Flood in California

Events

4,231

Deaths

53

Injuries

72

Damage

$2.6 billion

• Flash Flood and Winter Storm in California, March 4 to 6, 20004 deaths · 30 injured · $635,000 · 52 kt wind · 10 eventsA winter storm started out on the evening of Saturday, March 4 with heavy wet snow at the higher elevations and heavy rain and flooding at the lower elevations. Sustained 40 knot winds overnight caused heavy surf and several boats to lose their anchorage.
• Flash Flooding and Flood in California, February 23 to 24, 19985 deaths · 1 injured · 4 eventsThe final...and deadliest...storm of the month struck Central and Southern California. Rainfall totals ranged from 1 to 4 inches over the coast with up to 14 inches in the mountains. Widespread urban and small stream flooding was reported.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in California, January 18 to 24, 20173 deaths · 19 injured · $2.8 million · 86 kt wind · 44 eventsAfter a wet start to the month, a series of 3 storms traversed the region between the 19th and 24th of January. The storms produced flooding rains, extreme mountain snowfall, and strong winds from the coast to the deserts.
• Flooding and Heavy Snow in California, February 4 to 7, 20244 deaths · $1.3 million · 65 kt wind · 31 eventsA major winter storm moved in from the south on February 4th, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, thunderstorms and heavy mountain snow through February 7th. Damaging winds brought down trees and caused widespread power outages.
• Flash Flooding and Winter Storm in California, January 8 to 11, 20232 deaths · $32 million · 68 kt wind · 232 eventsA strong low pressure system moved through central California on January 9 and 10.
• Flooding in California, January 1 to 3, 20063 deaths · 3 injured · $32 million · 9 eventsA series of warm winter storms brought heavy rain, mudslides, flooding, and high winds to Northern California.
• Flooding in California, December 16, 20023 deaths · 2 injured · $860,000 · 4 eventsAlmost two inches of rain fell in a two hour period, causing low lying roads and most creeks to flood. In Carlsbad, 5 women tried to cross a flooded bridge in a car, which stalled midway then floated downstream and overturned. Two women escaped, the other three drowned.
• Flash Flooding and Flood in California, October 12 to 17, 20093 deaths · $446,000 · 67 kt wind · 21 eventsA deep low pressure trough tapped into quite a bit of moisture from the remnants of Super-Typhoon Melor, bringing as much as around 2 inches of rain to the central and southern San Joaquin Valley on the 13th-14th. Much higher amounts fell in the Southern Sierra Nevada.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in California, January 16 to 17, 20193 deaths · 85 kt wind · 89 eventsA moderate to strong atmospheric river impacted much of California in the middle of the month. A weak surface low developed off the coast on January 15th bringing moderate to heavy rainfall to portions of the region.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in California, December 19 to 25, 20102 deaths · $162 million · 61 kt wind · 13 eventsA large Pacific plume of moisture ahead of an advancing trough of low pressure brought heavy rain and periods of serious flooding for nearly a week. The plume of moisture responsible was a form of an Atmospheric River.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in California, November 8 to 9, 20223 deaths · $23,000 · 88 kt wind · 27 eventsPacific trough draws two atmospheric rivers, November 8-9, 2022.
• Flash Flooding and Flood in California, February 7 to 8, 19983 deaths · 2 injured · 61 kt wind · 24 eventsThe third storm of the month brought more weather-related problems to Central and Southern California. Strong winds, gusting up to 70 mph, knocked down many trees and power lines. In Encino, the winds blew down Lang Oak, a one thousand year-old oak tree.
• Flash Flooding and Flooding in California, January 22, 20242 deaths · $31 million · 31 eventsHistoric flooding occurred on January 22nd. Heavy rainfall occurred between 8 am and noon across western San Diego county. The heaviest rainfall occurred between 9 am and 11 am in the east side of the city of San Diego in Encanto and Lemon Grove to Spring Valley.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in California, February 17 to 19, 20172 deaths · 2 injured · $14 million · 73 kt wind · 18 eventsA strong trough and associated Pacific cold front swept into Southern California from the west, bringing strong winds, heavy snow and rain. The storm was noteworthy for the strong prefrontal southerly winds that produced significant tree damage over the coast and valleys.
• Flash Flood and Winter Storm in California, February 17 to 22, 20172 deaths · $15 million · 173 kt wind · 22 eventsStorms brought additional rain and widespread flooding and debris flows, as well as mountain snow.
• Flash Flooding and Flood in California, September 1 to 2, 20233 deaths · 9 eventsAn upper level storm system coming from the Eastern Pacific interacted with monsoonal moisture on September 1, 2023. The interaction of these features led to the development of heavy rain and thunderstorms, which caused several instances of flooding in the Coachella Valley.
• Flooding in California, February 2 to 28, 19982 deaths · $12 million · 3 eventsThe following stages occurred in the lower Sacramento River system:Location: Period(s) above flood stage: Maximum Crest/Date:Cache Creek at Rumsey 2nd--3rd 2.2 feet above flood stage/3rdThe following stages occurred in the lower San Joaquin River system:Location: Period(s) above…
• Tornado and Flash Flooding in California, March 20 to 23, 20182 deaths · $2.8 million · EF0 · 31 eventsA warm plume of moist tropical air brought a very active period of weather to the area between the evening of March 20 and the evening of March 22.
• Tornado and Debris Flows in California, March 16 to 20, 20112 deaths · $2.7 million · EF1 · 7 eventsA series of weather systems bringing heavy rain, strong winds, high surf, and a tornado affected the District on March 16-21, 2011. Two deaths occurred during this time.
• Flooding in California, January 15 to 16, 19982 deaths · $5.3 million · 2 eventsRain amounts of 2.0 to 2.5 inches...with peaks up to 3 inches... in the Southern Sierra Nevada foothills in East Merced and West Mariposa Counties lead to small streams running at bankfull in Merced County.
• Tornado and Winter Storm in California, January 7 to 12, 20232 deaths · $100,000 · EF1 · 55 eventsA major winter storm brought strong winds with moderate to heavy rain bringing renewed flooding of already elevated waterways. There was flooding of roadways, urban areas, rivers, streams and creeks, with rockslides and mudslides also reported.
• 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.
• Flash Flooding and Flooding in California, December 4, 20192 deaths · $809,000 · 8 eventsA low pressure system moved over Southern California, bringing rain and high level mountain snow. Coast and valley areas received between 0.50 inch and 1 inch, with locally higher amounts up to 2 inches in the valleys.
• Flooding and Heavy Snow in California, December 24 to 27, 20252 deaths · 3 injured · $26,000 · 68 kt wind · 36 eventsA prolonged period of wet weather brought heavy snowfall and strong winds to the Sierra Nevada. Heaviest snowfall was observed from 12/24-12/26 when snow levels came down below the mountain passes.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in California, November 28 to 30, 20122 deaths · $65,000 · 73 kt wind · 38 eventsA series of significant winter storms impacted the district during late November and early December 2012. The first storm arrived November 28 and then was followed by three more winter storms.

Flood 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.