Yes, southern California, including Los Angeles, have experienced weak tornadoes on occasion. Fortunately, no deaths have yet been reported in the state as a result. On May 22, 2008, two tornadoes touched ground in Riverside County near San Diego. A tornado warning was also issued in Los Angeles that same month, causing minor damage to homes in the suburb of Inglewood. Los Angeles County has officially seen more than 30 tornadoes since 1918.
ATOtable Tornado Observatory (orTOTO) is placed in the path of oncoming tornadoes to measure air pressure, humidity, temperature, and other information that could prove useful to researchers. (NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory)