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.
LightningJuly 30, 2003
Riverside · 1 killed ·
Rip CurrentJuly 24, 2003
Orange · 1 killed ·
Rip CurrentJuly 21, 2003
Orange · 1 killed ·
HeatJuly 14, 2003
San Bernardino T Sw & X Se · 1 killed ·
HeatJuly 12, 2003
San Bernardino T Sw & X Se · 1 killed ·
HeatJuly 5, 2003
San Bernardino T Sw & X Se · 1 killed ·
Rip CurrentJuly 4, 2003
San Diego · 1 killed ·
Rip CurrentJune 26, 2003
Orange · 1 killed ·
Rip CurrentFebruary 15, 2003
San Diego · 1 killed ·
FloodFebruary 14, 2003
San Diego · 1 killed ·
High WindDecember 19, 2002
Redwood Coast · 1 killed ·
High SurfNovember 7, 2002
Redwood Coast · 1 killed ·
Rip CurrentNovember 7, 2002
Orange · 1 killed ·
HeatSeptember 1, 2002
Ne Orange · 1 killed ·
HeatJuly 23, 2002
X Sw San Bernardino · 1 killed ·
HeatJuly 16, 2002
C San Diego · 1 killed ·
HeatJuly 15, 2002
C Riverside · 1 killed · 1 injured ·
Dense FogFebruary 22, 2002
W Central Sj Valley · 1 killed ·
High WindFebruary 9, 2002
S Ventura T X S · 1 killed ·
Extreme Cold/Wind ChillJanuary 30, 2002
Riverside County Valley/The Inland Empire · 1 killed ·
High SurfJanuary 26, 2002
Redwood Coast · 1 killed · 1 injured ·
Rip CurrentDecember 7, 2001
Los Angeles · 1 killed · 1 injured ·
Rip CurrentSeptember 19, 2001
Orange · 1 killed ·
LightningSeptember 3, 2001
San Bernardino · 1 killed · 1 injured ·
LightningSeptember 2, 2001
San Diego · 1 killed · 1 injured ·
Rip CurrentAugust 30, 2001
San Diego · 1 killed ·
Rip CurrentAugust 29, 2001
Orange · 1 killed ·
WildfireJune 29, 2001
Riverside · 1 killed ·
HeatJune 22, 2001
P W Riverside · 1 killed · 2 injured ·
HeatMay 23, 2001
Apple And Yucca Valleys · 1 killed ·
Rip CurrentMay 12, 2001
Orange · 1 killed ·
HeatMay 7, 2001
San Diego County Deserts · 1 killed ·
Thunderstorm WindApril 9, 2001
Kern Cty Mtns · 1 killed ·
Rip CurrentMarch 27, 2001
Del Norte · 1 killed ·
Rip CurrentMarch 1, 2001
San Diego · 1 killed ·
High WindJanuary 31, 2001
X Sw San Bernardino · 1 killed · 1 injured ·
Heavy SnowJanuary 8, 2001
Kern Cty Mtns · 1 killed ·
Rip CurrentDecember 25, 2000
Los Angeles · 1 killed ·
Rip CurrentAugust 20, 2000
San Diego · 1 killed ·
Rip CurrentAugust 17, 2000
Orange · 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.