Winter Weather in California

Events

1,477

Deaths

32

Injuries

92

Damage

$1.0 million

• Winter Weather in California, January 7 to 18, 199714 deaths · 1 eventPersistent northerly flow and low pressure aloft along the west coast, resulted in a prolonged period of cold and snow for the San Diego Mountains.
• Avalanche and Heavy Snow in California, February 15 to 18, 20269 deaths · 5 eventsThe first in a series of strong winter storms impacted the eastern Sierra and northeast CA from the 16th to 17th. In this two day period, upwards of 2 to 4 feet of snow fell, and was accompanied by winds upwards of 80-100 mph.
• 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 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.
• Winter Weather in California, April 7 to 10, 200165 injured · 2 eventsTwo cold fronts moved across Southwest California during this period. On 4/7/01, the first front brought between one and two and a half inches of rain. Record cold temperatures followed that night and into 4/09/01.
• Winter Weather in California, November 26 to 27, 19973 deaths · 2 injured · 17 eventsA strong Pacific storm brought heavy rain...thunderstorms and snow to Southern California. With this storm, snow levels dropped to around 5000 feet. Snow accumulations up to 6 inches were reported in the mountains. At lower elevations, heavy rain and small hail fell.
• Flash Flood and Heavy Snow in California, February 24 to 27, 20031 death · 28 injured · $950,000 · 9 eventsTwelve to eighteen inches of snow fell in the San Bernardino Mountains above 7000 feet. In the San Jacinto Mountains of Riverside County, 11 to 20 inches fell between 5600 feet and the ridgetop. In the Laguna Mountains of San Diego County, 8 to 13 inches of snow fell.
• Winter Weather in California, March 11, 20062 deaths · 15 injured · 1 eventA sudden, brief snow shower coated Highway 101 just north of the Golden Gate Bridge with ice and slushy snow. A chain reaction accident occurred, involving 28 vehicles creating a monstrous pileup - killing 2 people and injuring more than a dozen.
• Flash Flooding and Flooding in California, December 4, 20192 deaths · $809,000 · 8 eventsA low pressure system moved over Southern California, bringing rain and high level mountain snow. Coast and valley areas received between 0.50 inch and 1 inch, with locally higher amounts up to 2 inches in the valleys.
• 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 Avalanche in California, December 20 to 24, 20122 deaths · 7 eventsA series of pacific storms tracked across Northern California Thursday through the weekend bringing periods of moderate to heavy snow in the mountains and gusty winds. Low snow levels brought snow as low as 500 ft before snow levels rose to 3000 to 4500 ft by the weekend.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Rain in California, March 1 to 4, 20182 deaths · 5 eventsMountain snow continued into early March, with storm totals up to around 5 feet. There were also periods of heavy rain in the Central Valley and foothills.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Rain in California, October 19 to 20, 20042 deaths · 4 eventsFollowing the early-season Winter Storm that began on the 17th, extensively more snow fell on the 19th and 20th in the higher elevations of Central California. High winds accompanied this system throughout much of the state.
• Winter Weather in California, October 10 to 11, 20082 deaths · $10,000 · 2 eventsA strong low pressure system which moved through the central Sierra Nevada and western Nevada brought strong winds, high elevation snow, and lake effect snowfall to the region.
• Tornado and Flash Flood in California, January 17 to 22, 20101 death · $2.3 million · EF0 · 21 eventsBy January 13th, the medium-range forecast models were becoming consistent in predicting a major precipitation event that would affect interior central California beginning the 17th and continuing for several days.
• Flash Flood and Winter Storm in California, March 1 to 2, 20231 death · 1 injured · $933,000 · 22 eventsAfter one powerful storm struck Southern California in late February, a second storm arrived at the end of February and into early March.
• Debris Flows and Flooding in California, January 26 to 29, 20211 injured · $20 million · 61 kt wind · 104 eventsA plume of moisture from the tropical Pacific brought an Atmospheric River to the Bay Area January 26th-29th. This system generated heavy rain rates causing flooding and debris flows over area burn scars as well as 15 to 20 inches of rain in the Santa Lucia Mountains.
• Frost and Freeze and Dense Fog in California, January 2 to 6, 20131 death · $500,000 · 14 eventsJanuary began with the central and southern San Joaquin Valley under a cold, dry airmass that moved into the region.
• Flash Flood and Winter Storm in California, February 5 to 10, 20141 death · $700,000 · 6 eventsThree waves of Pacific atmospheric-river-type storms brought significant wet weather to California. The first wave (late Feb 5 through Feb 6) brought 1-1.5 of liquid equivalent for the Sierra, which equated to several inches of fresh snow.
• Flooding and Heavy Snow in California, January 7 to 9, 20231 death · $19,000 · 75 kt wind · 39 eventsA multiday atmospheric river continued across Northwest California during early to mid January. Impacts from heavy rain and strong winds were numerous across the region.
• Avalanche and Heavy Snow in California, March 2 to 4, 20091 death · $70,000 · 5 eventsA powerful winter storm moved through the northern and central Sierra Nevada and western Nevada.
• Flooding and Heavy Rain in California, February 24 to 27, 20191 death · 35 eventsDeep-layer westerly flow aided in a persistent influx of moisture across the steep coastal terrain of Northwest California. Heavy rain occurred as a result, leading to rapid rises on creeks, streams and rivers.
• Heavy Snow and High Wind in California, March 22 to 24, 20241 death · 3 injured · 60 kt wind · 8 eventsA large upper low approached the northern California coast on March 22. The associated trough with this system pushed into central California by the evening bringing widespread precipitation to the area.
• High Wind and Strong Wind in California, December 30 to 31, 20191 death · $20,000 · 56 kt wind · 7 eventsA low pressure system from the north moved into Southern California, bringing rain, mountain snow and gusty winds. The San Bernardino Mountains received a few inches of snow, heaviest overnight on the 30th.
• Winter Weather in California, December 5 to 7, 19971 death · 17 eventsA powerful Pacific storm brought heavy rain, snow, and strong winds to Southern California. Rainfall totals ranged from 2 to 6 inches over the coast...up to 12 inches in the mountains. Mudslides closed parts of Highway 1, Highway 126, and Highway 150.

Winter Weather 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.