Mendocino County, California
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 06045 · population 91,247 · 3,507 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 542 records for Mendocino County, California from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 255 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (227 records). 402 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 October 8, 2017 wildfire, filed for the forecast zone Southeastern Mendocino Interior, which covers the county: 8 deaths, 1 injury and $46.2 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 33 declarations naming the county since 1964, 30 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides” on April 3, 2023.
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
- 542on 255 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 143 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $219Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 4strongest F1
- FEMA declarations
- 33latest 2023
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 Mendocino County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 227 since 1996. 51% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in February and March. 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 | 227 | 129 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 2 | $20K | 28 of 57 |
| High wind and dust storms | 116 | 54 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 0 | $1.6M | 54 of 57 |
| Floods | 103 | 55 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 0 | $87M | 41 of 57 |
| Heavy rain | 56 | 31 | 2005-2025 | 0 | 0 | $40M | 34 of 57 |
| Extreme cold | 7 | 3 | 1998-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 49 of 57 |
| Wildfires | 7 | 6 | 2003-2021 | 8 | 1 | $66M | 52 of 57 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 6 | 5 | 1998-2002 | 0 | 0 | – | 50 of 57 |
| Rip currents and high surf | 5 | 5 | 2004-2023 | 3 | 0 | $5.2M | 22 of 57 |
| Tornadoes | 4 | 4 | 1958-2023 | 0 | 0 | $7K | 41 of 57 |
| Hail | 3 | 2 | 1982-1986 | 0 | 0 | – | 56 of 57 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 3 | 1 | 2005-2005 | 0 | 0 | $19M | 50 of 57 |
| Heat | 2 | 1 | 2002-2002 | 0 | 0 | – | 54 of 57 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 2 | 2 | 1960-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 54 of 57 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 1 | 1 | 2005-2005 | 0 | 0 | $15K | 11 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.
How many tornadoes has Mendocino County had?
NOAA records 4 tornadoes in Mendocino County from 1958 to 2023, the strongest rated F1, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 4 tornadoes whose track touched Mendocino County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 4, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in California.
Every tornado record filed for Mendocino County (4)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-02-27 | Piercy, Mendocino County | EFU 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-12-05 | Ft Bragg, Mendocino County | F1 1.7 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1983-12-11 | Mendocino County | F0 2 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1958-02-03 | Mendocino County | 0 | 0 | – |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Mendocino County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 14, 2025 high wind ($2,250 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-05 | FloodNavarro, Mendocino County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-05 | FloodHopland, Mendocino County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-05 | FloodUkiah Airport, Mendocino County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-05 | FloodAlbion, Mendocino County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-03 | Thunderstorm WindWestport, Mendocino County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-02 | Strong WindMendocino County · forecast zone Mendocino Coast | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-01 | FloodOld Hopland, Mendocino County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-25 | Strong WindMendocino County · forecast zone Southwestern Mendocino Interior | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-24 | FloodTalmage, Mendocino County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-24 | Strong WindMendocino County · forecast zone Mendocino Coast | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-24 | Strong WindMendocino County · forecast zone Southwestern Mendocino Interior | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-24 | Strong WindMendocino County · forecast zone Southeastern Mendocino Interior | 35 kt wind | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-10-08 | WildfireMendocino County · forecast zone Southeastern Mendocino Interior Strong downslope winds combined with a hot dry airmass resulted in extreme fire behavior. It is speculated that above normal winter rains yielded abundant fuels that became primed for rapid intense fire spread by late summer and early fall. | 8 | 1 | $46M | |
| 2004-01-11 | High SurfMendocino County · forecast zone Mendocino Coast A basketball team from Lake Tahoe were about to leave when they made one last trip to beach. A large wave pulled two boys into water. The 56 year old male attempted a rescue and got the boys to a large rock, when another large wave pulled him and one of the boys back into the sea. | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2023-01-09 | Strong WindMendocino County · forecast zone Mendocino Coast Fatality occurred when a tree fell due to strong winds onto a house. | 26 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $969 |
