PlainHazard

California natural disasters

The state's storm and disaster record · population 39,501,350 · 58 counties and county equivalents

NOAA's Storm Events Database records 41,552 storm events in California since 1950, 41,001 of them since 1996 when every event type began to be recorded, and the Storm Prediction Center counts 486 tornadoes in the state since 1950. The most frequent records are high wind and dust records (9,795). In NOAA's storm record since 1950, the deadliest event in California is Camp Fire (November 8, 2018) in Butte County and 2 more: 86 deaths, 12 injuries and $20 billion in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has made 397 declarations for California since 1954, 389 for natural hazards; 116 were major disasters.

The record, 1950 to 2026

Storm events recorded in California 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 $1 million
  • $1 million or more
  • $10 million or more
  • $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
  • $1 billion or more, or 100 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 events recorded
41,5521950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
1,3184,894 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$46.5Bas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes (SPC)
4861950 to 2025
FEMA declarations
397116 major disasters

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); tornado count: NOAA Storm Prediction Center, 1950-2025; damage in 2025 dollars (BLS CPI-U). Search the record at NCEI.

What natural disasters happen in California?

By NOAA's records, California's most frequent hazards are high wind and dust records (9,795), floods and flash floods (7,136), winter storm records (6,961); the deadliest are wildfire records (248 deaths). Each hazard is counted over the years NOAA has recorded it everywhere: tornadoes since 1950, hail and thunderstorm wind since 1955, everything else since 1996. Open a hazard for its years, months, counties and worst events.

California: records by hazard to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsLast 10 yearsKilledInjuredDamageCounties
High wind and dust storms 9,7955,306 123419$674M 58 of 58
Floods 7,1364,371 121173$5.4B 58 of 58
Winter storms 6,9613,271 76250$37M 57 of 58
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds 2,9711,522 94740$30M 55 of 58
Heat 2,6912,200 230666$726M 56 of 58
Heavy rain 2,0461,060 39110$1.7B 58 of 58
Drought 1,8701,036 00$1.9B 34 of 58
Extreme cold 1,815696 6436$3.7B 58 of 58
Wildfires 1,592504 2481,708$30.1B 58 of 58
Severe thunderstorm wind 1,337512 2351$219M 56 of 58
Hail 936302 249$376M 58 of 58
Landslides and avalanches 823618 83217$1.1B 51 of 58
Rip currents and high surf 680232 194262$162M 39 of 58
Tornadoes 48859 097$360M 48 of 58
Lightning 35580 1683$13M 42 of 58
Hurricanes and tropical storms 5617 533$16M 15 of 58

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: every record counted once in the state; "last 10 years" is 2017-2026 (2026 to June 30, 2026).

What were the deadliest disasters in California?

The storms with the most deaths since 1950, from the National Weather Service's own entries. NOAA files one storm as several records when it crosses forecast zones and counties or changes type, and groups them under one episode; each row here is an episode, with its totals and the narrative of its deadliest record. Before 1996 tornado records carry no episode and stand alone. The narrative says what happened: some deaths the National Weather Service files under a weather type had another cause beside the weather.

