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Watsonville, CA Tornado History — 15 Tornadoes Since 1950

California · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Watsonville, CA had?

Watsonville has had 15 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.

When was the most recent tornado near Watsonville?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Watsonville was an EF1 on December 14, 2024.

When is tornado season in Watsonville?

December is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Watsonville, with 7 on record. April through June account for 3 of the 15 tornadoes on record near Watsonville.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
15
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
0
0.0% of total
Peak Month
December
7 on record
Per Year Avg
0.2
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Watsonville

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 6 total, averaging 0.3 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 0
2024 1
2023 0
2022 0
2021 0
2020 0
2019 2
2018 0
2017 0
2016 1
2015 0
2014 0
2013 0
2012 1
2011 0
2010 0
2009 0
2008 0
2007 1

Tornadoes by Decade

1960s 1
1980s 3
1990s 4
2000s 2
2010s 4
2020s 1

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.

EF0 9
EF1 5
EF2 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 3
Feb 1
Mar 1
Apr 3
May 0
Jun 0
Jul 0
Aug 0
Sep 0
Oct 0
Nov 0
Dec 7

Have any tornadoes near Watsonville been fatal?

No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Watsonville from any of the 15 tornadoes since 1950, though 7 injuries have been reported, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.

Notable Tornadoes Near Watsonville

Costliest Tornado
F1 on December 6, 1992 — est. ~$275K (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F0 on December 5, 1998 — 100 yards wide.
Longest Path
F1 on December 6, 1992 — 7.0 mile track.
Most Recent
EF1 on December 14, 2024.

What the record shows near Watsonville

The 1990s were the busiest decade near Watsonville, with 4 of the 15 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 1 so far. The Watsonville record runs from the 1960s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Watsonville, 14 reached EF0 or EF1 and 1 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Watsonville is rated EF2, of which 1 is logged.

Across the last 20 years Watsonville has averaged 0.3 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 6 in total. 2019 was the busiest of them with 2, and 15 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Watsonville, CA had?
Since 1950, 15 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Watsonville. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
When is tornado season in Watsonville?
December is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Watsonville, with 7 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
When was the most recent tornado near Watsonville?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Watsonville was an EF1 on December 14, 2024.
How do I get tornado warnings for Watsonville?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

Official Resources

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