Seal Beach, CA Tornado History — 57 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Seal Beach, CA had?
Seal Beach has had 57 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Seal Beach?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Seal Beach was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in Seal Beach?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Seal Beach, with 11 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 Seal Beach
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 8 total, averaging 0.4 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 Seal Beach been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Seal Beach from any of the 57 tornadoes since 1950, though 53 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Seal Beach
About Tornadoes in Seal Beach
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.
Seal Beach, California, and its surrounding 25-mile radius have experienced 57 documented tornadoes since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This coastal region's tornado activity differs markedly from the nation's interior plains, with peak occurrence in January rather than the traditional spring months. The winter maximum reflects the influence of Pacific storm systems and atmospheric conditions unique to Southern California's coastal zone.
The distribution of tornadoes by decade shows considerable variation, with the 1990s recording the highest count at 18 events, followed by 10 in the 1980s and 8 in the 1960s. More recent decades have seen fewer tornadoes, with only 2 events in the 2010s, though 5 have already occurred in the 2020s through early 2025. The most recent tornado touched down on March 13, 2025, an EF0-rated event with a one-mile path length and maximum width of 80 yards that caused no injuries or property damage.
The intensity distribution reveals that most tornadoes in this area have been relatively weak. Of the 57 recorded events, 31 were rated EF0 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage indicators. Another 21 were rated EF1, and only 5 reached EF2 intensity. Notably, no tornadoes on record in this area have resulted in fatalities. The costliest event occurred on March 1, 1983, when an F2 tornado carved a 3.5-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards, causing $27.5 million in property damage but no deaths.
Two other significant tornadoes warrant mention for their physical dimensions. On November 9, 1982, an F2 tornado achieved the widest recorded path at 1,300 yards across while traveling 10 miles and causing $2.75 million in damage. The longest-track tornado occurred on March 17, 1977, when an F1 event traveled 10.9 miles with a narrow 10-yard width, also resulting in $2.75 million in damage. These events illustrate that while Southern California tornadoes are generally less intense than those in other parts of the country, they can still produce notable damage and require appropriate preparedness measures.