Walnut, CA Tornado History — 43 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Walnut, CA had?
Walnut has had 43 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Walnut?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Walnut was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in Walnut?
March is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Walnut, with 9 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 Walnut
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 Walnut been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Walnut from any of the 43 tornadoes since 1950, though 19 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Walnut
About Tornadoes in Walnut
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.
Walnut, California, sits in an area where tornado activity, while not absent, differs markedly from the frequent severe weather seen in the Great Plains. According to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, 37 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of the city since 1950. All of these events have been rated EF0 or EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, indicating relatively weak tornadoes with maximum wind speeds below 110 mph. Notably, none of the tornadoes on record have resulted in fatalities.
The distribution of tornadoes over time shows considerable variation by decade. The 1990s saw the highest concentration with 13 recorded events, while the 2010s recorded only a single tornado. The 1950s and 1960s each documented 2 tornadoes, the 1970s had 4, and the 1980s saw 6. The current decade through 2025 has recorded 4 tornadoes, including the most recent event on March 13, 2025, an EF0 tornado with a one-mile path length and maximum width of 80 yards that caused no damage or injuries.
March stands out as the peak month for tornado activity in the area, accounting for 8 of the 37 recorded events. This seasonal pattern aligns with broader meteorological trends in California, where late winter and early spring create atmospheric conditions that can occasionally support tornadic development. The costliest tornado on record occurred on March 16, 1986, when an F1 tornado caused $2.75 million in property damage along a 1.2-mile path. The longest-tracked tornado was an F1 event on March 17, 1977, which traveled 10.9 miles with a narrow 10-yard maximum width and also resulted in $2.75 million in damage.
The widest tornado recorded in the area was an F1 that touched down on November 11, 1997, reaching a maximum width of 200 yards despite traveling only 0.2 miles and causing no reported damage. Of the 37 tornadoes documented, 24 were rated EF0 and 13 were rated EF1, reflecting the generally weak nature of tornadoes in this region compared to those in areas more prone to severe convective storms.