Storm Surge/Tide in California

Events

33

Deaths

5

Injuries

33

Damage

$4.8 million

• Storm Surge in California, October 28 to 29, 19992 deaths · 4 injured · $1.0 million · 2 events15 foot swell in association with a relatively high tide produced waves as high as 40 feet which broke trough the seawall in Capitola and flooded low lying streets and businesses. A number of boats were ripped from their moorings and washed ashore or sunk.
• Storm Surge and Sneakerwave in California, May 29, 20222 deaths · 2 injured · 2 eventsA modest swell brought some larger waves to the coast. This was not a large event, nor unusual.
• Storm Surge and Flash Flooding in California, September 9 to 12, 20221 death · $6.0 million · 95 kt wind · 35 eventsTropical Cyclone Kay formed on September 4th, 2022 and made its closest approach to Southern California on the 9th and 10th, with the center of Kay coming within 120 miles of San Diego.
• Storm Surge and Flood in California, February 15 to 17, 20111 death · $640,000 · 52 kt wind · 11 eventsAfter a prolonged warm and dry spell a strong low pressure trough made its way out of the Gulf of Alaska and into California.
• Storm Surge in California, January 1, 199727 injured · 1 eventAt the King Harbor Breakwater, two 12 foot waves swept 27 people off the breakwater into the Pacific Ocean.The high waves were produced by a strong Eastern Pacific storm.
• Storm Surge and Debris Flows in California, December 28 to 31, 2005$130 million · 64 kt wind · 12 eventsA series of strong Pacific storm systems with a subtropical moisture tap began on December 18 and continued through the end of the month. The first 10 days of this wet period conditioned the watersheds with flooding of concern beginning on December 28th.
• Storm Surge and Coastal Flood in California, November 15, 20201 death · 3 eventsKing Tides returned to the region in on the 15th and 16th of the month. High tide at San Francisco reached 6.9 feet above sea level Sunday morning. Minor roadway flooding was observed in Sausalito. These high tides also brought rough seas to the coast.
• Storm Surge in California, June 9, 20261 death · 1 eventStrong southerly swells generated from south of the equator migrated up into the southern California coastal waters to produce large surf at the beaches, resulting in some minor coastal flooding for low-lying areas.
• Storm Surge and High Wind in California, March 4, 2001$2.8 million · 71 kt wind · 6 eventsA strong storm system moved into the CWA on Sun Mar 4 producing strong SE winds. The strongest winds were around midday just ahead of the cold front that swept through the area. The winds produced heavy seas that caused some street flooding and beach erosion in Monterey county.
• Storm Surge in California, January 8 to 11, 2005$800,000 · 1 eventHigh Astronomical tides, rain and onshore winds contributed to widespread Coastal Flooding in low-lying areas in Marin County, particularly the towns of Larkspur, Mill Valley and Corte Madera.
• Storm Surge and Flooding in California, December 19 to 20, 2002$500,000 · 8 eventsA winter storm brought heavy snow to the mountains with 10 to 14 inches falling at elevations above 6000 feet and 2 to 8 inches falling at elevations between 4000 and 6000 feet. Fog and snow reduced visibility to less than 100 feet in the Cajon Pass.
• Storm Surge in California, January 7 to 12, 20011 injured · $350,000 · 1 eventHeavy surf began on Sunday, January 7 and continued through Friday, January 12. The highest Spring Tides of the year were occurring during this same time period during the morning hours.
• Storm Surge in California, January 9, 2001$240,000 · 1 eventThe highest tide of the season combined with 4 foot surf to erode a sand berm. The water that spilled inland then flooded two dozen homes in the Surfside Colony community with about 2 feet of water.
• Storm Surge and High Surf in California, January 8 to 9, 2005$70,000 · 4 eventsLarge waves in conjunction with high tides in excess of 7 feet caused areas of coastal flooding. PCH had to be closed in Sunset Beach because of flooding. The boardwalk in Seal Beach was flooded as well.
• Storm Surge in California, December 1 to 5, 1998$16,000 · 4 eventsThe combination of spring high tides and heavy surf caused minor beach erosion , damage , and flooding of low lying coastal roads.
• Storm Surge and Heavy Snow in California, January 7 to 9, 20051 injured · $5,000 · 4 events8-16" snow during event
• Storm Surge in California, December 22 to 23, 19992 eventsThe highest spring tides of the year occurred between 8 and 9 a.m. these two days. Cobblestones, sand, and other debris were deposited onto Highway 101 and in the parking lots of restaurants near the mouth of San Elijo Lagoon.
• Storm Surge in California, December 23 to 24, 20032 eventsHigh tide combined with storm surge caused coastal flooding in the community of King Salmon. About 30 homes sustained some level of flood damage.
• Storm Surge in California, January 11, 2005$10,000 · 2 eventsLarge surf combined with high tides of 7.5 feet sent waves crashing into some beachfront homes.
• Storm Surge in California, November 24 to 25, 20112 eventsTidal flooding was reported in Marin County on both November 24 and November 25, 2011.
• Storm Surge in California, February 25, 20041 eventLarge storm produced coastal overwash and resulted in the parking lot of Carmel River Beach and adjacent areas being flooded.
• Storm Surge in California, February 25, 20041 eventStrong winter storm brought ocean water onto the Boardwalk in Capitola producing damage on the pier and adjacent restaurant.
• Storm Surge in California, February 25, 20041 eventLarge storm produced coastal overwash and brought water over the roadway at Doran Beach.

Storm Surge/Tide 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.