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.
Rip CurrentAugust 14, 2000
San Diego · 1 killed ·
WildfireJuly 20, 2000
San Diego · 1 killed ·
HeatJune 24, 2000
C San Diego · 1 killed ·
High WindJune 17, 2000
S Solano/S Napa/X Sw Sacramento/Nw San Joaquin · 1 killed ·
HeatJune 13, 2000
Central Sacramento Valley · 1 killed ·
Rip CurrentJune 4, 2000
Orange · 1 killed ·
Rip CurrentJune 1, 2000
San Diego · 1 killed ·
HeatMay 20, 2000
San Diego County Mountains · 1 killed · 3 injured ·
Rip CurrentMay 18, 2000
Orange · 1 killed ·
Rip CurrentApril 17, 2000
Orange · 1 killed ·
High WindFebruary 13, 2000
Mendocino Interior · 1 killed ·
High SurfDecember 14, 1999
Redwood Coast · 1 killed ·
Rip CurrentOctober 8, 1999
San Diego · 1 killed · 12 injured ·
Flash FloodJuly 12, 1999
San Bernardino · 1 killed ·
Rip CurrentJuly 4, 1999
San Diego · 1 killed ·
Rip CurrentJune 18, 1999
Los Angeles · 1 killed ·
LightningMay 23, 1999
Los Angeles · 1 killed ·
Rip CurrentMay 16, 1999
San Diego · 1 killed ·
Rip CurrentMay 4, 1999
Orange · 1 killed ·
High WindApril 3, 1999
Monterey T X W / San Benito · 1 killed · 1 injured ·
High SurfFebruary 20, 1999
X Se Los Angeles · 1 killed · 3 injured ·
AvalancheFebruary 6, 1999
West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada · 1 killed · 3 injured ·
Rip CurrentNovember 14, 1998
San Diego · 1 killed ·
Rip CurrentOctober 30, 1998
Humboldt · 1 killed ·
HeatAugust 27, 1998
Central Sjv · 1 killed ·
HeatAugust 4, 1998
Kern Deserts · 1 killed ·
HeatJuly 24, 1998
Kern Deserts · 1 killed ·
Cold/Wind ChillMay 12, 1998
San Diego County Mountains · 1 killed ·
High SurfMay 2, 1998
X Se Los Angeles · 1 killed ·
Cold/Wind ChillMarch 28, 1998
San Diego County Mountains · 1 killed ·
Dense FogFebruary 24, 1998
Kings/W Tulare/Nw Kern · 1 killed ·
Flash FloodFebruary 7, 1998
Santa Barbara · 1 killed ·
Flash FloodFebruary 7, 1998
Los Angeles · 1 killed · 2 injured ·
Heavy SnowFebruary 7, 1998
Ventura County Mountains · 1 killed ·
Flash FloodFebruary 6, 1998
Los Angeles · 1 killed ·
FloodFebruary 2, 1998
Carquinez Strait And Delta · 1 killed ·
FloodFebruary 2, 1998
Northern San Joaquin Valley · 1 killed ·
High WindJanuary 25, 1998
X W Monterey · 1 killed ·
Heavy RainJanuary 11, 1998
Alameda · 1 killed ·
Heavy RainJanuary 11, 1998
San Mateo · 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.