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Complete tornado information for California - from real-time warnings to historical data and comprehensive statistics dating back to 1950.
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Real-time tornado warning information for California with up-to-the-minute updates from the National Weather Service.
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Tornado SafetySafetyActive and expired tornado warnings in California for 2025
Live tornado warnings currently in effect for California
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Explore tornado data for specific counties in California. Click on any county to view detailed tornado statistics, active alerts, and historical events at the county level.
Comprehensive database of tornado events in California recorded since 1950 through the end of 2024(483 total records)
Total Tornados
483
Total Deaths
0
Total Injuries
97
Property Damage
$134.3M
Avg Length
1.1 mi
Avg Width
45 yd
Detailed charts and visualizations revealing tornado patterns by intensity, seasonality, and impact. These analytics show historical trends and unique characteristics of tornado activity in this region.
Shows tornado frequency across different months of the year, highlighting seasonal patterns. This information helps identify peak tornado seasons and periods of heightened risk.
Identifies the counties most frequently affected by tornadoes in this region. This geographical breakdown helps pinpoint tornado hotspots and vulnerable areas.
Summary: LOS ANGELES has experienced the highest number of tornadoes (49) in California, accounting for 10.1% of all tornado events in this state. The top three most tornado-prone counties (LOS ANGELES, SAN BERNARDINO, and FRESNO) account for 23% of all tornado activity.
Tracks tornado occurrences and fatalities over time, revealing long-term patterns and significant events. Toggle the injuries data to see additional impact metrics.
Visualizes the financial impact of tornadoes across years using a square root scale. This approach ensures both major damage events and smaller impacts are visible on the same chart.
Shows the breakdown of tornadoes by intensity rating (EF/F scale). This distribution helps understand the prevalence of different tornado strengths and their relative frequency.
Summary: In California, Rating 0 tornadoes are the most common, comprising 68.3% of all recorded events. Weak tornadoes (Rating 0-1) account for 93% of all events, while strong tornadoes (Rating 2-3) make up 5%. There have been no recorded violent tornadoes (Rating 4-5) in this region.
Interactive map showing the paths and touchdowns of all recorded tornado events. Explore the spatial patterns and identify frequently affected areas.
Click on a tornado path to view detailed information. Paths are colored by intensity:
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Comprehensive chronological list of all tornado events with detailed information on each occurrence. View specifics about intensity, damage, casualties, and timing for individual tornado events.
Tornado intensity is measured on two scales (learn more about tornado intensity scales):
| Rating | F Scale (1971-2007) | EF Scale (2007-Present) | Wind Speed Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | F0: 40-72 mph | EF0: 65-85 mph | EF0 has higher minimum speed (+25 mph) |
| 1 | F1: 73-112 mph | EF1: 86-110 mph | EF1 has higher minimum (+13 mph), lower maximum (-2 mph) |
| 2 | F2: 113-157 mph | EF2: 111-135 mph | EF2 has lower maximum speed (-22 mph) |
| 3 | F3: 158-206 mph | EF3: 136-165 mph | EF3 has significantly lower speeds (-22 to -41 mph) |
| 4 | F4: 207-260 mph | EF4: 166-200 mph | EF4 has drastically lower speeds (-41 to -60 mph) |
| 5 | F5: 261-318 mph | EF5: >200 mph | EF5 has significantly lower threshold (-61 mph) |
Why the Wind Speed Differences? Research showed the original F-Scale overestimated wind speeds needed to cause specific damage.
Key Improvements in the EF Scale:
For historical consistency, this website groups equivalent ratings together (e.g., both F3 and EF3 tornadoes are considered in the same intensity category despite their significant wind speed differences).