Waterspout in California

Events

44

Deaths

0

Injuries

0

Damage

None recorded

• 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 High Wind in California, January 4 to 25, 19982 deaths · $5,000 · 60 kt wind · 8 eventswaterspourt observed off sonoma county coast
• Tornado and Waterspout in California, January 29, 1998F1 · 2 eventsModerate to heavy showers ahead of a cold front spawned a waterspout, which moved onshore at Encinitas. It travelled up "A" Street, before making a left turn, and hit several businesses.
• Heavy Rain and Strong Wind in California, May 5 to 6, 1998$20,000 · 3 eventsIncreasing moist, westerly flow around the base of a strengthening low pressure area aloft over central California, resulted in scattered showers and thunderstorms throughout southern California.
• Flash Flooding and Flooding in California, February 20 to 21, 200010 eventsA powerful winter storm brought heavy rain and snow to Central and Southern California. Heavy rain, totalling 2 to 6 inches, produced flash flooding across Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
• Funnel Clouds and Waterspouts in California, March 31, 19986 eventsWeak surface pressure gradients, and cool, unstable conditions in the wake of a major winter storm, set the stage for widespread funnel cloud and waterspout development off the Orange and northern San Diego County coasts during the morning hours.
• Heavy Snow and Hail in California, April 1 to 2, 19980.5 in hail · 5 eventsA strengthening low pressure trough aloft over Southern California produced winter storm conditions in the mountains, and scattered convective showers of rain and small hail over the lower elevations.
• Heavy Snow and Waterspout in California, February 16 to 17, 19984 eventsA low pressure trough at the surface, and very cold air aloft, set the stage for heavy snow in the mountains. Snow was reported as low as 3500 feet. Eight to twelve inches of snow fell above 5500 feet, with six to eight inches as low as 4500 feet.
• Flooding and Waterspout in California, January 9 to 10, 19983 eventsHeavy rains soaked Southwestern California in advance of a low pressure trough and cold front. Rains began on the afternoon of the eighth, and lasted until early on the tenth. Many areas received over two inches of rain, with greater amounts in the mountains.
• Waterspouts in California, March 13, 19982 eventsUnstable conditions associated with a low pressure trough dropping down the California coast, spawned two waterspouts off of Huntington Beach. The waterspouts came very close to offshore platforms, but no damage was reported.
• Waterspout in California, March 14, 19961 eventWeather observer at Los Angeles International Airport reported a waterspout over the Santa Monica Bay.
• Waterspout in California, February 21, 19961 eventWaterspout was reported by the Coast Guard off of coast from Arcata Airport.
• Waterspout in California, January 12, 19971 eventA cold upper low and surface cold front combined to spin up a waterspout off the San Diego County coast. The waterspout briefly came ashore on Shelter Island, in San Diego Bay, damaging the Kona Kai Resort.
• Waterspout in California, February 10, 19971 eventA strong cold front produced a waterspout five miles southwest of the city of Santa Barbara.
• Waterspout in California, January 20, 19971 eventA strong cold front produced a waterspout near Point Fermin in the San Pedro Bay.
• Waterspout in California, April 23, 19971 eventA waterspout was sighted by the public over the southern part of Humboldt Bay near the College of the Redwoods. It was reported to be picking up water and mud.
• Waterspout in California, November 30, 19971 eventConvective showers ahead of a cold front spawned a waterspout off of Newport Beach. The funnel was observed by lifeguards as it moved slowly to the northwest, well out to sea.
• Waterspout in California, November 10, 19971 eventUnstable conditions in the wake of a cool front helped to spawn a waterspout off of Newport Beach. The waterspout came ashore at the Newport Pier and quickly dissipated over western Costa Mesa, causing minor power outages.
• Waterspout in California, September 26, 19981 eventEstimated eleven waterspouts reported over Lake Tahoe by various spotters on the north shore of the lake.
• Waterspout in California, April 1, 19981 eventA waterspout was reported by the Pismo Beach Fire Department.
• Waterspout in California, February 3, 19981 eventAn observer at Morro Bay reported a waterspout two miles north of Morro Rock.
• Waterspout in California, April 1, 19991 event
• Waterspout in California, April 3, 19991 event
• Waterspout in California, June 3, 19991 event
• Waterspout in California, December 31, 19991 event

Waterspout 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.