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.
Flash FloodAugust 26, 2003
San Bernardino · 3 killed · $50K damage
Winter StormMarch 5, 2000
San Diego County Mountains · 3 killed · 13 injured · $50K damage
Cold/Wind ChillJune 18, 2025
West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada · 3 killed ·
Dust StormSeptember 1, 2023
Coachella Valley · 3 killed ·
Flash FloodNovember 8, 2022
San Bernardino · 3 killed ·
High SurfJanuary 3, 2021
Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore · 3 killed ·
WildfireAugust 17, 2020
North Bay Mountains · 3 killed · 5 injured ·
Cold/Wind ChillNovember 28, 2019
Santa Clara Valley Including San Jose · 3 killed ·
WildfireNovember 8, 2018
Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area · 3 killed ·
WildfireNovember 8, 2018
Ventura County Coastal Valleys · 3 killed ·
WildfireNovember 8, 2018
Ventura County Coast · 3 killed ·
WildfireNovember 8, 2018
Los Angeles County Coasts Including Downtown Los Angeles · 3 killed ·
WildfireNovember 8, 2018
Los Angeles County San Fernando Valley · 3 killed ·
Excessive HeatSeptember 1, 2017
San Francisco · 3 killed ·
Excessive HeatSeptember 1, 2017
San Francisco Peninsula Coast · 3 killed ·
Strong WindOctober 15, 2016
Mono · 3 killed ·
AvalancheJanuary 25, 2008
Los Angeles County Mountains Excluding The Santa Monica Range · 3 killed · 3 injured ·
Thunderstorm WindMarch 22, 2007
San Diego · 3 killed ·
HeatJuly 21, 2006
San Diego County Mountains · 3 killed · 6 injured ·
High SurfJune 7, 2004
North Coast Interior · 3 killed ·
Dense FogFebruary 5, 2002
Se Sj Valley · 3 killed ·
HeatJune 14, 2000
Alameda / Contra Costa · 3 killed · 15 injured ·
Rip CurrentMarch 25, 2000
Humboldt · 3 killed ·
Flash FloodFebruary 23, 1998
Los Angeles · 3 killed ·
Winter WeatherNovember 26, 1997
X Sw Los Angeles · 3 killed ·
Flash FloodJanuary 2, 1997
Yuba · 3 killed ·
WildfireJuly 23, 2018
Northern Sacramento Valley · 2 killed · $1.5B damage
WildfireOctober 21, 2007
San Diego County Valleys · 2 killed · 40 injured · $300.0M damage
WildfireNovember 1, 2003
San Bernardino · 2 killed · 7 injured · $278.6M damage
WildfireOctober 26, 2003
San Diego · 2 killed · 18 injured · $55.2M damage
Flash FloodFebruary 23, 1998
Orange · 2 killed · 2 injured · $29.7M damage
Flash FloodAugust 15, 2004
Inyo · 2 killed · $20.0M damage
WildfireOctober 10, 2019
San Bernardino And Riverside County Valleys - The Inland Empire · 2 killed · $8.0M damage
WildfireJune 19, 2016
San Diego County Valleys · 2 killed · $4.0M damage
Flash FloodMarch 22, 2018
Mariposa · 2 killed · $2.0M damage
Dense FogNovember 14, 1998
South Sjv · 2 killed · 56 injured · $1.1M damage
Flash FloodDecember 25, 2003
San Bernardino · 2 killed · 5 injured · $1.0M damage
Storm Surge/TideOctober 28, 1999
Santa Cruz · 2 killed · 2 injured · $1.0M damage
Ice StormDecember 20, 1998
Central Sjv · 2 killed · $1.0M damage
High WindFebruary 4, 2024
Southern Sacramento Valley · 2 killed · $400K 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.