Rip Current in California

Events

116

Deaths

73

Injuries

105

Damage

$100,000

• Excessive Heat and Wildfire in California, August 14 to 31, 20204 deaths · 18 injured · 61 kt wind · 29 eventsA prolonged and oppressive heat wave swept the Central Coast and Bay Area for almost a week from August 14th to August 19th with widespread record breaking temperatures observed across the region.
• Rip Current in California, March 25, 20003 deaths · 1 eventA school group from Calgary, Alberta was visiting Black Sands Beach near Shelter Cove. A rogue wave swept the female victim out to sea. Four other members of the group attempted a rescue but were overcome by waves and currents.
• Wildfire and Rip Current in California, January 3, 19992 deaths · 4 injured · 2 eventsGusty Santa Ana winds fueled a brush fire in the San Fernando Valley, north of Granada Hills. Over 600 acres of land was burned, but no injuries or property damage was reported. The Santa Ana winds also produced deadly rip currents across the Southern California coastal waters.
• 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.
• Rip Current in California, November 11, 20022 deaths · 1 eventTwo men who were fishing along Guadalupe Beach were swept out to sea by a large wave. Both men were presumed dead.
• Rip Current in California, March 16 to 17, 20082 deaths · 1 eventTwo members of a Church Group died after they entered the surf at Monastery Beach in Carmel...attempting to rescue a 13 year old girl who was swept into the water. The young girl was rescued by another man who came out safely.
• Rip Current in California, May 29, 20142 deaths · 1 eventSeven swimmers were caught in a rip current off of Moonlight Beach around 1320 PST on the 29th. Five of them were students from a school in Solana Beach and found the two others, a Guatamalan man and his nephew.
• Flooding and Dust Storm in California, November 7 to 10, 20021 death · 5 injured · $900,000 · 81 kt wind · 13 eventsThe first strong cold front of the winter season moved slowly across Southwest California. Steady rain fell over a two day period.
• Rip Current and High Surf in California, February 13, 20101 death · 13 injured · $50,000 · 2 eventsA strong Pacific storm brought large waves to the California coast.
• Rip Currents in California, October 8 to 11, 19991 death · 12 injured · 2 eventsSix to ten foot waves were responsible for one drowning, five people being washed overboard, a dozen injuries, and over 200 lifeguard rescues.
• Rip Current in California, January 6 to 7, 200325 injured · 1 eventLifeguards had to rescue 25 surfers from rip currents. The surf was breaking between 8 and 12 feet.
• Rip Currents in California, December 15 to 16, 200217 injured · $100,000 · 2 eventsSurf breaking between 10 and 15 feet caused strong rip currents and about three feet of beach erosion along Orange and San Diego County Beaches. Lifeguards had to rescue several surfers from the rip currents.
• Rip Current in California, August 5 to 7, 19971 death · 3 injured · 1 eventSurf whipped up by Hurricane Guillermo pounded beaches in Orange County with waves from 6 to 12 feet high. Hundreds of people were rescued, but rip currents were blamed for three injuries and one death.
• Coastal Flood and Rip Current in California, October 6 to 8, 20171 death · $25,000 · 3 eventsA southwesterly swell brought several days of high surf to the beaches of Orange and San Diego Counties between the 6th and 9th. Surf peaked on the 7th and 8th, with 6-8 ft sets north of Del Mar and max sets to 15 ft at the Wedge.
• Rip Current in California, December 7, 20011 death · 1 injured · 1 eventGusty north winds generated dangerous rip currents off the coast of Malibu. The rip currents capsized a kayak. One kayaker died and another was injured.
• Rip Current in California, January 12, 20081 death · 1 injured · 1 eventA large westerly swell produced high surf and dangerous rip currents along the beaches of Central and Southern California. Near Point Mugu, a man who was fishing was swept off the rocks and drowned.
• Rip Current in California, October 25, 20101 death · 1 injured · 1 eventAn early storm for the season caused ocean waves to rise above ten feet leading to sets of higher waves washing onto area beaches. Also, stronger rip currents were occurring because of the enhanced wave action.
• Rip Current and High Surf in California, December 6 to 7, 20181 death · 3 eventsA long period west to northwest swell increased the risk of sneaker waves and brought rough surf to the Central Coast and Bay Area. This resulted in three water rescues along San Francisco Beaches. One surfer did not survive.
• Rip Currents in California, July 4 to 5, 20031 death · 2 eventsA 16 year old boy slipped off his body-board and drowned in a rip current off La Jolla Shores. Rescue operations were made difficult by the large crowds at the beach. In San Diego County, an estimated 490,000 people went to the beaches to celebrate the Fourth of July.
• Rip Current and High Surf in California, January 2 to 6, 20121 death · $1,000 · 2 eventsA storm in the central, north Pacific sent a large, long-period west swell into the Southern California coastal waters from the 2nd through the 3rd, causing surf of 5 to 8 feet with max sets 10-14 feet along the Orange and San Diego County beaches.
• Rip Current in California, June 30, 19961 death · 1 eventOut of an estimated 295,000 visitors to the San Diego County beaches, 366 rescues were made. Many were blamed on strong rip currents. One 10-year-old San Diego boy drowned at Mission Beach.
• Rip Current in California, October 30, 19981 death · 1 eventA visitor on her first trip to the ocean was swept 100 yards offshore while collecting rocks and shells. The surf was 10 to 15 feet high. The victim was standing in knee-deep water with her back to the ocean.
• Rip Current in California, November 14, 19981 death · 1 eventYoung adult male rescued two children who were in danger of drowning. In process, he became exhausted and drowned. Surf conditions were 3 to 4 feet at close intervals.
• Rip Current in California, June 18, 19991 death · 1 eventA young female drowned when a strong rip current pulled her into a deep drop off.
• Rip Current in California, May 16, 19991 death · 1 eventA 22 year old student from Switzerland who went out in rough surf, got caught in a rip current off Sunset Cliffs Park near the end of Guizot Street and drowned.

Rip Current 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.