California Storm & Severe Weather History
Since 1996, California has logged 40,984 severe-weather events — about 1,322 a year — with 1,148 direct deaths, 4,201 injuries and $29.8B in reported property damage.
By event type
High Wind7,14942 d$404.7M
Flood4,23145 d$2.4B
Heavy Snow3,77217 d$5.4M
Flash Flood2,78568 d$1.4B
Dense Fog2,44124 d$23.6M
Strong Wind2,39136 d$40.1M
Heavy Rain2,04622 d$391.9M
Drought1,870—$50K
Winter Storm1,66014 d$23.0M
Wildfire1,592281 d$24.0B
Frost/Freeze1,503—$9.4M
Excessive Heat1,48167 d$7.5M
Winter Weather1,47724 d$1.0M
Heat1,200143 d$200K
Thunderstorm Wind1,11118 d$55.1M
Hail8301 d$24.9M
Events by year
19962026
Notable events (775)
Events with deaths, major damage, or a strong tornado — deadliest first.
WildfireNovember 8, 2018
Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley · 86 killed · 12 injured · $17.0B damage
HeatJuly 16, 2006
E Central S.J. Valley · 30 killed · 10 injured · $170K damage
Debris FlowJanuary 9, 2018
Santa Barbara · 21 killed · 168 injured · $617.0M damage
WildfireJanuary 7, 2025
Los Angeles County San Gabriel Valley · 17 killed · 9 injured ·
WildfireJanuary 7, 2025
Est San Gabriel Mountains · 17 killed · 9 injured ·
WildfireSeptember 7, 2020
Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley · 16 killed ·
HeatJuly 16, 2006
Se S.J. Valley · 16 killed · 8 injured ·
WildfireOctober 25, 2003
San Diego · 14 killed · 90 injured · $1.0B damage
Debris FlowDecember 25, 2003
San Bernardino County Mountains · 14 killed · 10 injured · $5.0M damage
Winter WeatherJanuary 7, 1997
San Diego County Mountains · 14 killed ·
WildfireJanuary 7, 2025
Est Santa Monica Mountains · 12 killed · 4 injured ·
WildfireJanuary 7, 2025
Malibu Coast · 12 killed · 4 injured ·
Excessive HeatSeptember 1, 2007
Los Angeles County Valleys · 10 killed ·
HeatJuly 21, 2006
San Bernardino County Valley/The Inland Empire · 10 killed · 6 injured ·
Debris FlowJanuary 10, 2005
Santa Barbara County South Coast · 10 killed ·
AvalancheFebruary 15, 2026
Greater Lake Tahoe Area · 9 killed ·
WildfireOctober 21, 2007
San Diego County Valleys · 8 killed · 61 injured · $75.0M damage
WildfireOctober 8, 2017
Southeastern Mendocino Interior · 8 killed · 1 injured · $38.4M damage
Thunderstorm WindJune 21, 2025
El Dorado · 8 killed ·
Excessive HeatSeptember 3, 2007
Los Angeles County Coasts Including Downtown Los Angeles · 8 killed ·
Heavy SnowApril 1, 1999
San Diego County Mountains · 8 killed · 13 injured ·
Excessive HeatJuly 2, 2024
Santa Clara Valley Including San Jose · 6 killed ·
HeatJune 14, 2000
San Mateo · 6 killed · 10 injured ·
WildfireOctober 26, 2006
Riverside County Mountains · 5 killed · $10.3M damage
Dense FogDecember 11, 1997
Yolo T W/Ne Solano/Sacramento T X Sw/X W Placer/X W Amador/S Sutter · 5 killed · 26 injured · $1.5M damage
WildfireOctober 25, 2003
San Bernardino · 4 killed · 5 injured · $696.4M damage
High SurfJuly 14, 2010
Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore · 4 killed · $20K damage
HeatJuly 7, 2024
Santa Clara Valley Including San Jose · 4 killed ·
Cold/Wind ChillDecember 13, 2022
Santa Clara Valley Including San Jose · 4 killed ·
HeatSeptember 4, 2022
Santa Clara Valley Including San Jose · 4 killed · 60 injured ·
WildfireAugust 1, 2022
Western Siskiyou County · 4 killed ·
WildfireSeptember 27, 2020
Northern Sacramento Valley · 4 killed · 1 injured ·
High WindJuly 26, 2018
Northern Sacramento Valley · 4 killed · 6 injured ·
WildfireOctober 8, 2017
Central Sacramento Valley · 4 killed ·
Excessive HeatJune 18, 2017
Southern Sacramento Valley · 4 killed ·
WildfireSeptember 12, 2015
Clear Lake/Southern Lake County · 4 killed · 4 injured ·
Excessive HeatSeptember 1, 2007
San Bernardino And Riverside County Valleys - The Inland Empire · 4 killed · 2 injured ·
HeatAugust 15, 1996
Sonoma/Marin Counties · 4 killed ·
Dust StormOctober 13, 2009
Sw S.J. Valley · 3 killed · $100K damage
FloodDecember 16, 2002
San Diego · 3 killed · 2 injured · $60K damage
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database. Counts are every logged event since 1996; the "notable" list is filtered to events with fatalities, major damage or a strong tornado. Damage is the reporting office's estimate. A record of past weather is not a forecast. See About the Data.