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Santa Monica, CA Tornado History — 33 Tornadoes Since 1950

California · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

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. April through June account for 7 of the 33 tornadoes on record near Santa Monica.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
33
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
0
0.0% of total
Peak Month
March
7 on record
Per Year Avg
0.4
Across 76 years

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.

2026 0
2025 1
2024 0
2023 3
2022 0
2021 0
2020 0
2019 0
2018 0
2017 0
2016 0
2015 0
2014 1
2013 0
2012 0
2011 0
2010 0
2009 0
2008 0
2007 0

What storm spotters reported near Santa Monica

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Santa Monica and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on December 25, 2025 and the most recent on December 25, 2025. It is already counted in the Santa Monica totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.

December 25, 2025
2 WSW East Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA
The National Weather Service conducted a storm survey in the neighborhood of Boyle Heights in Los Angeles County... CA for damage associated with a low-topped mini supe (LOX)

Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 2
1960s 5
1970s 3
1980s 10
1990s 6
2000s 2
2010s 1
2020s 4

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 17
EF1 11
EF2 5

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 5
Feb 2
Mar 7
Apr 2
May 5
Jun 0
Jul 0
Aug 0
Sep 2
Oct 0
Nov 7
Dec 3

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, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.

Notable Tornadoes Near Santa Monica

Costliest Tornado
F2 on March 1, 1983 — est. ~$27.5M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F2 on November 9, 1982 — 1,300 yards wide.
Longest Path
F2 on November 7, 1966 — 10.3 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on March 13, 2025.

What the record shows near Santa Monica

The 1980s were the busiest decade near Santa Monica, with 10 of the 33 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 4 so far. The Santa Monica record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Santa Monica, 28 reached EF0 or EF1 and 5 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Santa Monica is rated EF2, of which 5 are logged.

Across the last 20 years Santa Monica has averaged 0.3 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 5 in total. 2023 was the busiest of them with 3, and 17 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Santa Monica, CA had?
Since 1950, 33 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Santa Monica. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
When is tornado season in Santa Monica?
March is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Santa Monica, with 7 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 Santa Monica?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Santa Monica was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Santa Monica?
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.

Official Resources

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