Whittier, CA Tornado History — 60 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Whittier, CA had?
Whittier has had 60 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Whittier?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Whittier was an EF0 on March 13, 2025.
When is tornado season in Whittier?
January is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Whittier, with 12 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 Whittier
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 Whittier been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Whittier from any of the 60 tornadoes since 1950, though 52 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Whittier
About Tornadoes in Whittier
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.
Whittier sits at the eastern edge of the Los Angeles Basin, tucked against the Puente Hills in Los Angeles County, and its tornado history follows Southern California's cool-season rhythm. Tornado activity here clusters from late fall through early spring, when Pacific storm systems sweep ashore and turn convective over the basin — a very different calendar from the springtime peaks of the Plains.
The most turbulent stretch came in the early 1980s. On November 9, 1982, an F2 tornado carved a 10-mile path up to 1,300 yards wide, causing $2,750,000 in property damage. Months later, on March 1, 1983, another F2 tracked 3.5 miles with a 100-yard width, injuring 30 people and causing $27,500,000 in damage. An earlier bout of severe weather arrived on November 7, 1966, when F2 tornadoes touched down in the area, one of them traveling 10.3 miles and injuring 10 people.
More recent events have been weaker but persistent. An EF1 struck on January 19, 2010, and 2023 brought a flurry of activity: an EF0 on February 23, an EF1 on March 22, and EF0s on May 4. An EF0 followed on March 13, 2025 — a reminder that even this suburban corridor east of Los Angeles sees tornadoes when winter storms move through.