West Carson, CA Tornado History — 49 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has West Carson, CA had?
West Carson has had 49 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near West Carson?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of West Carson was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in West Carson?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near West Carson, with 11 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 West Carson
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 West Carson been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of West Carson from any of the 49 tornadoes since 1950, though 50 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near West Carson
About Tornadoes in West Carson
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.
West Carson, California has experienced 49 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This tornado activity is notably concentrated in the cooler months, with January accounting for 11 events—the peak month for the area. Unlike the traditional spring tornado season seen across much of the central United States, Southern California's tornado climatology reflects different atmospheric dynamics, often involving winter storm systems interacting with Pacific moisture.
The majority of tornadoes in the West Carson area have been relatively weak, with 25 rated EF0 and 19 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage. Five tornadoes reached EF2 strength, capable of considerable damage with estimated wind speeds between 111 and 135 mph. Remarkably, no tornadoes on record in this area have resulted in fatalities, though several have caused significant property damage.
The costliest tornado occurred on March 1, 1983, when an F2 tornado carved a 3.5-mile path with a maximum width of 100 yards, causing $27.5 million in property damage. The widest tornado on record struck on November 9, 1982, reaching an extraordinary 1,300 yards in width and traveling 10 miles while causing $2.75 million in damage. The longest-track tornado occurred on March 17, 1977, when an F1 tornado traveled 10.9 miles with a narrow 10-yard width, also resulting in $2.75 million in damage.
Tornado frequency in the area has varied considerably by decade, with peak activity during the 1990s when 14 tornadoes were recorded. Activity was also elevated in the 1980s with 11 events. More recently, the 2010s saw only 2 tornadoes, though 5 have already been recorded in the 2020s. The most recent tornado touched down on March 13, 2025, an EF0 event that traveled one mile with an 80-yard width and caused no damage or injuries.