Lake County, California
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 06033 · population 68,074 · 1,255 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 256 records for Lake County, California from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 162 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (109 records). 203 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the September 12, 2015 wildfire, filed for the forecast zone Clear Lake/Southern Lake County, which covers the county: 4 deaths and 4 injuries. FEMA has issued 35 declarations naming the county since 1964, 33 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Boyles Fire” on September 8, 2024.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 256on 162 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 750 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $106Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- FEMA declarations
- 35latest 2024
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Lake County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 109 since 1996. 50% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in December and January. The rank column places the county among California's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 109 | 79 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 0 | $115K | 20 of 57 |
| High wind and dust storms | 43 | 24 | 1999-2025 | 0 | 0 | $297K | 52 of 57 |
| Floods | 33 | 22 | 1997-2026 | 1 | 4 | $38M | 39 of 57 |
| Heavy rain | 21 | 15 | 1998-2025 | 0 | 0 | $21K | 25 of 57 |
| Drought | 19 | 12 | 2015-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 28 of 57 |
| Wildfires | 19 | 18 | 2008-2020 | 6 | 46 | $68M | 31 of 57 |
| Heat | 5 | 3 | 2000-2018 | 0 | 0 | – | 47 of 57 |
| Extreme cold | 2 | 1 | 2008-2008 | 0 | 0 | – | 52 of 57 |
| Hail | 2 | 2 | 1990-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 51 of 57 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 2 | 1 | 2014-2014 | 0 | 0 | $374K | 44 of 57 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2024-2024 | 0 | 0 | $5K | 30 of 57 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
When was the last damaging storm in Lake County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the February 4, 2025 flood ($25,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-05 | FloodLakeport, Lake County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-05 | FloodWitter Spgs, Lake County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-05 | FloodFinley, Lake County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-05 | FloodNice, Lake County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-25 | Strong WindLake County · forecast zone Southern Lake County | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-25 | Strong WindLake County · forecast zone Southern Lake County | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-24 | Strong WindLake County · forecast zone Southern Lake County | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-24 | Strong WindLake County · forecast zone Southern Lake County | 39 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-24 | Strong WindLake County · forecast zone Southern Lake County | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-24 | High WindLake County · forecast zone Northern Lake County | 72 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-23 | High WindLake County · forecast zone Northern Lake County | 79 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-13 | FloodLakeport, Lake County | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-09-12 | WildfireColusa County and Lake County · forecast zone Clear Lake/Southern Lake County There were 76,067 acres burned in the Valley Fire. The Valley Fire was the 3rd most damaging fire in California history. At least 1958 structures were destroyed including; 1280 homes, 27 multi-family structures, 66 commercial properties, and 585 other minor structures such as outbuildings and sheds. There are 93 ... | 4 | 4 | – | |
| 2014-07-11 | WildfireColusa County and 4 more · forecast zone Mountains Southwest Shasta County To Northern Lake County The Bully Fire in Shasta County began on the afternoon of July 11th as weather conditions were becoming drier and warmer. The fire started near Plantina Road at Bland Road west of Igo and Ono communities, caused by a vehicle driving over dry vegetation. By the time it was contained, the fire grew 12,661 acres, ... | 1 | 21 | – | |
| 2018-07-27 | WildfireColusa County and 4 more · forecast zone Mountains Southwest Shasta County To Northern Lake County The Mendocino Complex Fire (made up of the River and Ranch Fires) spread across Colusa County, Glenn County, Lake County, and Mendocino County, becoming the largest wildfire in California history at 459,123 acres. The Mendocino Complex Fire was not contained until September 18. There were 157 residential buildings ... | 1 | 16 | $66M | |
| 2006-01-01 | FloodCountywide, Lake County A series of warm winter storms brought heavy rain, mudslides, flooding, and high winds to Northern California. - Levee overtopping, breaching, and river flooding occurred along the Feather and Sacramento mainstem rivers as well as along numerous smaller rivers, creeks, and streams. Several urban areas had significant ... | 1 | 1 | $1.5M | |
| 2009-09-07 | WildfireColusa County and Lake County · forecast zone Clear Lake/Southern Lake County The Oasis Fire burned 1575 acres in the Cache Creek Wilderness in eastern Lake County. There were 4 firefighters injured, but no structures damaged or destroyed. | 0 | 4 | – | |
| 2019-02-13 | FloodWitter Spgs, Lake County The media reported that they received information from the California Highway Patrol that a vehicle was swept into Scotts Creek as they were trying to cross a flooded roadway. 3 people were rescued from the car. | 0 | 3 | $23K | |
| 2018-06-23 | WildfireColusa County and Lake County · forecast zone Clear Lake/Southern Lake County The Pawnee Fire in Lake County (Pawnee Rd & New Long Valley Rd, northeast of Clearlake Oaks), burned 15,185 acres with 22 structures destroyed and 1 injury. The fire was contained by July 8. | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-07-27 | WildfireColusa County and 4 more · forecast zone Mountains Southwest Shasta County To Northern Lake County | 1 | 16 | $66M | |
