Rare Tornadoes Reported Near Fresno Amid Strong Storm Activity

Two tornadoes were reported near Fresno on April 21, 2026, as the National Weather Service warned of powerful storms moving through the region. 

The first tornado was reported near Biola, about nine miles west of Fresno, at 2:12 p.m., according to The New York Times. 

Citing a meteorologist with the National Weather Service (NWS), the NYT said a funnel cloud was reported by a resident to local emergency services. 

NWS issued a tornado warning for the areas including Old Fig Garden, Biola, and Rolling Hills until 2:45 p.m. 

Another tornado was reported at around 5:15 p.m., about 35 miles northeast of Fresno, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. 

Citing NWS, the report said residents saw the tornado moving nine miles northeast of Clovis, moving northeast at 20 miles per hour. 

The tornado caused damage consistent with an EF1 tornado, meteorologist Chris Nunley shared in a social media post. Citing an NWS update, Nunley said the tornado caused uprooted trees and snapped branches. 

The Enhanced Fujita Scale, or EF Scale, is a five-point rating to assign a tornado based on estimated wind speeds and related damage. An EF1 tornado typically has wind gusts ranging from 65 to 86 mph and damages small barns and farm outbuildings. 

Later in the day, NWS issued another tornado warning for the regions including Auberry and Tollhouse until 5:45 p.m. 

Confirming the tornado, NWS said storms had strengthened earlier in the day west-northwest of Fresno, including one that resulted in the tornado, and was shifting toward the southern Sierra. 

A new thunderstorm development was forming southwest of Madera and gaining strength as the atmosphere became increasingly unstable during the peak heating period in the afternoon. 

Weather data showed that a zone of converging winds was developing near north of Fresno, which could enable the strong movement of more storms. 

Although tornadoes are relatively unusual in California, they occur from time to time. The state has experienced 487 tornadoes between 1950 and 2025, according to the Golden Gate Weather Services. 

Earlier this month, a tornado was reported in Tehama County, with meteorologists confirming a brief touchdown near Vina. According to the NWS, the tornado touched down around four miles southwest of Vina between 2:05 and 2:06 p.m. 

The tornado was classified as EF-U, indicating that its intensity could not be determined. No damages or injuries were reported. 

The Fresno area experienced a notable tornado in January 2019, when an EF1 tornado touched down near Clovis, according to NYT.