Storm Records: California
Every storm the National Weather Service has filed in California: its floods, heat, cold, winter storms, hail, wind, lightning and tornadoes, year by year and county by county, each episode with its narrative.
The worst in California on the map
The deadliest and costliest episodes on record here, colored by kind of event.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The record
- Events
- 41,553
- Deaths
- 1,364
- Injuries
- 4,999
- Damage
- $36 billion
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
Every year
Tap a year for every episode in it.
Deaths each year
By kind of event
| Kind of event | Events | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Wind | 7,149 | 47 | 155 | $489 million |
| Flood | 4,231 | 53 | 72 | $2.6 billion |
| Heavy Snow | 3,772 | 21 | 69 | $7.4 million |
| Flash Flood | 2,785 | 68 | 97 | $1.4 billion |
| Dense Fog | 2,441 | 94 | 740 | $24 million |
| Strong Wind | 2,394 | 63 | 107 | $43 million |
| Heavy Rain | 2,046 | 39 | 110 | $1.1 billion |
| Drought | 1,870 | 0 | 0 | $1.5 billion |
| Winter Storm | 1,660 | 20 | 89 | $23 million |
| Wildfire | 1,592 | 293 | 1,811 | $24 billion |
| Frost/Freeze | 1,503 | 1 | 5 | $2.3 billion |
| Excessive Heat | 1,491 | 77 | 148 | $7.5 million |
| Winter Weather | 1,477 | 32 | 92 | $1.0 million |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 1,337 | 23 | 51 | $136 million |
| Heat | 1,200 | 153 | 518 | $493 million |
| Hail | 936 | 2 | 49 | $220 million |
| Debris Flow | 767 | 53 | 188 | $903 million |
| High Surf | 505 | 97 | 142 | $70 million |
| Tornado | 488 | 0 | 97 | $136 million |
| Funnel Cloud | 444 | 0 | 0 | $20 |
| Lightning | 355 | 16 | 83 | $8.9 million |
| Dust Storm | 234 | 11 | 140 | $3.3 million |
| Cold/Wind Chill | 193 | 59 | 26 | $729 million |
| Coastal Flood | 120 | 0 | 4 | $810,000 |
| Extreme Cold/Wind Chill | 119 | 4 | 5 | $2.0 million |
| Rip Current | 116 | 73 | 105 | $100,000 |
| Avalanche | 56 | 30 | 29 | $910,000 |
| Blizzard | 44 | 1 | 0 | $150,000 |
| Waterspout | 44 | 0 | 0 | |
| Dense Smoke | 35 | 0 | 0 | |
| Storm Surge/Tide | 33 | 5 | 33 | $4.8 million |
| Tropical Storm | 23 | 0 | 0 | $4.5 million |
| Tsunami | 21 | 1 | 0 | $56 million |
| Sneakerwave | 21 | 22 | 15 | |
| Dust Devil | 18 | 2 | 17 | $84,000 |
| Astronomical Low Tide | 17 | 1 | 0 | |
| Ice Storm | 7 | 2 | 0 | $1.1 million |
| Freezing Fog | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
| Marine High Wind | 1 | 1 | 2 | $50,000 |
| Lake-Effect Snow | 1 | 0 | 0 |
The deadliest
- Wildfire in California, November 8 to 25, 2018An extended period of dry weather through the summer and fall with above normal temperatures coupled with a gusty north to northeast wind event created a situation for extremely rapid fire growth.
- Wildfire in California, January 7 to 31, 2025The combination of very strong Santa Ana winds, mountain wave activity and critically dry vegetation resulted in a significant outbreak of wildfires across Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
- Heat in California, July 16 to 27, 2006Arguably one of the hottest spells widespread across California, including Interior Central California, in the last 75 years occurred during a warm period that spanned from the 16th through the 27th of the month.
