Yucca Valley, CA Tornado History — 9 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Yucca Valley, CA had?
Yucca Valley has had 9 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Yucca Valley?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Yucca Valley was an EF0 on July 19, 2015.
When is tornado season in Yucca Valley?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Yucca Valley, with 3 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 Yucca Valley
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 2 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 Yucca Valley been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Yucca Valley from any of the 9 tornadoes since 1950, though 3 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Yucca Valley
About Tornadoes in Yucca Valley
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.
Yucca Valley, California, situated in the high desert of San Bernardino County, has experienced nine documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. While tornadoes are relatively uncommon in Southern California's arid regions compared to the central United States, the area has seen sporadic activity over the past seven decades, with events recorded in five different decades since the 1970s.
The majority of tornadoes near Yucca Valley have been weak on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which rates tornado intensity from EF0 to EF5 based on damage indicators. Of the nine recorded events, five were rated EF0, three reached EF1 intensity, and one achieved EF2 status. These relatively low ratings reflect tornadoes with maximum wind speeds generally below 135 miles per hour. None of the tornadoes on record resulted in fatalities, though property damage has occasionally occurred.
Tornado activity in the region shows a distinct seasonal pattern, with July accounting for three of the nine events, making it the peak month for occurrences. The 1980s and 2000s each saw three tornadoes, representing the most active decades in the local record. The costliest tornado struck on August 1, 1983, causing $275,000 in property damage despite being rated F0 and traveling only 0.3 miles with a maximum width of 30 yards. The widest tornado, spanning 200 yards, occurred on August 14, 2004, while the longest-tracked event carved a 1.5-mile path on July 28, 1987.
The most recent tornado touched down on July 20, 2015, an EF0 event that traveled 0.2 miles with a 50-yard width and caused no damage or injuries. Desert tornadoes often form under different atmospheric conditions than their Great Plains counterparts, sometimes developing from thunderstorms along the edges of monsoon moisture flows or from localized convection in the region's complex terrain.