Westminster, CA Tornado History — 55 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Westminster, CA had?
Westminster has had 55 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Westminster?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Westminster was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in Westminster?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Westminster, 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 Westminster
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 8 total, averaging 0.4 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 Westminster been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Westminster from any of the 55 tornadoes since 1950, though 23 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Westminster
About Tornadoes in Westminster
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.
Westminster, California, located in Orange County near the Pacific coast, experiences a tornado climatology markedly different from the severe weather patterns of the Great Plains. According to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, 55 tornadoes have been documented within 25 miles of Westminster since 1950, with the vast majority classified as weak events. Of these, 31 were rated EF0 and 20 were rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest). Only four tornadoes reached EF2 intensity, and none have been recorded with fatalities in the area.
The temporal distribution of tornadoes near Westminster reveals notable variation across decades. Activity peaked during the 1990s with 17 recorded events, followed by 11 in the 1980s. More recent decades have seen fewer tornadoes, with just two documented in the 2010s, though five have already occurred in the 2020s through early 2025. Unlike the spring and early summer tornado season typical of much of the United States, Westminster's peak month is January, accounting for 10 of the 55 total events. This winter maximum reflects the influence of Pacific storm systems and atmospheric conditions unique to coastal Southern California.
While no tornadoes in the area have caused fatalities, several have produced significant damage. The costliest event on record was an F0 tornado on January 18, 1993, which caused $2.75 million in property damage despite its relatively weak rating and brief 0.1-mile path with a maximum width of just 10 yards. The widest tornado occurred on November 9, 1982, when an F2 tornado carved a 10-mile path with a maximum width of 1,300 yards, also resulting in $2.75 million in damage. The longest-tracked tornado was an F1 event on March 17, 1977, which traveled 10.9 miles.
The most recent tornado near Westminster was an EF0 that touched down on March 13, 2025, traveling one mile with a maximum width of 80 yards and causing no reported damage or injuries. This event serves as a reminder that while tornadoes in coastal California are typically less intense than those in other regions, they remain a meteorological phenomenon requiring awareness and preparedness from local residents.