State history
Tornadoes in California
California averages 10 tornadoes per year. Here is the complete history.
The stats
- Average: 10 tornadoes/year.
- Peak season: Winter (cold-core supercells).
- Regional patterns.
- Community awareness.
Notable events
- 1978 Los Angeles F2 — significant.
- Multiple Central Valley events — annual.
- 2023 winter storm outbreak — multiple events.
- Various small landspouts — Central Valley.
Major cities
Los Angeles metro
13M. Rare events.
San Francisco Bay Area
7M. Rare events.
San Diego metro
3M. Rare events.
Sacramento
525k.
Fresno
540k. Central Valley.
Bakersfield
400k. Central Valley.
NWS coverage
NWS Los Angeles-Oxnard
S CA.
NWS San Diego
SoCal.
NWS San Francisco Bay Area-Monterey
Central-N CA.
NWS Sacramento
N Central Valley.
NWS Hanford
S Central Valley.
NWS Eureka
N CA.
NWS Reno NV
E CA.
Preparedness
- Weather radio.
- WEA enabled.
- Family communication plan.
- Community shelter awareness.
- Storm shelter installation.
- Insurance current.
- Regular drills.
For residents
- Preparedness essential.
- Local NWS office familiarity.
- Community engagement.
- Family plan.
- Insurance verification.