| 1998-02-02 | FloodColusa County and Lake County · forecast zone Lake T N & X Sw/W Yolo/X Sw Colusa/E Napa/X Nw Solano | 0 | 0 | $27M | |
| 2017-02-09 | FloodLakeport, Lake County | 0 | 0 | $8.4M | |
| 2016-08-13 | WildfireColusa County and Lake County · forecast zone Clear Lake/Southern Lake County | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | |
| 2006-01-01 | FloodCountywide, Lake County | 1 | 1 | $1.5M | |
| 2014-12-11 | FloodLower Lake Pearce Ar, Lake County | 0 | 0 | $499K | |
| 2014-12-11 | Debris FlowLakeport, Lake County | 0 | 0 | $374K | |
| 2025-02-04 | FloodFinley, Lake County | 0 | 0 | $25K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Lake County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 21 | 27 | 27 | 34 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 9 | 7 | 25 z |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 6 | 2 | 10 | 15 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 2 | 2 | 4 | 13 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 15 | 4 |
| Wildfires | – | – | – | – | 0 | 4 | 11 | 4 |
High wind and dust storms in the 2020-26: 25 records against 7 in the decade before, 25 of them forecast-zone records. Cells marked z rose mostly through zone records. The local National Weather Service office files these once per forecast zone, so a change in how it draws its zones or splits a storm into records moves this count as much as the weather does; read it beside the Lake County days with a record above.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
50% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in December and January. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 64 · Feb 49 · Mar 30 · Apr 10 · May 5 · Jun 9 · Jul 12 · Aug 6 · Sep 8 · Oct 11 · Nov 14 · Dec 38 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Lake County
FEMA's register lists 35 declarations that include Lake County: 20 major disasters, 5 emergencies and 10 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for fire (15) and severe storm (9).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-08 | FM-5536 | Fire | Boyles Fire |
| 2023-04-03 | DR-4699 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2023-03-10 | EM-3592 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2023-01-09 | EM-3591 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 2021-09-12 | DR-4619 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2020-08-22 | DR-4558 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2020-08-18 | FM-5331 | Fire | Lnu Lightning Fire Complex |
| 2020-03-22 | DR-4482 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3428 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-05-17 | DR-4434 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2018-08-04 | DR-4382 | Fire | Wildfires and High Winds |
| 2018-07-28 | FM-5262 | Fire | Mendocino Fire Complex |
| 2018-06-24 | FM-5244 | Fire | Pawnee Fire |
| 2017-10-10 | DR-4344 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2017-10-09 | FM-5221 | Fire | Sulphur Fire |
| 2017-04-01 | DR-4308 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 2017-02-14 | DR-4301 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 2016-08-14 | FM-5145 | Fire | Clayton Fire |
| 2015-09-22 | DR-4240 | Fire | Valley Fire and Butte Fire |
| 2015-09-13 | FM-5112 | Fire | Valley Fire |
| 2015-08-02 | FM-5093 | Fire | Rocky Fire |
| 2012-08-13 | FM-5004 | Fire | Wye Fire |
| 2006-06-05 | DR-1646 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2006-02-03 | DR-1628 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3248 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-09-04 | FM-2554 | Fire | Ca-Geysers Fire-09-04-2004 |
| 1998-02-09 | DR-1203 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| 1997-01-04 | DR-1155 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Landslides |
| 1995-03-12 | DR-1046 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding Landslides, Mud Flow |
| 1995-01-10 | DR-1044 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mud Flows |
| 1986-02-21 | DR-758 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1983-02-09 | DR-677 | Coastal Storm | Coastal Storms, Floods, Slides & Tornadoes |
| 1977-01-20 | EM-3023 | Drought | Drought |
| 1970-02-16 | DR-283 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1964-12-24 | DR-183 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Lake County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 33 flood or flash flood records for Lake County from 1997 to 2026, on 22 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Lake County ranks 253rd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $14.2 million on 1,432 claims filed in Lake County; the most in one year was 477 in 1998. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 4 · 1979: 1 · 1980: 11 · 1982: 8 · 1983: 129 · 1986: 180 · 1988: 1 · 1991: 1 · 1992: 1 · 1993: 27 · 1995: 297 · 1996: 15 · 1997: 23 · 1998: 477 · 1999: 3 · 2000: 1 · 2002: 9 · 2004: 9 · 2005: 11 · 2006: 7 · 2007: 1 · 2008: 6 · 2010: 3 · 2011: 20 · 2012: 2 · 2014: 13 · 2015: 1 · 2016: 5 · 2017: 115 · 2019: 33 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2025: 2; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Lake County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Lake County Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $101 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively High | $20M | once in about 59 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively High | $872K | 94 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively High | $2.3M | 60 modeled event-days a year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively High | $51M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Relatively High | $1.3M | once in about 8 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | $24M | once in about 12 years (modeled) |
| Volcanic Activity | Relatively Moderate | $484K | once in about 10,000 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $329K | 6.7 modeled event-days a year |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Lake County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Winter storms in CaliforniaThe state's winter storm records, by county, year and month
- The California recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Lake CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Lake County's FEMA declarations (CSV)35 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis