Spring Valley, CA Tornado History — 12 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Spring Valley, CA had?
Spring Valley has had 12 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Spring Valley?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Spring Valley was a F0 on March 11, 2006.
When is tornado season in Spring Valley?
February is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Spring Valley, with 5 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 Spring Valley been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Spring Valley from any of the 12 tornadoes since 1950, though 1 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Spring Valley
About Tornadoes in Spring Valley
This overview was written July 29, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Spring Valley sits among the hills of western San Diego County, a few miles east of downtown San Diego, and its tornado history follows the rhythm of Southern California's cool season rather than the spring severe-weather pattern of the central United States. When tornadoes have formed here, they have come with the Pacific storm systems that cross the county in winter and early spring.
That cool-season signature runs through the dates themselves. An F1 tornado struck the area on February 21, 1980, and F0 tornadoes touched down in the depths of winter on January 18, 1979, February 4, 1985, and January 14, 1990. Early spring has produced its share as well: an F0 on March 18, 1982, an F1 on March 19, 1991, and an F0 on March 11, 2006. An F1 on April 13, 1956 and another F1 on November 10, 2000 sit at the edges of that season, while F0 touchdowns on February 23, 1971, February 8, 1998, and February 23, 2005 fit the familiar midwinter mold.
These were weak tornadoes by Fujita-scale standards — the brief, narrow circulations that cool-season storms in coastal San Diego County typically spin up — passing through a landscape better known for mild weather than for severe skies.