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.
LightningJune 3, 2009
Plumas · 1 killed ·
HeatMay 19, 2009
Death Valley National Park · 1 killed ·
Rip CurrentApril 12, 2009
San Francisco · 1 killed ·
Heavy RainMarch 16, 2009
Shasta · 1 killed ·
AvalancheMarch 3, 2009
Greater Lake Tahoe Area · 1 killed ·
AvalancheDecember 25, 2008
Greater Lake Tahoe Area · 1 killed ·
Winter WeatherOctober 3, 2008
Greater Lake Tahoe Area · 1 killed ·
WildfireJuly 22, 2008
Western Siskiyou County · 1 killed ·
HeatMay 15, 2008
Northern San Joaquin Valley · 1 killed ·
Rip CurrentJanuary 12, 2008
Ventura County Coast · 1 killed · 1 injured ·
High SurfDecember 28, 2007
Monterey Bay/N Salinas Valley/Hollister Valley/Carmel Valley · 1 killed ·
High SurfDecember 2, 2007
Monterey Bay/N Salinas Valley/Hollister Valley/Carmel Valley · 1 killed ·
Excessive HeatSeptember 2, 2007
Morongo Basin · 1 killed ·
HeatSeptember 1, 2007
Apple And Lucerne Valleys · 1 killed ·
Rip CurrentJuly 6, 2007
Orange County Coastal Areas · 1 killed ·
Excessive HeatJuly 4, 2007
Northern Sacramento Valley · 1 killed · 1 injured ·
Cold/Wind ChillJanuary 11, 2007
Se S.J. Valley · 1 killed ·
High WindDecember 27, 2006
Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore · 1 killed ·
High SurfDecember 26, 2006
Ventura County Coast · 1 killed · 2 injured ·
HeatJuly 21, 2006
Coachella Valley · 1 killed · 10 injured ·
HeatJuly 21, 2006
North Bay Interior Valleys · 1 killed ·
HeatJuly 20, 2006
Santa Clara Valley Including San Jose · 1 killed ·
HeatJune 22, 2006
Se S.J. Valley · 1 killed ·
Rip CurrentMay 24, 2006
X W San Diego · 1 killed ·
Strong WindMarch 6, 2006
Monterey Bay/N Salinas Valley/Hollister Valley/Carmel Valley · 1 killed ·
High WindFebruary 27, 2006
Santa Cruz Mountains · 1 killed ·
AvalancheFebruary 1, 2006
Mono · 1 killed · 1 injured ·
Winter StormJanuary 1, 2006
W Inyo · 1 killed ·
HeatJuly 13, 2005
Se S.J. Valley · 1 killed ·
HeatJuly 10, 2005
C San Diego · 1 killed ·
High SurfMarch 19, 2005
Santa Cruz Co. · 1 killed ·
Flash FloodJanuary 9, 2005
Los Angeles · 1 killed ·
Heavy RainJanuary 8, 2005
San Diego · 1 killed ·
Winter StormJanuary 7, 2005
Kern Cty Mtns · 1 killed ·
Heavy RainDecember 30, 2004
San Luis Obispo · 1 killed ·
High SurfDecember 27, 2004
San Mateo · 1 killed ·
Strong WindNovember 27, 2004
X N Los Angeles · 1 killed · 1 injured ·
Flash FloodOctober 20, 2004
Los Angeles · 1 killed ·
LightningSeptember 10, 2004
San Bernardino · 1 killed · 1 injured ·
High SurfFebruary 22, 2004
Redwood Coast · 1 killed ·
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.