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Tornado in Butte County, California
18 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
NCEI records 18 tornado events in Butte County, California, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 12 years.
March is the busiest month, with 5 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 5 events against 9 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 3.7% of the 488 tornado events recorded in California; its 1.1 per 100 square miles compares with 0.3 statewide.
By rating: 9 at (E)F0, 5 at (E)F1, 2 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 2 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with California
| Measure | Butte County | California | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 18 | 488 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 1.1 | 0.3 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 0.9 | 0.1 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 0 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | March | March | May |
By year
Seasonality
3Feb
1Mar
5Apr
3May
2Jun
1Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
0Nov
1Dec
2
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 18 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Dec 2023 | Tornado | EF1 | $17K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Nov 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Mar 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Mar 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2011 | Tornado | EF2 | $120K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 2005 | Tornado | F0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jan 2005 | Tornado | F1 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 1994 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 1994 | Tornado | F0 | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Feb 1994 | Tornado | F2 | $5.0M | — | — | 2 | County |
| 17 Apr 1993 | Tornado | F0 | $500 | $50 | — | — | County |
| 7 Jan 1993 | Tornado | F1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Dec 1992 | Tornado | F1 | $2.5M | — | — | 4 | County |
| 22 Jan 1981 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Mar 1978 | Tornado | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Mar 1978 | Tornado | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1970 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Butte County had?
18 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Butte County?
19 Dec 2023 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Butte County?
The tornado of 10 Feb 1994, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $5.0M.
How does Butte County compare with California for tornado?
1.1 events per 100 square miles against 0.3 statewide; the county holds 18 of the state's 488 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.