Skip to content

NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database

Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Ontario, CA

Every tropical system within 75 miles since 1851 and every tornado within 25 miles since 1950.

No tropical storm or hurricane has passed within 75 miles of Ontario, California since records began in 1851. Since 1950, 26 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 0 of them rated EF3 or stronger.

Hurricanes
0

within 75 mi, since 1851

Tropical storms
0

below hurricane strength

Tornadoes
26

within 25 mi, since 1950

EF3 or stronger
0

no recorded deaths

Tornadoes within 25 miles of Ontario

By decade

  • 2020s1
  • 2000s8
  • 1990s9
  • 1980s3
  • 1970s3
  • 1960s1
  • 1950s1
Strongest tornadoes near Ontario, California
DateRatingDistancePathKilled / injured
May 22, 2008EF224 mi2.8 mi0 / 1
Jan 14, 1993F122 mi1 mi0 / 0
Dec 7, 1992F123 mi0.1 mi0 / 0
Mar 16, 1986F123 mi1.2 mi0 / 0
Mar 16, 1977F116 mi10.9 mi0 / 4
Nov 25, 1965F19 mi2 mi0 / 0
Feb 23, 2023EF022 mi0.07 mi0 / 0
May 22, 2008EF024 mi0.36 mi0 / 0
May 22, 2008EF024 mi0.96 mi0 / 0
Mar 4, 2005F012 mi0.5 mi0 / 0
Dec 29, 2004F024 mi0.5 mi0 / 0
Dec 21, 2001F014 mi0.1 mi0 / 0

The strongest 12 of 26, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.

How to read this page

A storm is listed when the centre of its track passed within 75 miles of Ontario while it was at least a tropical storm, which is the reach of damaging wind and rain for a typical hurricane. Being on the list does not mean the city took a direct hit; the "closest" column says how near the centre came. Tornadoes are counted when any part of the path came within 25 miles.

Tornado records before the 1990s are thinner, because weak tornadoes in open country often went unreported before Doppler radar and mobile phones. A rise in the decade counts is mostly better reporting, not a change in the weather.

Tracks come from the National Hurricane Center's HURDAT2 database, tornadoes from the Storm Prediction Center's database. Both are the official federal records and both are revised as old storms are re-analysed.

Other cities in California