- Winter Storm and Debris Flows in California, January 9, 2018A powerful winter storm impacted Southwestern California in early January. This storm generated heavy rainfall with totals ranging from 1-4 inches across the coasts and valleys with up to 7 inches over some foothill and mountain areas.
- Excessive Heat in California, September 1 to 3, 2007The heat wave which started at the end of August continued into the first few days of September. The combination of above normal temperatures and relative humidity continued to produce excessive heat conditions across sections of Southern California.
- Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in California, December 25, 2003Steady light to moderate rain began falling over the burned areas of the San Bernardino Mountains on 0600 PST 12/24/03. Approximately 24 hours later, mud, rock, and debris flows were being reported along highways and roads leading into the mountain resort communities.
- Wildfire and High Wind in California, September 7 to 9, 2020September started off extremely hot, as high pressure built over the area. This led to unseasonably hot temperatures for most of northern California with widespread triple digit heat forecast, accompanied by little overnight relief for the Labor Day weekend.
- Heat in California, July 21 to 27, 2006Strong high pressure centered over the southwest United States and monsoon moisture during the last half of July led to numerous daily high minimum and high maximum temperature records, some of which were all time records.
- Wildfire in California, November 8 to 22, 2018The Woolsey Fire burned 96,949 acres in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, destroying over 1500 structures. The fire ignited during a strong Santa Ana wind event and the combination of gusty winds and very dry conditions allowed the fire to spread very quickly.
- Wildfire in California, October 25 to 31, 2003Named the Cedar Fire, this fire was started around sunset on October 25 by a lost hunter. Wind gusts from the northeast over 30 mph began within 2 hours of the fire's start.
- Winter Weather in California, January 7 to 18, 1997Persistent northerly flow and low pressure aloft along the west coast, resulted in a prolonged period of cold and snow for the San Diego Mountains.
- Flash Flooding and Winter Storm in California, January 7 to 11, 2005A powerful Pacific storm brought heavy rain, snow, flash flooding, high winds and landslides to Central and Southern California. During the 5 day event, rainfall totals ranged from 3 to 10 inches over coastal areas with up to 32 inches in the mountains.
- Excessive Heat in California, June 17 to 23, 2017High pressure ridging brought an unusually long and strong heat wave for the month of June, with a remarkable 24 new record high temperatures and 16 record high minimum temperatures being set in the area.
- Excessive Heat in California, July 2 to 6, 2024A prolonged and extended heat wave impacted the state of California from the early to the middle of July. An upper level ridge set up over the region, leading to a historically long period of dangerous heat.
- Wildfire and High Wind in California, July 23 to 31, 2018Large wildfires developed across Northern California at the end of July during a period of high temperatures, low humidity and unusually dry fuels. A powerful fire whirl developed with the Carr Fire, creating significant wind damage to western Redding and rapid fire growth.
- Heat in California, June 14, 2000This unusual early summer record breaking heat wave was responsible for 10 deaths in the Bay Area and a large number of heat related injuries. Temperature record of 103 degrees in San Francisco tied the all time record high temperature.
- Avalanche and Heavy Snow in California, February 15 to 18, 2026The first in a series of strong winter storms impacted the eastern Sierra and northeast CA from the 16th to 17th. In this two day period, upwards of 2 to 4 feet of snow fell, and was accompanied by winds upwards of 80-100 mph.
- Wildfire in California, October 21 to 31, 2007The Harris Fire was the first and deadliest fire in a series of devestating wildfires to impact the San Diego CWA during the latter half of October. The fire was likely started by a campfire about one mile east of Potrero along Harris Ranch Road.
- Wildfire in California, October 8 to 28, 2017Strong downslope winds combined with a hot dry airmass resulted in extreme fire behavior. It is speculated that above normal winter rains yielded abundant fuels that became primed for rapid intense fire spread by late summer and early fall.
- Heavy Snow in California, April 1 to 2, 1999Snow began late in the morning and continued till around midnight. The heaviest snow fell between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. At the 3700 foot elevation, nine inches of snow fell in a six hour period. At the 5650 foot elevation, eighteen inches of new snow fell in a twelve hour period.
