South Gate, CA Tornado History — 53 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has South Gate, CA had?
South Gate has had 53 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near South Gate?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of South Gate was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in South Gate?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near South Gate, 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 South Gate
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 7 total, averaging 0.3 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 South Gate been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of South Gate from any of the 53 tornadoes since 1950, though 50 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near South Gate
About Tornadoes in South Gate
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.
South Gate, California, sits in a region with a surprisingly active tornado history for the West Coast. According to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, 52 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of the city since 1950, a figure that challenges common assumptions about tornado geography being limited to the central United States. While these events are typically weaker than their Great Plains counterparts, they demonstrate that tornadoes can and do occur in Southern California's unique meteorological environment.
The distribution of tornado activity near South Gate shows notable variation across decades. The 1990s recorded the highest count with 15 tornadoes, while the 1980s saw 12 events. Activity was lower in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, with two to five tornadoes per decade, and has remained relatively modest in recent years with two tornadoes in the 2010s and five so far in the 2020s. The most recent event occurred on March 13, 2025, an EF0 tornado with a one-mile path length and maximum width of 80 yards that caused no injuries or property damage.
Intensity analysis reveals that the vast majority of tornadoes in this area have been relatively weak. Of the 52 recorded events, 28 were rated EF0, 19 were rated EF1, and only five reached EF2 strength. Remarkably, no tornadoes on record in this area have resulted in fatalities. The costliest tornado struck on March 1, 1983, an F2-rated storm that carved a 3.5-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards and caused $27.5 million in property damage. The widest tornado occurred on November 9, 1982, another F2 event that reached 1,300 yards in width along a 10-mile path, while the longest-tracked tornado was an F1 on March 17, 1977, traveling 10.9 miles.
Seasonally, tornado activity near South Gate deviates sharply from national patterns. January is the peak month with 11 recorded events, reflecting the influence of Pacific storm systems and atmospheric conditions unique to coastal California during winter months. This winter maximum contrasts with the spring and early summer peak typical of tornado activity in the central and eastern United States, where warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico interacts with strong jet stream dynamics.