Cold/Wind Chill in California

Events

193

Deaths

59

Injuries

26

Damage

$729 million

• Frost and Freeze and Cold in California, November 27 to 29, 20195 deaths · 7 eventsAfter some active weather, skies began to clear and temperatures dropped. Cold overnight lows affected the region for a few days at the end of November. Santa Rosa tied a daily record low for November 29th of 25 degrees F.
• Cold in California, December 13 to 14, 20224 deaths · 1 eventPersistent cold pattern caused several mornings of near and sub-freezing temperatures around the Bay Area and Central Coast. This was the second major cold event of the season and the most widespread.
• Cold in California, June 18 to 24, 20193 deaths · 3 eventsRivers remained unusually cold and fast moving due to the deep Sierra snow pack continued melt, which contributed to multiple drownings over a stretch of days.
• Cold in California, August 3 to 6, 20243 deaths · 3 eventsTwo bodies were recovered over an early August weekend due to cold-water drownings. The first was found on 8/3 in the American River at the Clay Banks near Rancho Cordova. A man in his 30s went underwater and never resurfaced. He was not wearing a life jacket.
• Cold in California, May 9 to 14, 20213 deaths · 2 eventsWarm weather combined with cold and fast moving area waterways lead to 5 deaths across the region in the month of May.
• Cold in California, May 28, 20203 deaths · 1 eventArea water ways were cold and fast moving at the end of May, while daytime high temperatures were about 10 to 15 degrees above normal for the time of year.
• Cold in California, June 18 to 22, 20253 deaths · 1 eventThree hikers went missing on June 18th in the afternoon at Rattlesnake Falls near Soda Springs in Placer County. The hikers entered the water and did not surface. The terrain was extremely remote and difficult to access, making rescue efforts especially challenging.
• Flooding and High Wind in California, February 2 to 4, 19982 deaths · 12 injured · 52 kt wind · 6 eventsA deep low pressure trough moved through California accompanied by strong surface winds and heavy downpours. The strongest winds were clocked in Orange County and through the mountains of San Bernardino County, in advance of the storm.
• Frost and Freeze and Cold in California, January 1, 20192 deaths · 5 eventsCold overnight temperatures in the mid 30s to low 40s across Santa Clara county resulted in two fatalities due to cold exposure. Widespread freezing to below freezing temperatures were reported elsewhere across the region.
• Cold in California, July 13 to 17, 20192 deaths · 2 eventsNorthern California experienced seasonably warm temperatures the weekend of July 12, 2019 due to high pressure sitting over the area.
• Cold in California, May 15 to 16, 20212 deaths · 2 eventsWarm weather combined with cold and fast moving area waterways lead to 5 deaths across the region in the month of May.
• Cold in California, December 2, 20222 deaths · 2 eventsA strong cold front passed through the San Francisco Bay Area and dropped brief, heavy rain on the morning of December 1st. That night, skies cleared, winds settled down, and temperatures plummeted.
• Cold in California, May 27 to 29, 20232 deaths · 2 eventsMelting snow brought unusually strong currents and cold water to area waterways in the month of May.
• Cold in California, May 18 to 19, 20252 deaths · 2 eventsTwo cold water drownings were discovered in the month of May due to area waterways running fast and cold from snowmelt. One occurred on the American River near Oregon Bar. Another occurred on the Sacramento River and was a 23 year old fisherman.
• Cold in California, December 25, 20182 deaths · 1 eventCold overnight temperatures into Christmas morning in the low to mid 40s across Santa Clara County caused two cold exposure deaths around San Jose.
• Cold in California, June 30, 20202 deaths · 1 eventSeasonal summer like weather was occurring over northern California on June 30; however, local area waters ways were still running cold and fast. Water temperatures on the Feather River near Yuba City were around 61 to 63 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Cold in California, June 25, 20242 deaths · 1 eventTwo fatalities were reported due to cold and fast moving waterways along the North Fork American River near Auburn on June 25th, 2024.
• Heavy Snow and Hail in California, March 28 to 29, 19981 death · 6 injured · $300,000 · 61 kt wind · 9 eventsA deep, upper-level low pressure trough produced unusually cold, late season winter storm conditions throughout southwest California. Strong winds developed behind the surface cold front on the twenty- eighth, and continued in the mountains into the twenty-ninth.
• Cold in California, December 20 to 27, 1998$596 million · 2 eventsOn December 19th an arctic airmass began moving over Central California. The resulting cold air pool from advection and radiational cooling in the lowest levels of the atmosphere led to a devastating freeze to crops, especially citrus, in the Central and Southern San Joaquin…
• Cold in California, April 10, 1999$131 million · 2 eventsUnseasonably cool air led to strong radiational cooling conditions and minor frost episodes on the mornings of April 1st (unofficial report of 29 deg F.), 2nd, and the coolest conditions of these three days occurred on the morning of Easter Sunday, the 4th, in the Central and…
• Cold in California, May 4, 20191 death · 2 injured · 1 eventThe American River was unusually cold and fast moving from a deep Sierra snow pack melting, which contributed to a man drowning.
• Tornado and Heavy Snow in California, May 12 to 13, 19981 death · F0 · 6 eventsAn unusually cold, late season storm system pushed a cold front through southern California, resulting in unseasonably cold conditions, and heavy snow in the mountains. The snow began falling around noon on the twelfth and continued off and on through the thirteenth.
• Cold in California, January 11 to 24, 20071 death · 4 eventsAn intrusion of very cold arctic air into Central California began on the morning of the 11th and continued until the 24th. Minimum temperatures in the Central and Southern San Joaquin Valley plunged into the mid teens in the very coldest locations.
• Cold in California, April 22, 20181 death · 1 eventAn early heat wave resulted in people looking for relief from the heat by heading to local waterways. Due to the time of year, creeks and rivers were running cold, high and fast due to the winter rains and snowmelt.
• Cold in California, July 24, 20191 death · 1 eventHigh pressure dominated the weather over Northern California which brought above normal temperatures to the region on July 24th and beyond.

Cold/Wind Chill everywhereEvery kind of event in California

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.