California Storm & Severe Weather History
Since 1951, California has logged 41,535 severe-weather events — about 561 a year — with 1,150 direct deaths, 4,296 injuries and $29.9B 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
Thunderstorm Wind1,33620 d$56.2M
Heat1,200143 d$200K
Hail9361 d$26.0M
Events by year
19512026
Notable events (781)
Events with deaths, major damage, or a strong tornado — deadliest first.
Flash FloodOctober 18, 2015
Inyo · $25.0M damage
WildfireJuly 25, 2008
S Sierra Mtns · $25.0M damage
Heavy RainJanuary 7, 2005
San Diego · $25.0M damage
Tornado (F0)June 5, 1987
Los Angeles · $25.0M damage
Tornado (F2)March 1, 1983
Los Angeles · 30 injured · $25.0M damage
WildfireAugust 1, 2006
Western Siskiyou County · $23.5M damage
WildfireSeptember 1, 2000
Plumas · $22.7M damage
WildfireMay 14, 2014
San Diego County Coastal Areas · $22.5M damage
WildfireOctober 16, 1999
Shasta · 4 injured · $22.2M damage
FloodJanuary 1, 2006
Contra Costa · $22.0M damage
FloodDecember 31, 2005
Contra Costa · $22.0M damage
WildfireOctober 1, 2021
Northern Trinity · $21.5M damage
WildfireNovember 1, 2003
San Diego · 6 injured · $21.5M damage
FloodFebruary 2, 1998
Northern Sacramento Valley · $20.8M damage
FloodJanuary 9, 2005
San Diego County Coasts · $20.5M damage
WildfireSeptember 10, 2024
San Bernardino And Riverside County Valleys - The Inland Empire · $20.0M damage
WildfireSeptember 15, 2014
Central Siskiyou County · $20.0M damage
Heavy RainFebruary 18, 2005
Riverside · $20.0M damage
Heavy RainFebruary 18, 2005
Orange · $20.0M damage
Heavy RainFebruary 18, 2005
San Diego · $20.0M damage
Heavy RainJanuary 7, 2005
Riverside · $20.0M damage
FloodDecember 29, 2005
Redwood Coast · $18.3M damage
WildfireSeptember 12, 2021
Southeastern Mendocino Interior · $18.0M damage
Tornado (EF1)August 6, 2015
Riverside · 2 injured · $18.0M damage
FloodFebruary 23, 1998
Southern San Joaquin Valley · $18.0M damage
WildfireOctober 1, 2021
Northern Trinity · $17.9M damage
High SurfJanuary 20, 2010
San Francisco · $17.9M damage
Flash FloodDecember 6, 1997
Orange · $17.7M damage
Debris FlowDecember 28, 2005
Redwood Coast · $17.5M damage
Debris FlowDecember 28, 2005
North Coast Interior · $17.5M damage
WildfireMay 5, 2009
Santa Barbara County Mountains · 30 injured · $17.0M damage
WildfireMay 5, 2009
Santa Barbara County South Coast · 30 injured · $17.0M damage
WildfireNovember 1, 2003
San Diego · 23 injured · $17.0M damage
Flash FloodJanuary 21, 2010
San Bernardino · $16.0M damage
Flash FloodJanuary 11, 2005
San Bernardino · $16.0M damage
WildfireFebruary 10, 2002
San Diego · 19 injured · $16.0M damage
Flash FloodMarch 24, 2011
Santa Cruz · $15.5M damage
WildfireSeptember 22, 2002
Los Angeles · 14 injured · $15.3M damage
Flash FloodFebruary 14, 2019
Riverside · $15.0M damage
WildfireSeptember 1, 2013
S Sierra Mtns · $15.0M damage
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to date. The early decades (tornadoes from 1950, hail and wind from 1955) are mostly tornadoes; all event types are recorded consistently only from 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.