Temecula, CA Tornado History — 20 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Temecula, CA had?
Temecula has had 20 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Temecula?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Temecula was an EF0 on October 8, 2022.
When is tornado season in Temecula?
February is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Temecula, 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
Recent Tornado Activity Near Temecula
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 6 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 Temecula been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Temecula from any of the 20 tornadoes since 1950, though 1 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Temecula
About Tornadoes in Temecula
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.
Temecula, California has experienced 20 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records. Unlike the more tornado-prone regions of the central and southeastern United States, Southern California sees relatively infrequent tornado activity, and when tornadoes do occur in this area, they tend to be weak and short-lived. All recorded events near Temecula have been rated EF0 or EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with 16 classified as EF0 and only 4 reaching EF1 intensity.
The majority of these tornadoes occurred during the 2000s, which saw 10 events, while the 1990s recorded 4, the 2010s had 3, the 1970s documented 2, and the 2020s has seen 1 thus far. February stands out as the peak month for tornado activity in the area with 5 events on record, reflecting the influence of winter storm systems that occasionally produce weak tornadoes in California's coastal and inland valleys. The Enhanced Fujita scale, which rates tornadoes from EF0 to EF5 based on damage indicators, helps meteorologists classify tornado intensity even when events are brief or occur in sparsely populated areas.
Notably, none of the tornadoes recorded near Temecula have resulted in fatalities. The costliest event on record was an F0 tornado on August 12, 1994, which caused $275,000 in property damage along a 0.1-mile path with a maximum width of just 10 yards. The widest tornado was an F1 that touched down on December 18, 1978, reaching 80 yards in width and traveling 0.8 miles while causing $27,500 in damage. The longest-tracked tornado occurred on February 19, 2005, when an F1 traveled 2.8 miles with a maximum width of 25 yards but caused no reported property damage.
The most recent tornado in the area was an EF0 that occurred on October 8, 2022, traveling 1.6 miles with a maximum width of 50 yards and causing no injuries or property damage. While tornadoes remain relatively rare events in the Temecula region compared to other parts of the country, the historical record demonstrates that they can and do occur, particularly during the cooler months when dynamic weather systems move through Southern California.