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.
Dense FogJanuary 12, 1999
Southern San Joaquin Valley · 1 killed · 6 injured · $50K damage
Dense FogJanuary 1, 1999
Central Sjv · 1 killed · $50K damage
Marine High WindDecember 2, 1996
Redwood Coast · 1 killed · 2 injured · $50K damage
High WindMarch 19, 2011
North Bay Interior Valleys · 1 killed · $35K damage
High SurfNovember 27, 2009
San Francisco Peninsula Coast · 1 killed · $35K damage
Flash FloodFebruary 17, 2017
San Bernardino · 1 killed · 2 injured · $30K damage
High SurfFebruary 16, 2011
Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore · 1 killed · $30K damage
Strong WindDecember 28, 2010
North Bay Mountains · 1 killed · $30K damage
Dense FogDecember 3, 2000
San Diego County Coasts · 1 killed · 3 injured · $30K damage
Strong WindDecember 10, 2022
Northern Sacramento Valley · 1 killed · $26K damage
Heavy RainFebruary 7, 1999
Marin · 1 killed · $24K damage
Thunderstorm WindJune 3, 2009
San Bernardino · 1 killed · $20K damage
WildfireAugust 29, 2002
San Bernardino · 1 killed · $20K damage
High WindDecember 30, 2014
Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley · 1 killed · $18K damage
Heavy RainMarch 16, 2012
Santa Cruz · 1 killed · 3 injured · $15K damage
Strong WindMarch 15, 2012
San Francisco Bay Shoreline · 1 killed · 4 injured · $13K damage
High WindNovember 30, 2011
Santa Lucia Mountains And Los Padres National Forest · 1 killed · $12K damage
Strong WindJanuary 22, 2010
Santa Clara Valley Including San Jose · 1 killed · $12K damage
Flash FloodSeptember 19, 2025
San Bernardino · 1 killed · 1 injured · $10K damage
Flash FloodAugust 25, 2008
San Bernardino · 1 killed · $10K damage
Flash FloodJanuary 5, 2008
San Bernardino · 1 killed · 1 injured · $10K damage
Flash FloodJanuary 10, 2005
San Bernardino · 1 killed · $10K damage
Heavy RainMarch 18, 2012
Santa Cruz · 1 killed · $5K damage
Heavy RainMarch 13, 2012
Santa Cruz · 1 killed · $5K damage
Thunderstorm WindJanuary 21, 2012
Mariposa · 1 killed · $5K damage
Strong WindFebruary 22, 2009
North Bay Interior Valleys · 1 killed · $5K damage
Heavy RainDecember 19, 1996
Mariposa · 1 killed · 1 injured · $4K damage
High SurfDecember 30, 2001
X W San Diego · 1 killed · 1 injured · $3K damage
Strong WindJanuary 9, 2023
Mendocino Coast · 1 killed · $1K damage
Strong WindNovember 21, 2013
San Francisco Bay Shoreline · 1 killed · $1K damage
LightningJune 3, 2009
San Bernardino · 1 killed · $1K damage
Strong WindFebruary 14, 2019
Santa Cruz Mountains · 1 killed · 1 injured · $500 damage
Strong WindMarch 21, 2023
East Bay Interior Valleys · 1 killed · 1 injured · $10 damage
Strong WindMarch 21, 2023
San Francisco Bay Shoreline · 1 killed · $10 damage
Strong WindMarch 21, 2023
San Francisco Bay Shoreline · 1 killed · $10 damage
Strong WindMay 17, 2026
North Bay Interior Valleys · 1 killed ·
High SurfMay 16, 2026
Southern Monterey Bay And Big Sur Coast · 1 killed ·
Strong WindMarch 21, 2026
Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore · 1 killed · 1 injured ·
HeatMarch 18, 2026
Santa Clara Valley Including San Jose · 1 killed ·
FloodFebruary 17, 2026
San Benito · 1 killed · 1 injured ·
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.