Santee, CA Tornado History — 17 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Santee, CA had?
Santee has had 17 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Santee?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Santee was an EF0 on September 22, 2007.
When is tornado season in Santee?
February is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Santee, with 5 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 Santee
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 Santee been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Santee from any of the 17 tornadoes since 1950, though 1 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Santee
About Tornadoes in Santee
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.
Santee, California, has experienced 17 tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. While tornadoes are relatively rare in Southern California compared to the Great Plains, this record demonstrates that the region is not immune to these rotating columns of air. All documented tornadoes in the Santee area have been rated EF0 or EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, indicating relatively weak intensity with maximum wind speeds below 110 mph.
The temporal distribution shows modest activity beginning with one tornado in the 1950s, followed by three events each in the 1970s and 1980s. Tornado frequency increased in subsequent decades, with five tornadoes recorded in both the 1990s and 2000s. February stands out as the peak month for tornado activity, accounting for five events, which aligns with the winter storm season when Pacific weather systems can produce the atmospheric instability and wind shear necessary for tornado formation in California.
The most significant tornado on record occurred on March 19, 1991, when an F1 tornado carved a one-mile path with a maximum width of 440 yards, causing $275,000 in property damage. This event also holds the distinction of being the widest tornado documented in the area. The longest-tracked tornado was an F0 that traveled three miles on February 8, 1998, though it caused no property damage despite its 30-yard width. The most recent tornado touched down on September 22, 2007, as a brief EF0 event with a path length of just 0.1 miles and minimal damage of $100.
Notably, none of the tornadoes on record in the Santee area have resulted in fatalities. The predominance of EF0 ratings—11 of the 17 total events—reflects the generally weaker nature of California tornadoes, which typically form in different atmospheric conditions than their more powerful counterparts in other regions of the United States.