Selma, CA Tornado History — 36 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Selma, CA had?
Selma has had 36 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Selma?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Selma was an EF1 on January 17, 2019.
When is tornado season in Selma?
March is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Selma, 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 Selma
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 5 total, averaging 0.3 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Selma since December 29, 2025
These are 3 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are not counted in the confirmed totals above.
Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.
Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.
Within 25 miles of Selma. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
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 Selma been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Selma from any of the 36 tornadoes since 1950, though 5 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Selma
About Tornadoes in Selma
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.
Selma, California has experienced 36 tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This activity places the city in a region of California where tornadoes occur with modest frequency, though the vast majority have been weak. Of the recorded events, 26 were rated EF0 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest). Eight tornadoes reached EF1 intensity, and only two attained EF2 status.
Tornado frequency in the Selma area has varied considerably by decade. The 1990s saw the highest activity with 12 tornadoes, while the 1950s recorded just one event. The 1980s brought eight tornadoes, including several of the most significant on record. Activity declined somewhat in the 2000s with six tornadoes and further decreased to four in the 2010s. March has been the most active month historically, accounting for 12 of the 36 tornadoes, reflecting the influence of spring storm systems that can produce rotating thunderstorms in California's Central Valley.
The costliest tornado on record struck on February 19, 1980, when an F1 tornado caused $2,750,000 in property damage along a 1.7-mile path with a maximum width of just 10 yards. The longest-tracked tornado occurred on April 5, 1980, when an F2 tornado traveled 15 miles with a narrow 10-yard width, causing $275,000 in damage. The widest tornado reached 100 yards across on February 15, 1986, an F0 event that caused $275,000 in damage over a half-mile path. Most recently, an EF1 tornado touched down on January 17, 2019, causing $500,000 in damage along a 0.3-mile track.
Notably, none of the tornadoes recorded near Selma since 1950 have resulted in fatalities. This reflects both the generally weak nature of most events and the relatively low population density of the agricultural areas where many of these tornadoes have occurred. While tornadoes remain a meteorological reality for the region, the historical record demonstrates that they have typically been brief, narrow events with limited destructive potential.