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.
High WindDecember 19, 1997
Riverside County Valley/The Inland Empire · 1 killed · 1 injured ·
High WindDecember 10, 1997
Riverside County Valley/The Inland Empire · 1 killed ·
High WindDecember 10, 1997
Orange County Coastal Plain · 1 killed ·
Winter WeatherDecember 5, 1997
X W San Luis Obispo · 1 killed ·
Heavy RainDecember 5, 1997
Kern · 1 killed ·
Heavy SnowSeptember 18, 1997
E Fresno/Madera T Sw/Mariposa/Se Tuolumne · 1 killed ·
Rip CurrentAugust 5, 1997
Orange · 1 killed · 3 injured ·
HeatAugust 2, 1997
San Diego County Mountains · 1 killed ·
HeatAugust 2, 1997
Coachella Valley · 1 killed ·
HeatAugust 2, 1997
San Diego County Valleys · 1 killed ·
Flash FloodFebruary 3, 1997
San Mateo · 1 killed ·
High WindJanuary 5, 1997
Los Angeles County Valleys · 1 killed ·
FloodJanuary 3, 1997
Sonoma / Marin Counties · 1 killed ·
Flash FloodJanuary 1, 1997
Shasta · 1 killed ·
Flash FloodDecember 31, 1996
Sonoma · 1 killed ·
FloodDecember 30, 1996
Upper Trinity River · 1 killed ·
Heavy SnowDecember 20, 1996
Mt Shasta/Western Plumas County · 1 killed ·
Heavy SnowDecember 20, 1996
West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada · 1 killed · 2 injured ·
Dense FogDecember 16, 1996
Northern San Joaquin Valley · 1 killed ·
High WindDecember 14, 1996
Los Angeles County Valleys · 1 killed · 2 injured ·
High SurfDecember 9, 1996
Redwood Coast · 1 killed ·
Flash FloodNovember 22, 1996
Tuolumne · 1 killed ·
High WindJuly 16, 1996
Sonoma/Marin Counties · 1 killed ·
Rip CurrentJune 30, 1996
San Diego · 1 killed ·
FloodFebruary 4, 1996
Napa · 1 killed ·
FloodFebruary 12, 2017
Butte · $549.0M damage
WildfireSeptember 29, 2000
Tehama · $547.0M damage
Flash FloodAugust 20, 2023
Inyo · $500.0M damage
WildfireJune 24, 2007
Greater Lake Tahoe Area · 3 injured · $500.0M damage
FloodJanuary 1, 1997
Surprise Valley · $330.0M damage
High WindJanuary 18, 2021
Central Sierra · $200.0M damage
WildfireOctober 22, 2007
San Diego County Valleys · 5 injured · $151.1M damage
WildfireNovember 15, 2008
Orange County Coastal Areas · $150.0M damage
FloodJanuary 1, 2023
Sacramento · $134.0M damage
Flash FloodJanuary 1, 2023
Sacramento · $134.0M damage
FloodJanuary 1, 2006
Napa · $115.0M damage
FloodJanuary 1, 2006
Marin · $108.0M damage
FloodDecember 31, 2005
Marin · $108.0M damage
FloodJanuary 1, 2023
San Joaquin · $107.0M damage
FloodJanuary 1, 2006
Sonoma · $104.0M 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.