How many tornadoes has San Francisco, CA had?
San Francisco has had 6 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near San Francisco?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of San Francisco was an F1 on March 20, 2005.
When is tornado season in San Francisco?
March is historically the peak month for tornadoes near San Francisco, with 2 on record. April through June account for 1 of the 6 tornadoes on record near San Francisco.
At a Glance
Tornadoes Since 1950
6
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
0
0.0% of total
Peak Month
March
2 on record
Per Year Avg
0.1
Across 76 years
Tornadoes by Decade
1950s
1
1980s
1
1990s
3
2000s
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
4
EF1
2
Tornadoes by Month
Jan
0
Feb
1
Mar
2
Apr
1
May
0
Jun
0
Jul
0
Aug
0
Sep
0
Oct
0
Nov
0
Dec
2
Have any tornadoes near San Francisco been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of San Francisco from any of the 6 tornadoes since 1950, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near San Francisco
Costliest Tornado
F1 on April 1, 1958 — est. ~$28K (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F0 on December 5, 1998 — 150 yards wide.
Longest Path
F1 on March 20, 2005 — 3.0 mile track.
Most Recent
F1 on March 20, 2005.
What the record shows near San Francisco
The 1990s were the busiest decade near San Francisco, with 3 of the 6 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2000s have produced 1 so far. The San Francisco record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near San Francisco, 6 reached EF0 or EF1 and 0 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near San Francisco is rated EF1, of which 2 are logged.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tornadoes has San Francisco, CA had?
Since 1950, 6 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of San Francisco. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
When is tornado season in San Francisco?
March is historically the peak month for tornadoes near San Francisco, with 2 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 San Francisco?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of San Francisco was an F1 on March 20, 2005.
How do I get tornado warnings for San Francisco?
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.
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