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 FloodJanuary 2, 1997
Sacramento · 1 killed · $2.4M damage
FloodJanuary 1, 2006
Lake · 1 killed · 1 injured · $1.0M damage
Heavy RainJanuary 11, 2005
San Diego · 1 killed · 3 injured · $1.0M damage
Flash FloodSeptember 16, 2014
San Bernardino · 1 killed · $750K damage
Dense FogJanuary 3, 2002
Kern Cty Mtns · 1 killed · 15 injured · $750K damage
Winter StormMarch 1, 2023
San Bernardino County Mountains · 1 killed · 1 injured · $500K damage
Dense FogDecember 18, 1998
Southern Sacramento Valley · 1 killed · 10 injured · $500K damage
Flash FloodFebruary 2, 1998
Santa Cruz · 1 killed · $500K damage
High WindDecember 31, 2014
Northern Sacramento Valley · 1 killed · 2 injured · $400K damage
High WindDecember 30, 2014
Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley · 1 killed · $400K damage
High WindJanuary 5, 2003
Riverside County Valley/The Inland Empire · 1 killed · $400K damage
Dense FogFebruary 7, 2006
Se S.J. Valley · 1 killed · 6 injured · $380K damage
Winter StormApril 3, 1999
Orange County Coastal Plain · 1 killed · $330K damage
High WindFebruary 4, 2024
Central Sacramento Valley · 1 killed · $300K damage
Debris FlowFebruary 20, 2005
Ne Orange · 1 killed · $300K damage
Flash FloodMarch 5, 2000
Riverside · 1 killed · $300K damage
Heavy RainFebruary 10, 2000
Orange · 1 killed · 4 injured · $300K damage
High WindJanuary 18, 2010
Kern Cty Mtns · 1 killed · $250K damage
Heavy RainFebruary 25, 2003
San Diego · 1 killed · 3 injured · $250K damage
WildfireOctober 1, 1999
San Diego · 1 killed · 10 injured · $250K damage
High WindJanuary 7, 2025
San Bernardino And Riverside County Valleys - The Inland Empire · 1 killed · $200K damage
High WindDecember 31, 2002
Indian Wells Vly · 1 killed · $200K damage
High SurfDecember 6, 1999
San Diego County Coasts · 1 killed · $150K damage
High SurfMarch 4, 1999
San Diego County Coasts · 1 killed · $150K damage
Flash FloodFebruary 2, 2019
San Bernardino · 1 killed · $100K damage
Thunderstorm WindJanuary 19, 2010
San Diego · 1 killed · $100K damage
FloodJanuary 1, 2006
Stanislaus · 1 killed · 1 injured · $100K damage
Flash FloodOctober 20, 2004
San Bernardino · 1 killed · $100K damage
Dense FogDecember 1, 2002
W Central S.J. Valley · 1 killed · $100K damage
High WindFebruary 3, 2000
Sw Sj Valley · 1 killed · 4 injured · $100K damage
Thunderstorm WindJanuary 31, 2016
San Diego · 1 killed · 2 injured · $75K damage
FloodFebruary 21, 2005
San Diego County Coasts · 1 killed · $75K damage
HailMarch 6, 2000
Orange · 1 killed · $75K damage
Flash FloodSeptember 30, 2018
Riverside · 1 killed · $50K damage
High SurfNovember 9, 2016
San Diego County Coastal Areas · 1 killed · 5 injured · $50K damage
Flash FloodAugust 25, 2013
San Bernardino · 1 killed · $50K damage
Heavy RainMay 5, 2009
Sonoma · 1 killed · 1 injured · $50K damage
Winter StormMarch 10, 2006
San Diego T X W · 1 killed · 7 injured · $50K damage
High WindJanuary 6, 2003
San Diego County Coasts · 1 killed · 1 injured · $50K damage
FloodJuly 12, 1999
Riverside · 1 killed · 4 injured · $50K 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.