San Mateo, CA Tornado History — 9 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has San Mateo, CA had?
San Mateo has had 9 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near San Mateo?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of San Mateo was a F1 on March 20, 2005.
When is tornado season in San Mateo?
February is historically the peak month for tornadoes near San Mateo, 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 Mateo been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of San Mateo from any of the 9 tornadoes since 1950, though 2 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near San Mateo
About Tornadoes in San Mateo
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 Mateo, California has experienced 9 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records. This relatively modest total reflects the rarity of tornadoes along the California coast, where cool Pacific waters and stable marine air typically suppress the severe thunderstorm development that produces tornadoes in other parts of the country. The tornadoes that have occurred were concentrated in three periods: two events in the 1950s, one in the 1980s, five during the 1990s, and one in the 2000s.
The intensity distribution shows that most tornadoes near San Mateo have been weak, with four rated EF0, three rated EF1, and two rated EF2 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which classifies tornadoes from EF0 (65-85 mph winds) to EF5 (over 200 mph winds). Notably, none of these tornadoes resulted in any recorded fatalities. February has been the most active month with two events, though tornadoes have occurred in other months as well, including the most recent event in March 2005.
The costliest and longest-tracked tornado on record occurred on January 11, 1951, when an F2 tornado carved a 5.7-mile path with a maximum width of just 10 yards, causing $2,750,000 in property damage but no fatalities. The widest tornado reached 100 yards across during a brief 0.6-mile track on May 6, 1998, though this F2 event caused minimal damage. The most recent tornado, an F1 that touched down on March 20, 2005, traveled 3 miles with a maximum width of 30 yards and caused negligible property damage.
While tornadoes can occur in any location given the right atmospheric conditions, the San Mateo area's tornado climatology demonstrates that such events remain infrequent compared to regions where warm, moist air masses regularly collide with cooler, drier air. The historical record suggests that when tornadoes do form in this coastal region, they typically remain weak and short-lived.