- Heat in California, July 7 to 12, 2024A prolonged and extended heat wave impacted the state of California from the early to the middle of July. An upper level ridge set up over the region, leading to a historically long period of dangerous heat.
- Damaging Wind and High Wind in California, June 19 to 21, 2025A strong upper level low pressure impacted the area from June 19th through the 21st which brought significant winds for late June. This was combined with very low humidity which lead to several days of fire weather concerns.
- Dense Fog in California, January 13 to 15, 2015Light winds and clear skies allowed dense morning fog to develop for several days. Numerous car accidents occurred, including two multiple car crashes with fatalities.
- Strong Wind in California, November 2 to 5, 2024Strong swell waves in the eastern Pacific resulted in two fatal boating accidents in the waters off the North Bay.
- Wildfire in California, September 9 to 30, 2015Extreme fire behavior with winds and very dry fuels combining to enhance rapidly moving fires which destroyed hundreds of homes and caused multiple deaths in the Valley and Butte Fires.
The costliest
- Wildfire in California, November 8 to 25, 2018
- Wildfire and High Wind in California, July 23 to 31, 2018
- Drought in California, December 1 to 31, 2014
- Wildfire in California, October 25 to 31, 2003
- Frost and Freeze in California, January 11 to 24, 2007
- Wildfire in California, October 25 to 31, 2003
- Winter Storm and Debris Flows in California, January 9, 2018
- Cold in California, December 20 to 27, 1998
- Flooding in California, February 11 to 13, 2017
- Wildfire in California, September 29 to 30, 2000
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in California, August 19 to 21, 2023
- Wildfire in California, June 24 to 30, 2007
- Heat in California, July 16 to 27, 2006
- High Wind and Frost and Freeze in California, December 5 to 10, 2013
- Wildfire in California, October 21 to 31, 2007
- High Wind and Frost and Freeze in California, January 13 to 15, 2007
- Flooding in California, January 1 to 17, 1997
- Frost and Freeze in California, December 8, 2011
- Wildfire in California, November 1 to 5, 2003
- Flooding in California, January 1 to 17, 2023
- Frost and Freeze in California, January 12 to 18, 2007
- Flash Flooding and Winter Storm in California, January 7 to 11, 2005
- High Wind and Strong Wind in California, January 18 to 19, 2021
- Heavy Rain in California, May 1 to 31, 1998
- Wildfire in California, October 22 to 28, 2007
Counties
Every storm event filed in each county, including the zone-filed ones that covered it.
- Alameda County610
- Alpine County1,107
- Amador County30
- Butte County184
- Calaveras County48
- City and County of San Francisco307
- Colusa County35
- Contra Costa County477
- Del Norte County160
- El Dorado County1,302
- Fresno County2,502
- Glenn County50
- Humboldt County762
- Imperial County589
- Inyo County575
- Kern County2,515
- Kings County770
- Lake County63
- Lassen County585
- Los Angeles County724
- Madera County913
- Marin County549
- Mariposa County617
- Mendocino County352
- Merced County698
- Modoc County465
- Mono County915
- Monterey County604
- Napa County336
- Nevada County1,188
- Orange County937
- Placer County1,230
- Plumas County595
- Riverside County2,499
- Sacramento County246
- San Benito County133
- San Bernardino County3,377
- San Diego County2,725
- San Joaquin County116
- San Luis Obispo County119
- San Mateo County694
- Santa Barbara County217
- Santa Clara County777
- Santa Cruz County661
- Shasta County199
- Sierra County533
- Siskiyou County1,387
- Solano County52
- Sonoma County813
- Stanislaus County80
- Sutter County33
- Tehama County145
- Trinity County204
- Tulare County1,809
- Tuolumne County236
- Ventura County223
- Yolo County75
- Yuba County38
Counties and zones as filed
The places filed most often, as the offices named them.
