Downey, California tornadoes

Checking live National Weather Service warnings for Downey...

17confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Downey since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: March 13, 2025, EF0.

Join the free alerts waiting list
Map

Every tornado path within 10 miles

Tornado paths, 1950 to 2025
Use two fingers to move the map
(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 Downey

Loading warnings...

The record

At a glance

Total17within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.2average since 1950
Peak monthMarch5 of 17
StrongestF2Nov 7, 1966
Deaths0whole paths, see note
Injuries15whole paths, see note

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

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

50 Jan: 1Feb: 1Mar: 5Apr: 0May: 2Jun: 1Jul: 0Aug: 0Sep: 1Oct: 0Nov: 3Dec: 3JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

March is the peak month, with 5 of 17 tornadoes.

By time of day

30 12 AM: 0: 0: 23 AM: 0: 2: 06 AM: 0: 0: 09 AM: 3: 0: 112 PM: 1: 1: 33 PM: 1: 0: 06 PM: 0: 0: 19 PM: 0: 0: 212 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 9:00 AM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

40 1950: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01960: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 01970: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 01980: 0: 0: 3: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01990: 1: 1: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 02000: 0: 0: 0: 0: 2: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02010: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02020: 0: 0: 0: 4: 0: 119501960197019801990200020102020

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
12
EF1
3
EF2
2

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

F2, November 7, 1966

10.3 mile path Longest path

10.9 miles, F1

March 16, 1977, whole path Widest

1,300 yards, F2

November 9, 1982
Every tornado

All 17 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Mar 13, 2025EF00.97 mi80 yd00
May 4, 2023EF00.73 mi15 yd00
May 4, 2023EF00.06 mi15 yd00
Mar 22, 2023EF10.47 mi50 yd01
Feb 23, 2023EF00.07 mi15 yd00
Dec 12, 2014EF00.73 mi10 yd00
Dec 29, 2004F00.5 mi5 yd00
Dec 29, 2004F00.5 mi5 yd00
Jun 16, 1995F00.1 mi10 yd00
Mar 19, 1991F00.5 mi50 yd00
Jan 16, 1990F00.2 mi33 yd00
Sep 30, 1983F00.3 mi100 yd00
Nov 9, 1982F210 mi1,300 yd00
Nov 9, 1982F00.1 mi20 yd00
Mar 29, 1982F12 mi67 yd00
Mar 16, 1977F110.9 mi10 yd04
Nov 7, 1966F210.3 mi50 yd010
Nearby

Downey and its county

Downey is in Los Angeles County, where NOAA has recorded 49 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

Coming soon

Free tornado alerts for Downey

We are building free email alerts for tornado warnings. Join the waiting list and we will email you once when they are ready. Until then, please rely on the National Weather Service and your phone's emergency alerts.

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.