Heavy Snow in California

Events

3,772

Deaths

21

Injuries

69

Damage

$7.4 million

• Avalanche and Heavy Snow in California, February 15 to 18, 20269 deaths · 5 eventsThe 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.
• Heavy Snow in California, April 1 to 2, 19998 deaths · 13 injured · 1 eventSnow 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.
• 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.
• Flash Flooding and Heavy Snow in California, January 1, 20233 deaths · $134 million · 5 eventsA strong atmospheric storm brought moderate to heavy rain and a period of strong winds New Years Eve into early New Years Day, along with heavy high-elevation Sierra snow. There were 3 fatalities reported due to drowning.
• Tornado and Flash Flooding in California, February 23 to 24, 19982 deaths · 2 injured · $110 million · F0 · 10 eventsA powerful Pacific storm fed by warmer than normal El Nino conditions in the eastern Pacific, slammed into southern California with strong winds, thunderstorms, and very heavy rain. This was the final in a series of heavy storms which pummelled the region this month.
• 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 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 Heavy Snow in California, February 24 to 27, 20031 death · 28 injured · $950,000 · 9 eventsTwelve to eighteen inches of snow fell in the San Bernardino Mountains above 7000 feet. In the San Jacinto Mountains of Riverside County, 11 to 20 inches fell between 5600 feet and the ridgetop. In the Laguna Mountains of San Diego County, 8 to 13 inches of snow fell.
• 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.
• Ice Storm and Heavy Snow in California, December 20 to 21, 19982 deaths · $1.0 million · 2 eventsIn conjunction with the freeze event affecting area agriculture, the combination of moisture and unusally cold air led to the development of black ice on Central San Joaquin Valley roadways.
• 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.
• Flooding and Heavy Snow in California, January 3 to 6, 20232 deaths · $50,000 · 52 kt wind · 42 eventsA powerful atmospheric river brought very strong winds with moderate to heavy rain and renewed flooding of the already elevated waterways. There was flooding of roadways, urban areas, rivers, streams, and creeks.
• Tornadoes and Debris Flows in California, January 6 to 12, 20171 death · $14 million · EF0 · 68 eventsTwo strong storms brought a range of significant weather impacts to northern interior California. The first storm was very wet and warm, the second not quite as wet but cooler with lower snow levels. Both storms brought strong, damaging winds.
• Winter Storm and Flooding in California, February 11 to 14, 200132 injured · $970,000 · 77 kt wind · 16 eventsA winter storm that took two days to cross Southwest California created near blizzard conditions in the mountains, forcing the closure of all roads. In San Bernardino County, the Wrightwood received between 27 and 60 inches of snow.
• Heavy Snow in California, January 20 to 21, 20101 death · 11 injured · $2.0 million · 3 eventsA continued unsettled pattern remained over the CWA in association with a very active upper level jet and El Nino pattern. The California portion of the Medford CWA was on the northern fringe of the area of heavy precipitation.
• Flooding and Heavy Snow in California, February 4 to 9, 20242 deaths · 31 eventsAn atmospheric river took aim at Southern California for several days starting early on February 4th, with impacts lasting through February 9th.
• Flooding and Heavy Snow in California, November 22 to 27, 20242 deaths · 29 eventsAnother weather system brought continued periods of heavy mountain snow with mountain travel delays and chain restrictions, widespread rain with flooding impacts, and gusty winds in the from November 22nd through November 26th.
• Debris Flow and Flooding in California, December 27, 20222 deaths · 67 kt wind · 28 eventsA strong upper low pressure system moved through California on December 27. This system had abundant moisture associated with it as it pulled up a deep fetch of moisture of tropical origin.
• Heavy Snow in California, December 20 to 22, 19962 deaths · 2 injured · 4 eventsThe heaviest snow in many years caused a number of problems in the Shasta-Cascades region and in the Sierra Nevada range.
• Debris Flow and Flooding in California, February 17 to 22, 20242 deaths · 1 in hail · 17 eventsA winter storm mid-February brought several days of continued heavy snow, rain, and gusty winds. Periods of chain controls were observed in the mountains with local reports of flooding and minor wind damage.
• Flash Flood and Debris Flow in California, January 28 to 30, 20211 death · 8 injured · $1.0 million · 67 kt wind · 15 eventsA potent trough of low pressure associated with a weak atmospheric river brought heavy mountain and snow and areas of flooding rains across Southern California from January 28th to 29th.
• Flash Flood and Heavy Snow in California, January 31, 20161 death · 3 injured · $578,000 · 74 kt wind · 28 eventsA strong trough moved inland along the California Coast on the 31st. The trough was accompanied by a surface low that rapidly deepened in the Southern California Bight and an exceptionally strong Pacific Cold Front.

Heavy Snow 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.