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Tornado in Fresno County, California
31 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.
Fresno County, California, has 31 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 23 different years.
March is the busiest month, with 8 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 7 events against 14 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 6.4% of the 488 tornado events recorded in California; its 0.5 per 100 square miles compares with 0.3 statewide.
By rating: 21 at (E)F0, 8 at (E)F1, 1 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 1 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with California
| Measure | Fresno County | California | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 31 | 488 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 0.5 | 0.3 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 0.3 | 0.1 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 0 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | March | March | May |
By year
Seasonality
3Feb
6Mar
8Apr
4May
5Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
1Oct
1Nov
2Dec
1
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 31 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Sep 2020 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2019 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Mar 2019 | Tornado | EF0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jan 2019 | Tornado | EF1 | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Feb 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Mar 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jan 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2005 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2001 | Tornado | F0 | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Feb 2000 | Tornado | F0 | — | $25K | — | — | County |
| 27 Feb 2000 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Feb 2000 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Feb 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Nov 1997 | Tornado | F0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Nov 1997 | Tornado | F0 | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Oct 1996 | Tornado | F0 | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 1996 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 1995 | Tornado | F0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 1995 | Tornado | F0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Dec 1992 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Mar 1989 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Mar 1986 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Mar 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 19 Feb 1980 | Tornado | F1 | $2.5M | — | — | 2 | County |
| 14 Mar 1979 | Tornado | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 1975 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 1975 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 1967 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1964 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Mar 1962 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1957 | Tornado | F1 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Fresno County had?
31 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 Fresno County?
5 Sep 2020 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Fresno County?
The tornado of 19 Feb 1980, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M.
How does Fresno County compare with California for tornado?
0.5 events per 100 square miles against 0.3 statewide; the county holds 31 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.