California: the 10 storm episodes with the most deaths
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2018-11-08 Camp Fire · WildfireButte County and 2 more · forecast zone Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley The Camp Fire began on the morning of November 8, 2018, by Camp Creek Road, near Pulga in Butte County. The fire was not fully contained until November 25. This fire was the most destructive wildfire in California history, destroying much of the city of Paradise, the community of Concow, and damaging the towns of ... 86 12 $20.0B
2006-07-16 HeatFresno County and 3 more · forecast zone E Central S.J. Valley One storm episode: 4 records in 4 places; the totals are the episode's. Arguably one of the hottest spells widespread across California, including Interior Central California, in the last 75 years occurred during a warm period that spanned from the 16th through the 27th of the month. Fresno City had 12 days in a row where maximum temperatures were at or above 105 degrees F. Numerous daily ... 46 18 $721M
2025-01-07 Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire · WildfireLos Angeles County · forecast zone Est San Gabriel Mountains One storm episode: 8 records in 2 places, 2025-01-07 to 2025-01-09; the totals are the episode's. The combination of very strong Santa Ana winds, mountain wave activity and critically dry vegetation resulted in a significant outbreak of wildfires across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The Palisades Fire (23,707 acres) and the Eaton Fire (14,021 acres) combined to become the most significant natural disaster in ... 29 13 –
2018-01-09 Debris FlowSummerland, Santa Barbara County Intense rainfall generated a large and deadly mud and debris flow in the community of Montecito, around the burn scar of the Thomas fire. Automated rain gauges in the area indicated very intense rainfall, reaching as high as 0.54 inches in 5 minutes. The intense rainfall resulted in a mud and debris estimated to be 15 ... 21 168 $725M
2007-09-01 Excessive HeatLos Angeles County · forecast zone Los Angeles County Valleys One storm episode: 2 records, 2007-09-01 to 2007-09-03; the totals are the episode's. The heat wave which started at the end of August continued into the first few days of September. The combination of above normal temperatures and relative humidity continued to produce excessive heat conditions across sections of Southern California. At the end of the heat wave, 18 heat-related deaths were reported ... 18 0 –
2003-10-25 Cedar Fire and Paradise Fire · WildfirePine Hills, San Diego County One named storm filed by several offices: 2 records in 2 episodes, 2003-10-25 to 2003-10-26; the totals are the storm's. Named the Cedar Fire, this fire was started around sunset on October 25 by a lost hunter. Wind gusts from the northeast over 30 mph began within 2 hours of the fire's start. Atmospheric conditions remained favorable for rapid fire growth for the four days following with maximum temperatures ranging between 88 and 98, ... 16 108 $1.8B
2006-07-21 HeatRiverside County and San Bernardino County · forecast zone San Bernardino County Valley/The Inland Empire One storm episode: 5 records in 4 places; the totals are the episode's. Strong high pressure centered over the southwest United States and monsoon moisture during the last half of July led to numerous daily high minimum and high maximum temperature records, some of which were all time records. The strong subsidence over Southern California caused an unprecedented heat wave and widespread ... 16 27 –
2003-12-25 Debris FlowSan Bernardino County · forecast zone San Bernardino County Mountains One storm episode: 4 records; the totals are the episode's. Steady light to moderate rain began falling over the burned areas of the San Bernardino Mountains on 0600 PST 12/24/03. Approximately 24 hours later, mud, rock, and debris flows were being reported along highways and roads leading into the mountain resort communities. By 0800 PST on Christmas Day, more than two inches ... 16 15 $12M
2020-09-07 WildfireButte County and 2 more · forecast zone Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley Immediate evacuation orders where given to Berry Creek, Brush Creek, Forbestown, Clipper Mills, and Feather Falls areas the evening of September 8. Later that night gusty north and east winds continued to push the fires from the North Complex down the terrain, which would eventually make a run into Butte County and ... 16 0 –
1997-01-07 Winter WeatherSan Diego County · forecast zone San Diego County Mountains Persistent northerly flow and low pressure aloft along the west coast, resulted in a prolonged period of cold and snow for the San Diego Mountains. Up to 18 inches of snow was reported over the higher elevations of the Laguna Mountains, with temperatures dipping into the upper teens and twenties at night. Undocumented ... 14 0 –

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths direct and indirect, as filed in this state, summed over the records of each episode (EPISODE_ID); a forecast-zone record counts the zone's deaths once. A tornado's whole-track deaths (SPC), on the state's tornado page, can be higher when the track crossed a state line. Storm names from the titles of FEMA declarations that name the storm's counties.

The costliest records in California

California: the 8 records with the most damage since 1993, 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2018-11-08 WildfireButte County and 2 more · forecast zone Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley 86 12 $20.0B
2014-12-01 DroughtCalaveras County and 2 more · forecast zone Northern San Joaquin Valley 0 0 $1.9B
2018-07-23 WildfireShasta County and Tehama County · forecast zone Northern Sacramento Valley 4 0 $1.8B
2003-10-25 WildfirePine Hills, San Diego County 14 90 $1.7B
2003-10-25 WildfireSan Bernardino County 4 5 $1.1B
2000-09-29 WildfireRed Bluff, Tehama County 0 0 $937M
1998-12-20 Cold/Wind ChillSouthern San Joaquin Valley · forecast zone Southern San Joaquin Valley 0 0 $888M
2007-01-11 Frost/FreezeKern County and Tulare County · forecast zone Se S.J. Valley 0 0 $810M

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 $25M, in the dollars of the day) holds: March 1, 1983 (tornado, Los Angeles County); June 5, 1987 (tornado, Los Angeles County).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: property and crop damage as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. BLS consumer price index.

Which counties in California have the most records?

  1. Kern County 5,583
  2. Fresno County 4,725
  3. San Bernardino County 3,395
  4. Tulare County 3,121
  5. Riverside County 2,854
  6. San Diego County 2,725
  7. Madera County 2,487
  8. Placer County 2,214
  9. Mariposa County 2,107
  10. El Dorado County 2,066
  11. Nevada County 1,948
  12. Merced County 1,946

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950 attributed to each county (forecast-zone records count on every county the zone covers).

