Winter Gardens, CA Tornado History — 13 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Winter Gardens, CA had?
Winter Gardens has had 13 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Winter Gardens?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Winter Gardens was an EF0 on September 22, 2007.
When is tornado season in Winter Gardens?
February is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Winter Gardens, with 5 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 Winter Gardens
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 1 total, averaging 0.1 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 Winter Gardens been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Winter Gardens from any of the 13 tornadoes since 1950, though 1 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Winter Gardens
About Tornadoes in Winter Gardens
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.
Winter Gardens, California has experienced 13 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. All of these events have been rated EF0 or EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, indicating relatively weak tornadoes with maximum wind speeds below 110 mph. The distribution includes nine EF0 tornadoes and four EF1 tornadoes, and notably, none on record have resulted in fatalities.
Tornado activity in the area has gradually increased over the decades, with one event recorded in the 1950s, two in the 1970s, three each in the 1980s and 1990s, and four in the 2000s. February stands out as the peak month for tornado occurrence, accounting for five of the thirteen events. This winter-to-early-spring pattern differs from the classic late spring peak seen in many other parts of the United States, reflecting California's unique seasonal weather dynamics driven by Pacific storm systems.
The most significant tornado on record occurred on March 19, 1991, when an F1 tornado carved a one-mile path with a maximum width of 440 yards, causing $275,000 in property damage but no injuries. This same event holds the distinction of being both the costliest and widest tornado documented near Winter Gardens. The longest-tracked tornado was an F0 that traveled three miles on February 8, 1998, though it caused no reported damage despite its 30-yard width.
The most recent tornado touched down on September 22, 2007, as a brief EF0 event that traveled only one-tenth of a mile with a width of just 15 yards, causing minimal damage estimated at $100. The relatively low intensity and infrequent nature of tornadoes in this region reflect Southern California's generally stable atmospheric conditions, though the area remains susceptible to weak tornadoes when strong low-pressure systems move through during the cooler months.