South San Francisco, CA Tornado History — 7 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has South San Francisco, CA had?
South San Francisco has had 7 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near South San Francisco?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of South San Francisco was a F1 on March 20, 2005.
When is tornado season in South San Francisco?
March is historically the peak month for tornadoes near South San Francisco, with 2 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
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 San Francisco been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of South San Francisco from any of the 7 tornadoes since 1950, though 1 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near South San Francisco
About Tornadoes in South San Francisco
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 San Francisco, California, has experienced seven documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This relatively modest count reflects the region's coastal climate, where tornado formation is far less common than in the central United States. All recorded tornadoes have been rated EF0 or EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, indicating wind speeds below 110 mph and generally minor damage potential.
The temporal distribution of these events shows notable clustering in the 1990s, when four tornadoes occurred within the search area, compared to single events in the 1950s, 1980s, and 2000s. March has been the most active month historically, with two recorded tornadoes, though events have also occurred in April and December. None of the seven tornadoes on record resulted in fatalities, underscoring both their relatively weak intensity and the area's lower exposure compared to tornado-prone regions.
The costliest tornado in the area's modern record was an F1-rated event on April 1, 1958, which caused $27,500 in property damage along a 0.2-mile path with a maximum width of 67 yards. The widest tornado on record was an F0 that touched down on December 6, 1998, reaching 150 yards in width over a 1.5-mile path but causing no reported property damage. The longest-tracked tornado occurred on March 20, 2005, traveling three miles with a maximum width of 30 yards and causing minimal damage recorded at $1.
The March 2005 tornado remains the most recent event on record within the 25-mile search radius. While tornadoes can develop in California under specific atmospheric conditions—often associated with strong Pacific storm systems or localized instability—the state's coastal areas experience far fewer tornadoes than interior valleys or regions east of the Rocky Mountains. The Enhanced Fujita scale, used to rate tornado intensity since 2007 and applied retroactively to earlier events, categorizes tornadoes from EF0 to EF5 based on observed damage to structures and vegetation.