Chico, California tornadoes

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8confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chico since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: December 19, 2023, EF1.

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Map

Every tornado path within 10 miles

Tornado paths, 1950 to 2025
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(E)F0(E)F1(E)F2(E)F3(E)F4(E)F5Unrated

Each path is a straight line from where the tornado started to where it ended, which is all most NOAA records hold. Tap a path for its details.

Recent warnings

Recent warnings near Chico

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The record

At a glance

Total8within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.1average since 1950
Peak monthMarch2 of 8
StrongestF1Mar 4, 1978
Deaths0whole paths, see note
Injuries0whole paths, see note

Deaths and injuries are NOAA's totals for each tornado's whole path, which can run well beyond Chico.

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

20 Jan: 1Feb: 0Mar: 2Apr: 2May: 2Jun: 0Jul: 0Aug: 0Sep: 0Oct: 0Nov: 0Dec: 1JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

March is the peak month, with 2 of 8 tornadoes.

By time of day

20 12 AM: 0: 0: 03 AM: 0: 0: 06 AM: 0: 0: 09 AM: 1: 0: 012 PM: 0: 0: 03 PM: 0: 1: 16 PM: 2: 1: 29 PM: 0: 0: 012 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 6:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

20 1950: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01960: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01970: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 01980: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01990: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02000: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 02010: 0: 2: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02020: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 019501960197019801990200020102020

The line is the five-year average. Tornadoes before about 1953 were under-reported, and better radar since the 1990s finds more weak ones.

By rating

EF0
4
EF1
4

Ratings before February 2007 use the original F scale; the numbers line up with today's EF scale. Unknown means NOAA could not assign a rating.

The record

Notable tornadoes

Strongest

F1, March 4, 1978

1.5 mile path Longest path

26.37 miles, EF1

May 25, 2011, whole path Widest

120 yards, EF1

May 25, 2011
Every tornado

All 8 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Dec 19, 2023EF10.36 mi90 yd00
Mar 25, 2014EF00.26 mi10 yd00
May 25, 2011EF126.37 mi120 yd00
May 25, 2011EF121.65 mi120 yd00
Apr 8, 2005F00.1 min/a00
Apr 17, 1993F00.1 mi23 yd00
Jan 22, 1981F00.1 mi10 yd00
Mar 4, 1978F11.5 mi53 yd00
Nearby

Chico and its county

Chico is in Butte County, where NOAA has recorded 18 tornadoes since 1950. A county's record counts every tornado inside its borders, while this page counts every path within 10 miles of the city, so the two overlap without matching.

Nearby cities

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Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025. City point and population: US Census Bureau, 2024. Each path is a straight line between NOAA's start and end points.