Watsonville, CA Tornado History — 15 Tornadoes Since 1950
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. 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 Watsonville
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 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. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Watsonville
About Tornadoes in Watsonville
This overview was written July 29, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Watsonville sits in the Pajaro Valley of Santa Cruz County, at the edge of Monterey Bay, and its tornado history reads like a chronicle of California's wet season: most of its twisters have spun up when winter Pacific storms push unstable marine air onshore. December 7, 1992 brought two F1 tornadoes to the area, with an F0 following on December 12, 1992. Other cool-season touchdowns include an F0 on December 6, 1998, an F1 on December 21, 2001, an EF0 on December 22, 2012, an EF0 on January 6, 2016, and EF0 tornadoes on January 6, 2019.
Late winter and spring have produced tornadoes here as well. An F1 struck on April 1, 1965, and an F2 tornado touched down on March 11, 1985, tracking half a mile on a path roughly 20 yards wide and causing $2,750 in property damage. F0 tornadoes followed on February 3, 1986 and April 3, 1987, and an EF0 touched down on April 15, 2007.
On December 14, 2024, an EF1 tornado struck the Watsonville area, injuring five people along a 0.31-mile path — proof that even a narrow, short-lived tornado in this coastal valley can hurt people and damage property.