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South Lake Tahoe, CA Tornado History — 5 Tornadoes Since 1950

California · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has South Lake Tahoe, CA had?

South Lake Tahoe has had 5 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.

When was the most recent tornado near South Lake Tahoe?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of South Lake Tahoe was an EF0 on September 21, 2017.

When is tornado season in South Lake Tahoe?

September is historically the peak month for tornadoes near South Lake Tahoe, with 2 on record. April through June account for 1 of the 5 tornadoes on record near South Lake Tahoe.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
5
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
0
0.0% of total
Peak Month
September
2 on record
Per Year Avg
0.1
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near South Lake Tahoe

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 3 total, averaging 0.1 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 0
2024 0
2023 0
2022 0
2021 0
2020 0
2019 0
2018 0
2017 2
2016 0
2015 1
2014 0
2013 0
2012 0
2011 0
2010 0
2009 0
2008 0
2007 0

Tornadoes by Decade

2000s 2
2010s 3

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.

EF0 5

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 0
Mar 0
Apr 1
May 0
Jun 0
Jul 1
Aug 1
Sep 2
Oct 0
Nov 0
Dec 0

Have any tornadoes near South Lake Tahoe been fatal?

No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of South Lake Tahoe from any of the 5 tornadoes since 1950, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.

Notable Tornadoes Near South Lake Tahoe

Widest Tornado
EF0 on September 13, 2017 — 50 yards wide.
Longest Path
EF0 on July 8, 2015 — 2.7 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on September 21, 2017.

What the record shows near South Lake Tahoe

The 2010s are the busiest decade on record so far near South Lake Tahoe, with 3 of the 5 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles. The South Lake Tahoe record runs from the 2000s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near South Lake Tahoe, 5 reached EF0 or EF1 and 0 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near South Lake Tahoe is rated EF0, of which 5 are logged.

Across the last 20 years South Lake Tahoe has averaged 0.1 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 3 in total. 2017 was the busiest of them with 2, and 18 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has South Lake Tahoe, CA had?
Since 1950, 5 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of South Lake Tahoe. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
When is tornado season in South Lake Tahoe?
September is historically the peak month for tornadoes near South Lake Tahoe, with 2 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
When was the most recent tornado near South Lake Tahoe?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of South Lake Tahoe was an EF0 on September 21, 2017.
How do I get tornado warnings for South Lake Tahoe?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

Official Resources

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