High Surf in California

Events

505

Deaths

97

Injuries

142

Damage

$70 million

• 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.
• High Surf in California, July 14, 20104 deaths · $20,000 · 1 eventLow pressure over the Pacific Ocean caused a six to eight foot swell to travel into the coastal waters of California. Breaking waves occurred near the shore causing hazardous surf in some locations, including the waters north of Point Reyes.
• 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.
• High Surf in California, December 2 to 6, 20073 deaths · $80,000 · 2 eventsDuring a 4 day period from December 2nd through December 5th, 2007 - high surf battered the coast of the San Francisco and Monterey Bay Areas with wave heights up to 25 feet. Two separate accidents resulted in the deaths of three people.
• High Surf in California, November 26 to 27, 20093 deaths · $60,000 · 2 eventsLarge swells began to affect the coast on Thanksgiving Day causing the surf to increase through Saturday. Wave heights at the beaches of 14 to 18 feet accompany these large swells.
• Coastal Flood and High Surf in California, December 23 to 30, 20243 deaths · 3 injured · $20 · 5 eventsLong duration high surf caused damage across Monterey Bay and resulted in numerous attempted water rescues on December 23. Around 1244 PST, around 150 feet of the Santa Cruz wharf collapsed and fell into Monterey Bay.
• 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.
• High Surf in California, June 7, 20043 deaths · 1 eventBetween 8 am and 7 pm a boat was sunk after being struck by a series of waves. The nearest buoy (46027) reported wave heights of 6.9 to 8.5 feet at 11 seconds. One female survivor swam to a near by off shore rock and spent the night.
• High Surf in California, January 3, 20213 deaths · 1 eventA long period west to northwest swell impacted the coastline in early January with breaking waves 20 to 25 feet, locally to 30 feet, forecast. On Sunday January 3rd a family of four was pulled into the ocean at Blind Beach in Sonoma County by a large wave.
• 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.
• High Surf in California, August 15, 20002 deaths · 5 injured · 1 eventStrong northwest winds of 20 to 30 mph produced locally rough seas in Morro Bay. One wave flipped a boat, throwing five adults and two children into the water. Unfortunately, both children drowned.
• High Surf in California, July 3, 20102 deaths · 5 injured · 1 eventLow pressure over the Pacific Ocean caused an eight to ten foot swell to travel into the coastal waters of California. At the coast, larger sets of waves, called sneaker waves, can move farther up the beaches than expected and catch visitors by surprise.
• Flooding and Hail in California, January 20 to 21, 20101 death · 1 injured · $21 million · 1 in hail · 27 eventsThe third in a series of significant storms brought strong winds and heavy rain to the San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas. This storm, the strongest of the week, developed over the Pacific Ocean with a strong parent low pressure based in the Gulf of Alaska.
• High Wind and High Surf in California, May 16 to 18, 20262 deaths · 1 injured · $100 · 75 kt wind · 21 eventsAn inside slider pattern developed over May 15 to May 18 as a low pressure system over the Great Basin and high pressure in the eastern Pacific combined to create a strong pressure gradient, resulting in strong gusts and turbulent wind-driven seas.
• Hail and High Wind in California, December 26 to 28, 20061 death · 3 injured · $15 million · 1 in hail · 10 eventsIn late December, a fast-moving storm system moved through Southern California. The storm did not produce any significant rainfall, but did generate a severe thunderstorm with large hail in Sherman Oaks.
• High Surf in California, May 23, 20102 deaths · $25,000 · 1 eventA typical Spring time day brought sea conditions of six to eight foot waves and west to northwest winds of 20 gusting to 30 knots to the San Francisco coastline.
• High Surf in California, November 14 to 16, 20252 deaths · 2 injured · 1 eventTwo people died after a family of four was swept out to sea at Garrapata Beach on November 14th by a wave estimated at 15 to 20 feet high. An off-duty state park lifeguard noticed the family in distress around 12:50 PM, and pulled a father and mother towards shore.
• High Surf in California, January 10 to 17, 20212 deaths · 1 injured · 6 eventsA large long period northwest swell impacted the coastline on Sunday January 10th, prompting a High Surf Warning. Large breaking waves near 30 feet were forecast. Multiple water rescues occurred up and down the coast with two fatalities.
• Wildfire and High Wind in California, April 10 to 13, 20072 deaths · 75 kt wind · 7 eventsThe combination of an upper level disturbance and strong onshore gradients produced strong and damaging winds across Southern California, especially across southern Santa Barbara county, the mountains of Ventura and Los Angeles counties and the Antelope Valley.
• Rip Current and High Surf in California, September 12 to 14, 20212 deaths · 2 eventsTwo people drowned off the Santa Cruz County coast in mid September near Davenport. One on September 12th and the other on the 14th. This is a particularly treacherous stretch of coastline with generally rougher waves and steeper beaches.
• High Surf in California, March 12, 19962 deaths · $10,000 · 1 eventCrab boat Ocean Gypsy was found by US Coast Guard helicopter in the surf of Mad River Beach. The two fishermen on board were missing and presumed lost (one body was eventually found). The exact time of the incident cannot be determined but occured between 0700 PST and 1430 PST.
• High Surf in California, January 11, 20042 deaths · 1 eventA basketball team from Lake Tahoe were about to leave when they made one last trip to beach. A large wave pulled two boys into water.
• High Surf in California, January 2, 20042 deaths · 1 eventFamily passing through area stopped for lunch. While playing near the water a large wave pulled several family members into the water. 38 year old was attempting to rescue the 8 year old boy.
• High Surf in California, October 22, 20062 deaths · 1 eventDuring the morning of October 22, distant storms caused waves to affect the coast of Humboldt County that had a significant height of seven feet and a dominant period of sixteen seconds.
• High Surf in California, April 10, 20072 deaths · 1 eventWaves as high as 9 feet were reported along the Orange County Coast. A man and woman were killed when a large wave swept them off a Newport Beach jetty as they were fishing.

High Surf 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.