Santa Monica, CA Tornado History — 33 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Santa Monica, CA had?
Santa Monica has had 33 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Santa Monica?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Santa Monica was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in Santa Monica?
March is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Santa Monica, with 7 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 Santa Monica
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 5 total, averaging 0.3 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 Santa Monica been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Santa Monica from any of the 33 tornadoes since 1950, though 46 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Santa Monica
About Tornadoes in Santa Monica
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.
Santa Monica, California, and the surrounding 25-mile radius have experienced 33 documented tornadoes since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. While tornadoes are relatively uncommon in coastal Southern California compared to the nation's interior regions, this record demonstrates that the area is not immune to tornadic activity. The majority of these events have been weak, with 17 rated EF0 and 11 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest). Five tornadoes reached EF2 intensity, capable of causing considerable damage to structures.
Tornado activity in the Santa Monica area has varied considerably by decade. The 1980s saw the highest frequency with 10 recorded events, while the 2010s had only one. The 1960s and 1990s each recorded five and six tornadoes respectively, and the current decade through 2025 has already seen four events. March stands out as the peak month for tornado occurrence, accounting for seven of the 33 total events. This seasonal pattern aligns with the period when Pacific storm systems are most active along the California coast.
The costliest tornado on record struck on March 1, 1983, an F2-rated event that caused $27.5 million in property damage along a 3.5-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards. The widest tornado occurred on November 9, 1982, reaching 1,300 yards across and traveling 10 miles while causing $2.75 million in damage. The longest-tracked tornado moved 10.3 miles on November 7, 1966, with a relatively narrow 50-yard width. Remarkably, none of the tornadoes in this area's recorded history have resulted in fatalities.
The most recent tornado touched down on March 13, 2025, rated EF0 with a path length of one mile and maximum width of 80 yards. This event caused no reported property damage and no injuries, consistent with the generally low-impact nature of tornadoes in the Santa Monica vicinity.