Santa Rosa, CA Tornado History — 11 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Santa Rosa, CA had?
Santa Rosa has had 11 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Santa Rosa?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Santa Rosa was an EF1 on March 18, 2011.
When is tornado season in Santa Rosa?
December is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Santa Rosa, with 6 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 Rosa
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 Santa Rosa been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Santa Rosa from any of the 11 tornadoes since 1950. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Santa Rosa
About Tornadoes in Santa Rosa
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 Rosa, California, has experienced 11 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. Unlike the tornado-prone regions of the central and southeastern United States, the North Bay area sees tornadoes infrequently, and when they do occur, they tend to be relatively weak and short-lived. All recorded events have been rated EF2 or lower on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which classifies tornado intensity based on damage indicators, and remarkably, none have resulted in fatalities.
The temporal distribution of these tornadoes shows considerable variation by decade. The 1990s accounted for more than half of all events, with six tornadoes recorded during that ten-year period. Single tornadoes occurred in the 1950s, 1960s, 1980s, 2000s, and 2010s. By intensity, the vast majority were rated EF1, with nine tornadoes in this category, while one EF0 and one EF2 round out the historical record.
December stands out as the peak month for tornado activity near Santa Rosa, with six of the eleven tornadoes occurring during this winter month. This seasonal pattern differs markedly from the spring and early summer peak typical of the Great Plains, reflecting the influence of Pacific storm systems that can produce rotating cells when atmospheric conditions align. The costliest tornado on record struck on December 3, 1992, causing $275,000 in property damage along a 7.5-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards. The longest-track tornado occurred on June 1, 1958, traveling 15 miles as an F2-rated event with a relatively narrow 50-yard width and causing $27,500 in damage.
The most recent tornado touched down on March 18, 2011, rated EF1 with a brief 0.1-mile path and $50,000 in property damage. The widest tornado on record, at 150 yards, occurred on December 6, 1998, though it caused minimal damage along its 1.5-mile track. While tornadoes remain a rare meteorological phenomenon in the Santa Rosa area compared to other regions of the country, the historical record demonstrates that conditions favorable for their formation do occasionally develop in Northern California.