On March 22, 2023, a rare tornado hit the town of Montebello, southeast of Los Angeles, causing damage to 17 buildings. This tornado was especially strong and the most severe to hit the region in 40 years. Another weaker tornado touched down the previous day in Carpinteria, a town northwest of Los Angeles. These events follow months of extreme weather in California, including days of intense rain and flooding after a severe drought, a phenomenon known as "weather whiplash."

Many climate experts believe that there may be a connection between the storms that California has experienced and the recent tornadoes. The atmospheric rivers and the rain they brought probably helped lead to increased moisture in the air, which enabled the tornadoes to form in the region. The increased intensity of atmospheric rivers may also have links to climate change. While it is too early to draw conclusions about the relationship between climate change and the tornadoes, it is clear that thunderstorms and tornadoes of this magnitude are uncommon in this region.

Climate change can lead to warmer air, and "warmer air can hold more moisture," which can mean more precipitation. As a result, extreme weather events such as tornadoes and thunderstorms could become more common as global warming worsens. However, experts do not expect an uptick in tornadoes in California at this time because the specific factors leading to the recent ones were likely unique. Nevertheless, extreme weather events like these tornadoes highlight the need for continued research and action to address climate change.