Every county in California

Billion-dollar disasters in California

NOAA counted 46 weather or climate disasters from 1980-2024 that cost at least $1 billion (adjusted for inflation) and affected California, led by wildfire (19). The most recent: California Flooding (2022); Western Wildfires (2022); Western/Central Drought and Heat Wave (2022).

California: billion-dollar disasters by type, 1980-2024
TypeEventsTotal cost (NOAA's range)
Wildfire19$100.0B-$200.0B
Drought14$10.0B-$20.0B
Flooding6$10.0B-$20.0B
Severe Storm4$2.0B-$5.0B
Freeze3$10.0B-$20.0B
Every one of the 46, newest first
  • California Flooding2022
  • Western Wildfires2022
  • Western/Central Drought and Heat Wave2022
  • Western Wildfires2021
  • California Flooding and Severe Weather2021
  • Western Drought and Heat Wave2021
  • Western Wildfires - California, Oregon, Washington Firestorms2020
  • Western/Central Drought and Heat Wave2020
  • California and Alaska Wildfires2019
  • Western Wildfires, California Firestorm2018
  • Southwest/Southern Plains Drought2018
  • Western Wildfires, California Firestorm2017
  • California Flooding2017
  • Southern Tornado Outbreak and Western Storms2017
  • Western/Southeast Wildfires2016
  • West/Northeast/Southeast Drought2016
  • Western and Alaskan Wildfires2015
  • Western Drought2015
  • Western Drought2014
  • Western/Plains Drought/Heat Wave2013
  • Western Wildfires2012
  • U.S. Drought/Heat Wave2012
  • Western Wildfires2009
  • Southwest/Great Plains Drought2009
  • U.S. Wildfires2008
  • Western, Central and Northeast Severe Weather2008
  • U.S. Drought2008
  • Western/Eastern Drought/Heat Wave2007
  • Western Wildfires2007
  • California Freeze2007
  • Numerous Wildfires2006
  • California Wildfires2003
  • Western Fire Season2002
  • U.S. Drought2002
  • Western/Central/Southeast Drought/Heat Wave2000
  • California Freeze1998
  • Western/Eastern Severe Weather and Flooding1997
  • West Coast Flooding1997
  • California Flooding1995
  • Western Fire Season1994
  • California Wildfires1993
  • Oakland Firestorm1991
  • California Freeze1990
  • Western Fire Season1990
  • Western Severe Storms and Flooding1986
  • Western Storms and Flooding1982

Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters, state summary for California, 1980-2024 (NCEI's last update; the product is archived). A disaster that affected several states counts in each. NCEI billion-dollar disasters.

Federal disaster declarations in California

FEMA has made 397 declarations for California since 1954: 116 major disasters, 18 emergencies and 263 fire management assistance declarations. The most common incident types are fire (299), flood (41), severe storm (23).

  1. Fire 299
  2. Flood 41
  3. Severe Storm 23
  4. Earthquake 14
  5. Hurricane 3
  6. Dam/Levee Break 3
  7. Freezing 3
  8. Biological 2
  1. 1950s 4
  2. 1960s 12
  3. 1970s 17
  4. 1980s 21
  5. 1990s 19
  6. 2000s 121
  7. 2010s 127
  8. 2020s 76
The 15 most recent declarations in California
DeclaredNumberTypeTitleAreas named
2026-08-04FM-5662FireGann Fire1
2026-07-26FM-5652FireDove Fire1
2026-05-25EM-3646ChemicalChemical Release1
2026-05-20FM-5636FireBain Fire1
2026-05-18FM-5635FireSandy Fire1
2025-09-03FM-5612Fire2-7 Fire1
2025-08-08FM-5605FireCanyon Fire1
2025-01-08FM-5551FireHurst Fire1
2025-01-08FM-5550FireEaton Fire1
2025-01-08DR-4856FireWildfires and Straight-Line Winds1
2025-01-07FM-5549FirePalisades Fire1
2024-12-10FM-5548FireFranklin Fire1
2024-11-06FM-5545FireMountain Fire1
2024-09-11FM-5538FireAirport Fire1
2024-09-11FM-5537FireBridge Fire2

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), through October 2, 2026. OpenFEMA dataset page.

Flood insurance claims in California

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $758 million on 53,270 claims in 56 California counties. Claims count insured losses only.

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026. OpenFEMA dataset page.

FEMA's modeled risk across California's counties

How FEMA's National Risk Index rates California's counties overall: a model of expected future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of events.

  1. Very High 9
  2. Relatively High 22
  3. Relatively Moderate 17
  4. Relatively Low 7
  5. Very Low 3

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.

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