| County or zone | Events | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Bernardino | 1,642 | 38 | 204 | $1.5 billion |
| San Diego | 1,118 | 51 | 418 | $1.4 billion |
| Riverside | 933 | 10 | 149 | $280 million |
| Kern | 832 | 2 | 11 | $89 million |
| Greater Lake Tahoe Area zone | 802 | 26 | 19 | $503 million |
| Fresno | 784 | 6 | 29 | $287 million |
| Mono zone | 780 | 8 | 15 | $6.0 million |
| Kern Cty Mtns zone | 570 | 8 | 57 | $20 million |
| E Central S.J. Valley zone | 529 | 44 | 76 | $604 million |
| West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada zone | 526 | 22 | 74 | $2.5 million |
| S Sierra Mtns zone | 526 | 7 | 40 | $53 million |
| Los Angeles | 515 | 13 | 151 | $104 million |
| Sw S.J. Valley zone | 512 | 3 | 34 | $332 million |
| Se S.J. Valley zone | 492 | 25 | 65 | $1.0 billion |
| Tulare | 474 | 7 | 11 | $200 million |
| Lassen/Eastern Plumas/Eastern Sierra zone | 472 | 0 | 2 | $2.6 million |
| San Bernardino County Mountains zone | 463 | 21 | 238 | $207 million |
| W Central S.J. Valley zone | 434 | 5 | 3 | $144 million |
| Sonoma | 424 | 10 | 9 | $245 million |
| San Diego County Mountains zone | 410 | 39 | 282 | $86 million |
| Orange | 393 | 17 | 68 | $163 million |
| San Diego County Coastal Areas zone | 385 | 13 | 116 | $176 million |
| San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire zone | 375 | 14 | 51 | $117 million |
| South Central Siskiyou County zone | 370 | 2 | 15 | $2.0 million |
| Tulare Cty Mtns zone | 361 | 0 | 10 | $1.1 million |
| Se Kern Cty Desert zone | 360 | 2 | 1 | $5.4 million |
| Mojave Desert Slope(S) zone | 357 | 0 | 0 | $122,000 |
| Owens Valley zone | 313 | 0 | 11 | $7.1 million |
| Central Siskiyou County zone | 311 | 4 | 0 | $27 million |
| Western Siskiyou County zone | 308 | 6 | 0 | $140 million |
| Inyo | 302 | 2 | 3 | $582 million |
| Indian Wells Vly zone | 278 | 1 | 6 | $2.4 million |
| Los Angeles County Mountains Excluding the Santa Monica Range zone | 267 | 6 | 27 | $3.5 million |
| Santa Clara | 264 | 3 | 8 | $20 million |
| Mt Shasta/Western Plumas County zone | 262 | 5 | 4 | $303,000 |
| E Nevada/E Placer/E El Dorado/Ne Alpine zone | 259 | 0 | 0 | $187,000 |
| Imperial | 257 | 2 | 7 | $50 million |
| San Diego County Valleys zone | 257 | 16 | 392 | $739 million |
| Coachella Valley zone | 256 | 8 | 56 | $79 million |
| Mariposa | 251 | 9 | 8 | $18 million |
| Merced | 249 | 0 | 8 | $57 million |
| Monterey | 247 | 1 | 8 | $115 million |
| Sacramento | 246 | 5 | 2 | $279 million |
| Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills zone | 246 | 0 | 37 | $53 million |
| Alameda | 241 | 3 | 7 | $26 million |
| El Dorado | 240 | 12 | 2 | $29 million |
| Humboldt | 239 | 7 | 25 | $41 million |
| South End of the Upper Sierra zone | 239 | 0 | 0 | $4,000 |
| Riverside County Mountains zone | 232 | 6 | 28 | $28 million |
| North Bay Interior Valleys zone | 225 | 8 | 46 | $41 million |
| Modoc County zone | 212 | 1 | 0 | $3.3 million |
| Merced-Madera-Mendota zone | 210 | 2 | 12 | $891,000 |
| San Francisco Bay Shoreline zone | 209 | 9 | 10 | $5.2 million |
| Southern Sacramento Valley zone | 207 | 36 | 44 | $30 million |
| Hanford - Corcoran - Lemoore zone | 207 | 0 | 3 | $153,000 |
| Madera | 205 | 0 | 4 | $75 million |
| Santa Cruz | 205 | 9 | 12 | $44 million |
| Ventura County Mountains zone | 201 | 2 | 0 | |
| Northern Sacramento Valley zone | 198 | 16 | 27 | $1.5 billion |
| Shasta | 193 | 9 | 18 | $60 million |
| Santa Cruz Mountains zone | 193 | 4 | 7 | $15 million |
| Western Mojave Desert zone | 187 | 11 | 20 | $2.0 million |
| Visalia - Porterville - Reedley zone | 187 | 0 | 1 | $144,000 |
| Tehachapi zone | 184 | 0 | 0 | |
| Butte | 181 | 0 | 11 | $573 million |
| Southern Humboldt Interior zone | 180 | 0 | 0 | $28,000 |
| Eastern Sierra Slopes of Inyo County zone | 179 | 6 | 5 | $726,000 |
| Apple and Lucerne Valleys zone | 178 | 1 | 5 | $3.9 million |
| S Sierra Foothills zone | 178 | 3 | 35 | $6.7 million |
| Southern Monterey Bay and Big Sur Coast zone | 174 | 29 | 14 | $6.2 million |
| Bakersfield zone | 174 | 0 | 3 | $578,000 |
| Motherlode/Camptonville to Groveland zone | 170 | 17 | 7 | $31 million |
| Ventura | 169 | 3 | 25 | $278 million |
| Yosemite Np Outside of the Valley zone | 169 | 0 | 0 | $10,000 |
| Placer | 168 | 6 | 0 | $8.6 million |
| Marin | 167 | 2 | 1 | $225 million |
| Tehachapi Area zone | 166 | 1 | 0 | $107,000 |
| San Mateo | 164 | 3 | 20 | $14 million |
| San Francisco zone | 164 | 18 | 55 | $26 million |
| Shasta Lake/North Shasta County zone | 164 | 1 | 13 | $363,000 |
| Northern San Joaquin Valley zone | 164 | 18 | 27 | $1.6 billion |
| Santa Barbara | 162 | 29 | 175 | $633 million |
| North Central & Southeast Siskiyou County zone | 159 | 0 | 0 | |
| Orange County Coastal zone | 159 | 3 | 7 | $60 million |
| Northern Humboldt Coast zone | 159 | 4 | 6 | $10 million |
| Kings | 156 | 0 | 1 | $103 million |
| North Bay Mountains zone | 152 | 4 | 14 | $13 million |
| Northeast Siskiyou and Northwest Modoc Counties zone | 147 | 0 | 0 | |
| Fresno - Clovis zone | 147 | 7 | 5 | $9.1 million |
| Northern Trinity zone | 145 | 0 | 0 | $39 million |
| Mendocino | 140 | 0 | 0 | $35 million |
| Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore zone | 140 | 37 | 23 | $1.1 million |
| Tehama | 139 | 1 | 25 | $572 million |
| San Francisco | 137 | 2 | 4 | $146,000 |
| East Bay Hills and the Diablo Range zone | 137 | 0 | 8 | $76,000 |
| Indian Wells Valley zone | 137 | 1 | 1 | $112,000 |
| East Bay Interior Valleys zone | 136 | 4 | 16 | $15 million |
| Mono | 135 | 0 | 3 | $565,000 |
| Northern Monterey Bay zone | 135 | 22 | 19 | $38 million |
| Upper San Joaquin River zone | 133 | 0 | 0 | |
| Southern Trinity zone | 132 | 0 | 0 | $27 million |
| San Francisco Peninsula Coast zone | 128 | 21 | 26 | $9.4 million |
| Caruthers - San Joaquin - Selma zone | 128 | 4 | 6 | $687,000 |
| Nevada | 126 | 1 | 1 | $6.9 million |
| Central Sacramento Valley zone | 126 | 19 | 13 | $45 million |
| Morongo Basin zone | 124 | 1 | 0 | $803,000 |
| Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley zone | 122 | 108 | 97 | $17 billion |
| Plumas | 120 | 1 | 0 | $27 million |
| San Diego County Deserts zone | 120 | 4 | 1 | $5.4 million |
| West Side of Fresno and Kings Counties zone | 120 | 0 | 0 | |
| San Joaquin | 116 | 0 | 4 | $312 million |
| Kaiser to Rodgers Ridge zone | 115 | 0 | 0 | $12,000 |
| Northern Humboldt Interior zone | 114 | 0 | 1 | $35,000 |
| Lassen | 112 | 0 | 2 | $5.5 million |
| Burney Basin/Eastern Shasta County zone | 112 | 0 | 2 | $505,000 |
| Delano - Wasco - Shafter zone | 112 | 1 | 0 | $22,000 |
| Santa Barbara County Mountains zone | 110 | 1 | 68 | $17 million |
| Contra Costa | 108 | 2 | 1 | $45 million |
| Mendocino Coast zone | 108 | 4 | 0 | $13 million |
| Redwood Coast zone | 107 | 16 | 6 | $93 million |
| Lake Isabella zone | 107 | 1 | 0 | $2,000 |
| Orange County Inland zone | 106 | 2 | 2 | $25 million |
| Northwestern Mendocino Interior zone | 106 | 0 | 1 | $28,000 |
| Kern County Desert zone | 106 | 0 | 2 | $235,000 |
| Foggy Bottom zone | 98 | 0 | 1 | $1.3 million |
| Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area zone | 96 | 3 | 0 | $62 million |
| Napa | 93 | 1 | 0 | $148 million |
| Santa Clara Valley Including San Jose zone | 93 | 40 | 65 | $865,000 |
| Kings Canyon Np zone | 93 | 0 | 0 | |
| Siskiyou | 92 | 0 | 2 | $200,000 |
| Carquinez Strait and Delta zone | 92 | 3 | 13 | $5.2 million |
| Orange County Coastal Areas zone | 92 | 7 | 51 | $166 million |
| Imperial Valley zone | 89 | 2 | 4 | $107,000 |
| Grapevine zone | 89 | 0 | 0 | |
| Merced and Madera zone | 86 | 0 | 0 | $41,000 |
| Sequoia Np zone | 86 | 0 | 0 | $20,000 |
| North Coast Interior zone | 85 | 3 | 0 | $18 million |
| Death Valley National Park zone | 84 | 17 | 12 | $39,000 |
| San Luis Obispo | 83 | 3 | 1 | $11 million |
| Upper Trinity River zone | 83 | 1 | 0 | $9.6 million |
| West Side Mountains North of Highway 198 zone | 82 | 0 | 0 | |
| San Gorgonio Pass Near Banning zone | 81 | 0 | 0 | $140,000 |
| Tulare County zone | 81 | 2 | 2 | $2.1 million |
| Stanislaus | 80 | 1 | 2 | $3.3 million |
| Fresno zone | 79 | 1 | 0 | $2.0 million |
| Mariposa - Madera Lower Sierra zone | 79 | 0 | 0 | $45,000 |
| E Central Sj Valley zone | 78 | 0 | 50 | $32 million |
| Tulare Cty Foothills zone | 78 | 0 | 0 | $137,000 |
| Sw Sj Valley zone | 75 | 1 | 4 | $1.6 million |
| Mountains Southwestern Shasta County to Western Colusa County zone | 75 | 0 | 0 |
Every year
More
Every tornado in CaliforniaEvery warning in California since 1986River gauges in CaliforniaEvery state
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.