Sunnyvale, CA Tornado History — 9 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Sunnyvale, CA had?
Sunnyvale has had 9 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Sunnyvale?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Sunnyvale was an EF1 on December 14, 2024.
When is tornado season in Sunnyvale?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Sunnyvale, 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
Recent Tornado Activity Near Sunnyvale
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 1 total, averaging 0.1 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 Sunnyvale been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Sunnyvale from any of the 9 tornadoes since 1950, though 8 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Sunnyvale
About Tornadoes in Sunnyvale
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.
Sunnyvale, California, has experienced nine documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records. This relatively modest count reflects the rarity of tornadic activity in the San Francisco Bay Area compared to regions east of the Rocky Mountains, where atmospheric conditions more frequently support supercell thunderstorm development. The majority of these events occurred during the 1990s, which saw five tornadoes, while the 1950s and 1980s each recorded one or two, and the 2020s have contributed one event to date.
The tornadoes documented near Sunnyvale have been predominantly weak, with three rated EF0, four rated EF1, and two reaching EF2 intensity on the Enhanced Fujita scale. The EF scale, implemented in 2007 to replace the original Fujita scale, estimates tornado strength based on observed damage to structures and vegetation, with EF0 representing winds of 65–85 mph and EF2 indicating winds of 111–135 mph. Notably, none of the recorded tornadoes in this area resulted in fatalities, though property damage has varied considerably across events.
The costliest and longest-tracked tornado on record occurred on January 11, 1951, when an F2 tornado carved a 5.7-mile path with a maximum width of just 10 yards, causing $2.75 million in property damage. The widest tornado, also rated F2, touched down on May 6, 1998, reaching 100 yards in width during its 0.6-mile track but causing minimal documented damage. Most recently, an EF1 tornado struck on December 14, 2024, traveling 0.3 miles with a maximum width of 30 yards.
January stands out as the peak month for tornado activity in the Sunnyvale area, with two events recorded during that month. This winter peak is unusual compared to the national pattern, where tornadoes most commonly occur during spring and early summer when warm, moist air masses collide with cooler, drier air. The winter tornado activity near Sunnyvale typically results from Pacific storm systems that occasionally produce localized rotating updrafts under specific atmospheric conditions.