Strong Wind in California

Events

2,394

Deaths

63

Injuries

107

Damage

$43 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.
• Strong Wind in California, November 2 to 5, 20246 deaths · 1 injured · $10 · 2 eventsStrong swell waves in the eastern Pacific resulted in two fatal boating accidents in the waters off the North Bay.
• 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.
• 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.
• Strong Wind in California, November 9, 20084 deaths · $1.0 million · 1 eventStrong winds ahead of an approaching storm system buffeted the Mojave Desert, raising areas of blowing dust. Poor visibility contributed to a 13-vehicle pileup on Interstate 40, killing four people.
• Debris Flows and Strong Wind in California, March 13 to 16, 20123 deaths · 12 injured · $997,000 · 21 eventsA series of storm systems from the Gulf of Alaska brought gusty winds and periods of heavy rain across the San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas from March 13 through March 16, 2012.
• Wildfire and Strong Wind in California, September 26 to 30, 20204 deaths · 1 injured · $67,000 · 3 eventsAnother round of critical fire weather conditions occurred from September 26 through September 28 due to a trough sliding into the Rockies and ridge building behind it.
• 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 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.
• 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.
• 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 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.
• 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 Winter Storm in California, January 7 to 12, 20232 deaths · $100,000 · EF1 · 55 eventsA major winter storm brought strong winds with moderate to heavy rain bringing renewed flooding of already elevated waterways. There was flooding of roadways, urban areas, rivers, streams and creeks, with rockslides and mudslides also reported.
• Wildfire and Strong Wind in California, November 20 to 22, 20132 deaths · 1 injured · $157,000 · 15 eventsStrong winds gusted across the greater Bay Area during the evening and overnight hours of November 21 into the early morning of November 22.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in California, November 28 to 30, 20122 deaths · $65,000 · 73 kt wind · 38 eventsA series of significant winter storms impacted the district during late November and early December 2012. The first storm arrived November 28 and then was followed by three more winter storms.
• Strong Wind in California, January 5, 20072 deaths · 6 injured · $30,000 · 2 eventsA strong cold front moved through the Mojave Desert, bringing gusty north winds to much of San Bernardino County California.
• Flooding and Damaging Wind in California, February 3 to 6, 20252 deaths · 4 injured · $60 · 78 kt wind · 34 eventsAn intense atmospheric river impacted the Bay Area from February 3rd to the 4th, bringing heavy rain and strong wind to the region, especially across the North Bay. The Russian River near Guerneville flooded due to the heavy rain.
• Tornadoes and Debris Flows in California, January 5 to 7, 20192 deaths · $8,000 · EF0 · 60 eventsA vigorous cold front swept through California on January 5th bringing widespread rainfall and gusty winds.
• 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 Strong Wind in California, October 27 to 28, 20132 deaths · 2 injured · $50,000 · 3 eventsAhead of a low pressure system, strong onshore winds caused for travel disruption for Northern California. The system then dropped over a foot of snow for the Sierra at higher elevations as it passed through the region.
• Heavy Rain and Frost and Freeze in California, December 15 to 17, 20082 deaths · $95,000 · 5 eventsA cold core low pressure system produced winter storm conditions causing low elevation snow, minor flooding and isolated strong wind through the period December 15 through 17, 2009.

Strong 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.