Sacramento, California tornadoes

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8confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sacramento since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: January 11, 2017, EF0.

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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 Sacramento

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The record

At a glance

Total8within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.1average since 1950
Peak monthFebruary5 of 8
StrongestF2Feb 7, 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 Sacramento.

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

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

February is the peak month, with 5 of 8 tornadoes.

By time of day

50 12 AM: 0: 0: 13 AM: 0: 0: 06 AM: 0: 0: 09 AM: 0: 0: 012 PM: 0: 0: 03 PM: 5: 0: 26 PM: 0: 0: 09 PM: 0: 0: 012 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 3:00 PM. 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: 0: 0: 0: 01970: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 01980: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01990: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 02000: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 4: 0: 0: 0: 02010: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 02020: 0: 0: 0: 0: 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
7
EF2
1

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, February 7, 1978

1.9 mile path Longest path

1.9 miles, F2

February 7, 1978, whole path Widest

130 yards, EF0

January 11, 2017
Every tornado

All 8 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Jan 11, 2017EF00.42 mi130 yd00
Feb 25, 2011EF00.35 mi10 yd00
Apr 8, 2005F00.1 min/a00
Feb 21, 2005F00.3 min/a00
Feb 21, 2005F00.1 min/a00
Feb 21, 2005F00.1 min/a00
Apr 24, 1998F00.1 mi30 yd00
Feb 7, 1978F21.9 mi20 yd00
Nearby

Sacramento and its county

Sacramento is in Sacramento County, where NOAA has recorded 16 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.