California sees a moderate amount of severe weather each year, with 483 confirmed tornadoes, 922 hailstorm events and 1,184 damaging-wind events recorded by the National Weather Service since 1950., and averages 6.4 tornadoes per year over the 75-year record. Severe convective weather in California is uncommon by central-US standards; the dominant high-impact weather hazards are wildfire, atmospheric-river flooding and extreme heat. The interactive map below plots every significant severe-weather event in California from the official NOAA Storm Events Database (1950 through September 2025).
Use the map to find your county, click any marker for the date, magnitude, and casualty details of that event, and switch between tornadoes, hail and wind using the chips. For the national view across all 50 states, see our NOAA Storm Reports interactive map. For tornado tracks specifically, see the US Tornado Tracks map; for hail size and frequency, the US Hailstorms map.
California Severe Weather by the Numbers (1950–2025)
- 483 tornadoes recorded between 1950 and 2025
- 27 violent tornadoes rated F2/EF2 or stronger
- 922 hailstorm events recorded by the NWS
- 1,184 damaging-wind events on record
- 6.4 tornadoes per year on average across the 75-year record
- March is the peak severe-weather month, accounting for roughly 17.6% of California tornadoes
- 1,039 total direct deaths from all severe-weather event types tracked by the NWS
When California Severe Weather Happens
California tornado activity peaks in spring, with March through June accounting for about 41% of all events. The single busiest month is March, which alone produces around 17.6% of recorded tornadoes.
- March: 85 tornadoes (17.6%) — peak month
- February: 68 tornadoes (14.1%)
- April: 60 tornadoes (12.4%)
- January: 56 tornadoes (11.6%)
- December: 47 tornadoes (9.7%)
- May: 41 tornadoes (8.5%)
Top 10 California Counties by Tornado Frequency
Tornado activity in California is geographically broad, but a handful of counties have logged many times the state average. The combination of population density (more spotters and damage reports), county land area and local climatology drives the rankings below.
| County | Tornadoes since 1950 |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 49 |
| San Bernardino | 33 |
| Fresno | 31 |
| Orange | 31 |
| Riverside | 27 |
| San Diego | 27 |
| San Joaquin | 19 |
| Butte | 18 |
| Merced | 17 |
| Kern | 16 |
California Tornado Strength Distribution
Most California tornadoes are weak: roughly 94% are rated F0/EF0 or F1/EF1. Violent tornadoes (F2+/EF2+) account for around 6.2% of rated tornadoes in the state.
- F0/EF0 (weak): 300 tornadoes — 68.3% of rated events
- F1/EF1: 112 tornadoes — 25.5% of rated events
- F2/EF2 (strong): 25 tornadoes — 5.7% of rated events
- F3/EF3: 2 tornadoes — 0.5% of rated events
Record-Setting Severe Weather in California
Largest hailstone: 3.00 inches in diameter, observed in Tehama County near Rawson on January 23, 2016. The three largest hailstones on record in California measured 3.00″, 3.00″, 2.75″.
Highest measured wind gust: 84 knots (97 mph) recorded in San Mateo County near Sharp Park on December 14, 2024. Most damaging-wind events in California are estimated rather than measured because anemometers are sparse across the rural areas where supercells most often produce destructive thunderstorm winds.
How California Compares Nationally
California ranks among the lowest in the country for tornado frequency, with severe-weather activity well below the central-US average.
- Tornadoes (top 5): Texas (9,908), Kansas (4,890), Oklahoma (4,856), Florida (3,779), Iowa (3,417).
- California tornado total: 483 — ranked 31st nationally.
- California hail total: 922 hail events on record since 1950.
- California wind total: 1,184 damaging-wind events on record since 1950.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tornadoes does California have on average per year?
California averages 6.4 tornadoes per year over the 1950–2025 period. Counts vary widely year to year, but the long-term mean over 75 years of NWS records is a reliable benchmark for typical activity.
Where in California are tornadoes most common?
The single county with the most tornadoes on record is Los Angeles County with 49 events. The three most active counties overall are Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Fresno.
How does California compare to its neighbors?
California shares a severe-weather climate with Oregon, Nevada, Arizona. Severe storms regularly cross state lines, so the same supercells, hail cores and wind events often appear in California’s neighbors’ records on the same date.
How recent is the data on this map?
The map and statistics on this page are pulled from NOAA’s official Storm Events Database, which currently runs from January 1950 through September 2025. New records typically appear in the database within 30–90 days of the event date, once damage surveys and ratings are complete.
Compare California to Neighboring States
Severe weather doesn’t stop at state lines. The same supercell systems that produce California tornadoes regularly cross into neighboring states. Compare California’s storm history to its land neighbors:
- Oregon severe storm history — ranked 42nd nationally, Pacific-coast climate, infrequent tornadoes
- Nevada severe storm history — ranked 45th nationally, mountain-west severe weather, mostly hail and high wind
- Arizona severe storm history — ranked 34th nationally, mountain-west severe weather, mostly hail and high wind
Explore the national NOAA Storm Reports map · US Tornado Tracks map · US Hailstorms map
