San Diego, CA Tornado History — 15 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has San Diego, CA had?
San Diego has had 15 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near San Diego?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of San Diego was an EF0 on September 22, 2007.
When is tornado season in San Diego?
February is historically the peak month for tornadoes near San Diego, with 5 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 San Diego
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 1 total, averaging 0.1 per year over this window.
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 Diego been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of San Diego from any of the 15 tornadoes since 1950, though 1 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near San Diego
About Tornadoes in San Diego
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 Diego, California has experienced 15 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. While tornadoes are relatively rare events in this coastal Southern California region, they do occur with enough regularity to merit attention in the historical record. All recorded tornadoes have been rated EF0 or EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, indicating relatively weak intensity with maximum wind speeds below 110 mph.
The distribution of tornado activity shows no events in several decades, including the 1960s, 2010s, and 2020s through the present record. The 1990s and 2000s each saw four tornadoes, while the 1970s and 1980s each recorded three events. Of the 15 total tornadoes, 10 were rated EF0 and five were rated EF1. Notably, there have been no fatalities on record from any tornado in the San Diego area since comprehensive tracking began in 1950.
February stands out as the peak month for tornado activity, accounting for five of the 15 recorded events. This winter peak differs from the traditional spring maximum seen in many other parts of the United States, reflecting the unique meteorological patterns of coastal California where cool-season storm systems occasionally produce tornadic conditions. The costliest and widest tornado on record occurred on March 19, 1991, when an F1-rated tornado carved a one-mile path with a maximum width of 440 yards, causing $275,000 in property damage but no injuries or fatalities.
The longest-track tornado traveled three miles on February 8, 1998, though it was rated F0 and caused no property damage despite its 30-yard width. The most recent documented tornado touched down on September 22, 2007, as a brief EF0 event with a path length of just 0.1 miles, a maximum width of 15 yards, and minimal damage totaling only $100. The rarity and generally weak nature of San Diego's tornadoes reflect the region's marine-influenced climate, which typically lacks the atmospheric instability and wind shear necessary for significant tornado development.