A rare burst of tornado activity spun across California’s Central Valley on Tuesday, dropping three twisters in quick succession, according to a preliminary report from the National Weather Service.
The unusual weather event unfolded in Fresno County and Madera County as a powerful storm system swept through, unleashing heavy rain, gusty winds and hail but sparing the region from injuries and major destruction.
While funnel clouds were spotted in large numbers, only a handful made ground contact, meeting the criteria to be officially classified as tornadoes.
Meteorologists confirmed the first touchdown at 2:10 p.m. near the community of Biola.
The brief twister tore through a walnut grove, damaging trees with winds topping 70 mph and carving a path just 150 feet long, roughly half a football field. It was rated EF0, the weakest category on the enhanced Fujita scale. Just over an hour later, a stronger tornado formed west of Atwater. Packing winds up to 95 mph, it traveled about half a mile and snapped trees along its path, earning an EF1 rating. A third tornado struck at 5:09 p.m. northeast of Clovis. Matching the second storm’s distance but hitting harder, it generated winds reaching 110 mph and caused damage to several homes.
In total, officials estimate that at least 20 funnel clouds were seen during the outbreak.
While such formations aren’t especially rare in the region, most never reach the ground.
Tornadoes themselves, however, remain a rarity in California. Data from Golden Gate Weather Service shows that between 1950 and 2025, just 487 tornadoes have been confirmed statewide. Days with three or more tornadoes are especially uncommon, occurring only about two dozen times over that span. The Central Valley and coastal Southern California see the bulk of the state’s tornado activity, with Los Angeles County leading in total reports, though higher population density may play a role in detection rates.
Tuesday’s event came down to a perfect mix of atmospheric ingredients. A moisture-rich system rolling in from the Pacific combined with daytime heating after cloud cover broke, creating unstable conditions that fueled thunderstorm development.
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