an F1 event on March 20, 2005, that traveled three miles with a maximum width of 30 yards and caused minimal damage. This decline in recent decades may reflect actual atmospheric trends or simply natural variability in a region where tornadoes remain uncommon.
Unlike much of the central United States where tornado season peaks in spring and early summer, the San Carlos area shows a different pattern. January has been the most active month on record with two tornadoes, including the costliest and longest-tracked event: an F2 tornado on January 11, 1951, that carved a 5.7-mile path and caused $2.75 million in property damage. Winter tornadoes in California can develop when strong Pacific storm systems bring unusual wind shear and instability to the region, conditions that differ markedly from the warm-season supercells common in other parts of the country.
The widest tornado on record occurred on May 6, 1998, reaching 100 yards across during its brief 0.6-mile track. Despite its F2 rating, this event caused only nominal damage. The Enhanced Fujita scale, used since 2007 to replace the original Fujita scale, estimates tornado intensity based on damage to structures and vegetation, with ratings from EF0 (65–85 mph winds) to EF5 (over 200 mph winds). The historical tornadoes near San Carlos fall at the lower end of this spectrum, consistent with the weaker atmospheric dynamics typically present along the California coast.