Torrance, CA Tornado History — 48 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Torrance, CA had?
Torrance has had 48 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Torrance?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Torrance was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in Torrance?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Torrance, with 10 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 Torrance
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 7 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 Torrance been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Torrance from any of the 48 tornadoes since 1950, though 50 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Torrance
About Tornadoes in Torrance
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.
Torrance, California has experienced 48 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records. This activity places the coastal Los Angeles County city in a region where tornadoes occur with modest frequency, though they differ markedly from the stronger systems common to the central United States. All recorded events have been rated EF2 or lower on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with 24 classified as EF0, 19 as EF1, and just 5 reaching EF2 intensity. Notably, no tornado-related fatalities have been recorded in the area during this period.
Tornado activity in the Torrance area peaked during the 1980s and 1990s, with 13 events documented in each decade. The 1950s and 2010s saw the lowest activity with only 2 tornadoes each, while the current decade has already recorded 5 events through early 2025. The most recent tornado occurred on March 13, 2025, an EF0 event with a 1-mile path length and maximum width of 80 yards that caused no reported damage or injuries.
Unlike much of the country where tornadoes concentrate in spring and early summer, the Torrance area shows a distinct winter peak, with January accounting for 10 of the 48 recorded events. This pattern reflects the influence of Pacific storm systems that can generate brief, relatively weak tornadoes when atmospheric conditions align. The costliest tornado on record struck on March 1, 1983, an F2 event that caused $27.5 million in property damage along a 3.5-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards. The widest tornado occurred on November 9, 1982, reaching 1,300 yards across during a 10-mile track that resulted in $2.75 million in damage, while the longest-tracked system moved 10.9 miles on March 17, 1977.
The Enhanced Fujita scale, implemented in 2007 to replace the original Fujita scale, estimates tornado intensity based on damage to structures and vegetation. EF0 tornadoes produce winds of 65-85 mph, EF1 tornadoes generate 86-110 mph winds, and EF2 events reach 111-135 mph. The concentration of lower-intensity events in the Torrance area reflects typical characteristics of West Coast tornadoes, which generally form in different atmospheric environments than their more powerful counterparts in the Great Plains.