| 2007-10-17 | High SurfMendocino County · forecast zone Mendocino Coast An indirect fatality occurred near Kibesillah Rock which is located six miles north of Fort Bragg, CA. The victim was a diver who was overcome by rough seas off the Mendocino County Coast. The Coast Guard rescued two other divers from the same party. Note that conditions were below advisory or warning criteria. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2000-02-13 | High WindMendocino County · forecast zone Mendocino Interior Strong winds and heavy rains caused numerous power outages, downed trees and light damage to fences and windows. An oak tree in Ukiah blew down on a mobile home, killing the occupant. The estimated 52 knot winds were in Myers Flat and the measured 57 knot wind was 9 miles north of Redway. | 50 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| 1996-12-30 | FloodHumboldt County and 2 more · forecast zone Upper Trinity River Flooding reported along Canyon Creek and the Trinity River near Junction City. Flooded also near Carrville and Weaverville. The driver of a car swept into Swift Creek at Trinity Center was washed away and drowned when he tried to exit the vehicle. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2018-02-24 | Winter WeatherMendocino County · forecast zone Northwestern Mendocino Interior Two collisions occurred due to freezing rain on February 24th south of the Leggett area. The first collision occurred at 830 AM PST, and was located on US-101 north of mile post marker 101 MEN 83.35. One person sustained suspected minor injuries. The second collision, which occurred at 845 AM PST, was located on ... | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2005-01-07 | Heavy SnowMendocino County · forecast zone Mendocino Interior 10"+ snow during event. Infnat died in snow related auto accident. | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-12-29 | FloodMendocino County · forecast zone Mendocino Interior | 0 | 0 | $76M | |
| 2017-10-08 | WildfireMendocino County · forecast zone Southeastern Mendocino Interior | 8 | 1 | $46M | |
| 2021-09-12 | WildfireMendocino County · forecast zone Southeastern Mendocino Interior | 0 | 0 | $20M | |
| 2005-12-28 | Debris FlowMendocino County · forecast zone Mendocino Coast | 0 | 0 | $13M | |
| 1997-01-01 | FloodHumboldt County and 2 more · forecast zone Upper Trinity River | 0 | 0 | $9.2M | |
| 2017-01-09 | Heavy RainLaytonville, Mendocino County | 0 | 0 | $8.4M | |
| 2017-02-15 | Heavy RainCummings, Mendocino County | 0 | 0 | $7.2M | |
| 2005-12-28 | Debris FlowHumboldt County and 2 more · forecast zone Upper Trinity River | 0 | 0 | $5.4M |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $3K, in the dollars of the day) holds: December 11, 1983 (tornado, Mendocino County).
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 Mendocino 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 | – | – | – | – | 39 | 40 | 81 | 67 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 24 | 9 | 4 | 79 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 19 | 18 | 14 | 52 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 0 | 1 | 18 | 37 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
51% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in February and March. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 127 · Feb 125 · Mar 88 · Apr 25 · May 0 · Jun 4 · Jul 3 · Aug 1 · Sep 6 · Oct 6 · Nov 23 · Dec 134 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Mendocino County
FEMA's register lists 33 declarations that include Mendocino County: 25 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 2 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (11) and severe storm (9).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2023-01-14 | DR-4683 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2023-01-09 | EM-3591 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 2020-10-16 | DR-4569 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2020-08-22 | DR-4558 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 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 |
| 2019-05-01 | DR-4431 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2018-07-28 | FM-5262 | Fire | Mendocino Fire Complex |
| 2017-10-10 | DR-4344 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2017-10-09 | FM-5219 | Fire | Redwood Valley Fire |
| 2017-03-16 | DR-4305 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 2017-02-14 | DR-4301 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 2008-06-28 | EM-3287 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2006-02-03 | DR-1628 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3248 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 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 |
| 1994-09-13 | DR-1038 | Fishing Losses | The El Nino (the Salmon Industry) |
| 1993-02-03 | DR-979 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Mud & Land Slides, & Flooding |
| 1991-02-11 | DR-894 | Freezing | Severe Freeze |
| 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 |
| 1974-05-07 | DR-432 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1974-01-25 | DR-412 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1970-02-16 | DR-283 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1969-01-26 | DR-253 | 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 Mendocino County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 103 flood or flash flood records for Mendocino County from 1996 to 2026, on 55 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Mendocino County ranks 991st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $4.7 million on 183 claims filed in Mendocino County; the most in one year was 89 in 2005. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1980: 5 · 1982: 3 · 1983: 3 · 1985: 1 · 1986: 7 · 1990: 1 · 1992: 2 · 1993: 6 · 1995: 17 · 1996: 8 · 1997: 4 · 1998: 11 · 1999: 2 · 2000: 1 · 2002: 2 · 2005: 89 · 2006: 3 · 2012: 3 · 2017: 8 · 2019: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 1; 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 Mendocino County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Mendocino County Relatively High overall, with an expected annual loss of $117 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landslide | Relatively High | $2.2M | 95 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively High | $47M | once in about 14 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively High | $8.2M | once in about 202 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively High | $3.0M | 41 modeled event-days a year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively High | $56M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Low | $196K | 3.2 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $312K | 4.1 modeled event-days a year |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $79K | 5.3 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Mendocino County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in CaliforniaEvery California tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- 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 Mendocino CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Mendocino County's FEMA declarations (CSV)33 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis