High Wind in California

Events

7,149

Deaths

47

Injuries

155

Damage

$489 million

• Wildfire and High Wind in California, September 7 to 9, 202016 deaths · $270,000 · 57 kt wind · 6 eventsSeptember 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.
• Flash Flooding and Winter Storm in California, January 7 to 11, 200511 deaths · $210 million · 58 kt wind · 13 eventsA 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.
• Wildfire and High Wind in California, July 23 to 31, 20189 deaths · 22 injured · $1.6 billion · 134 kt wind · 3 eventsLarge 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.
• Damaging Wind and High Wind in California, June 19 to 21, 20258 deaths · 87 kt wind · 4 eventsA 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.
• 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.
• High Wind and Strong Wind in California, March 21, 20235 deaths · 5 injured · $80 · 77 kt wind · 22 eventsA rapidly intensifying cyclone brought high winds to the region. A High Wind Warning was issued for the San Mateo Peninsula Coast, the Santa Cruz Mountains, and the Central Coast.
• Wildfire and High Wind in California, December 4 to 31, 20175 deaths · 63 kt wind · 11 eventsStrong surface high pressure building in the Great Basin generated strong and gusty Santa Ana winds across sections of Ventura and Los Angeles counties. North to northeast wind gusts up to 73 MPH were 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.
• High Wind and Heavy Rain in California, February 10, 20003 deaths · 8 injured · $760,000 · 4 eventsThe wettest rain storm in 16 months caused mudslides and flooding in Orange and San Bernardino Counties. Highways and city streets were flooded for 30 minutes to three hours and contributed directly to several fatal accidents.
• High Wind and Strong Wind in California, December 29 to 31, 20143 deaths · 2 injured · $4.7 million · 57 kt wind · 10 eventsA strong low pressure system brought strong winds to the Sierra Nevada, the foothills, and the Valley. Butte County received significant wind damage, with 2 fatalities caused by falling trees. A fallen tree also caused a fatality and several injuries in Shasta County.
• Excessive Heat and Wildfire in California, June 13 to 21, 20213 deaths · 3 injured · $1.0 million · 51 kt wind · 13 eventsA long lasting heat wave occurred across Southern California from June 14th through the 20th, where many daily records were broken. A wildfire also broke out in the Riverside County Mountains on the 13th, which led to damages and road closures.
• Wildfire and Dust Storm in California, January 5 to 7, 20032 deaths · 12 injured · $31 million · 87 kt wind · 12 eventsThroughout this three day Santa Ana wind event, numerous trees and power poles were blown down. At least 60 communities were affected. Interstates 8, 10, and 15 were blocked for several hours by large trucks blown over.
• 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.
• 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, 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 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.
• High Wind in California, January 14, 20113 deaths · $15,000 · 50 kt wind · 1 eventA Santa Ana event caused areas of gusty winds in the mountains. Winds were blamed for playing a role in 3 fatalities.
• Debris Flow and High Wind in California, October 14 to 16, 20163 deaths · 61 kt wind · 4 eventsTwo low pressure systems brought a combination of strong winds and significant rain and high elevation snow on the 14th and 15th.
• 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 Wind 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.