Windsor

Population 25,864 (2025)

13 tornadoes have tracked within 25 miles of Windsor since 1950, 0 of them rated EF3 or F3 or stronger; the most recent was on March 18, 2011.

Hazard fingerprint for Windsor Tornado: 15th percentile. Tropical: 0th percentile. Wildfire: 91th percentile. Flood: 85th percentile. Hail & wind: 16th percentile. Heat: 77th percentile. Cold: 59th percentile. Winter: 0th percentile. TORTROPFIREFLOODSEVEREHEATCOLDWINTER

Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed

2026
  • Tornado damage paths within 25 miles since 195013
  • Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 198420
  • Major flood years since 1978, Sonoma County7

At a glance

Tornado paths within 25 miles, tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles and wildfire perimeters within 25 miles of the city centre. Storm events, flood insurance claims and disaster declarations are for Sonoma County. Earthquakes within 50 miles, volcanoes within 100 miles and smoke days are measured from the city centre; river and tide gauges, tsunami and landslide records and the drought index are for Sonoma County.

Large wildfires within 25 mi

20

Largest: Hennessey, 2020

Details

Flood insurance claims

7,403

Sonoma County

$132 million paid since 1978

Details

Tornadoes since 1950, within 25 mi

13

0 rated F3/EF3 or stronger

Details

Strongest tornado

F2

June 1, 1958, 15.0 mile path

Largest earthquake within 50 mi

6.0magnitude

August 24, 2014, 35.1 miles away

Details

Federal disaster declarations

36

Most recent: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides, 2023

Details

Record high

115°F

September 6, 2022

Details

Record low

14°F

Reached 2 times, most recently December 23, 1990

Details

Tornadoes

About one every 5.8 years since 1950, none rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest

June 1, 1958

F2, 15.0 mile path

50 yards wide.

Most recent

Friday, March 18, 2011

EF1, 0.1 mile path

15 years ago.

Tornadoes by decade, within 25 miles Doppler radar era² 1950s: 2 2 1960s: 1 1 1970s: 0 1980s: 1 1 1990s: 6 6 2000s: 2 2 2010s: 1 1 2020s: 0 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 1 F: 3 M: 1 A: 0 M: 0 J: 1 J: 0 A: 0 S: 0 O: 0 N: 1 D: 6 6 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes within 25 miles since 1950
Mar 18, 2011EF10.110000
Jan 27, 2005F10.52500
Dec 29, 2004F00.2300
Dec 5, 1998F11.515000
Dec 23, 1996F16.02000
Feb 22, 1996F11.05000
Dec 2, 1992F17.510000
Dec 2, 1992F11.02300
Dec 2, 1992F13.02300
Feb 27, 1983F10.810000
Nov 10, 1964F11.03000
Feb 17, 1959F10.55000
Jun 1, 1958F215.05000
  1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond this area.
  2. Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

No tropical storm or hurricane has tracked within 100 miles since records began in 1851.

Wildfire and smoke

20 large fires burned within 25 miles since 1984.

Largest

August 17, 2020

Hennessey Fire, 314,015 acres

16.0 miles from the city centre.

Most recent

September 27, 2020

Glass Fire

67,971 acres in total.

Acres burned by large fires within 25 miles, cumulative 1988: 6,5171991: 4,9911996: 2,3202000: 3,0142002: 1,0662004: 12,0682013: 3,3302014: 4,2682015: 77,4462016: 1,6972017: 112,4592018: 2,4932019: 77,7242020: 439,597 748,990 acres 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Running total of acres burned (line) and each year’s acres (bars).

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984
Glass20208.367,971
Hennessey202016.0314,015
Meyers202020.02,459
Wallbridge20204.755,152
Kincade20191.477,724
Snell201824.32,493
Pocket201712.618,674
Tubbs20172.636,946
Nuns201711.956,839
Sawmill201618.11,697
Valley201515.277,446
Butts201420.44,268
Mccabe201316.43,330
Geysers20049.512,068
Pine200222.01,066
Hidden200017.63,014
Pge 8199621.92,320
Geysers199113.34,991
Unnamed198814.55,071
River198817.61,446
  1. Large fires mapped by the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity program since 1984: 1,000 acres or more in the West, 500 or more in the East. Prescribed burns are excluded. Acres here are the part of each perimeter inside this place.

Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (USGS and U.S. Forest Service), 1984 to 2026.

Smoke overhead

Smokiest year

2020: 45 days

Heavy smoke on 31 days in 2020, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

16.0 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

2 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 3 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 1 2012: 3 2013: 5 2014: 5 2015: 7 2016: 0 2017: 18 2018: 34 2019: 8 2020: 45 45 2021: 34 2022: 6 2023: 7 2024: 6 2025: 2 201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Days each year on which a satellite-traced plume of medium or heavy smoke covered the city centre, 2011 to 2025.
  1. A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.

NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Floods and flood insurance

7,403 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $132 million paid.

Flood insurance figures are for Sonoma County, the county that contains Windsor.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1978: 170 1979: 17 1980: 152 1981: 269 1982: 242 1983: 528 1985: 11 1986: 920 1987: 7 1991: 25 1992: 8 1993: 102 1994: 6 1995: 1,731 1,731 1996: 241 1997: 714 1998: 388 1999: 11 2000: 5 2001: 15 2002: 56 2003: 9 2004: 37 2005: 524 2006: 162 2008: 19 2012: 8 2014: 33 2016: 5 2017: 121 2019: 735 2021: 5 2023: 38 2024: 33 2025: 29 1978198319921997200220082019
Claims per year since 1978. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

1995: 1,731 claims

$36.0 million paid.

2nd most

1986: 920 claims

$16.4 million paid.

3rd most

2019: 735 claims

$29.1 million paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
954463,943$69.5 million
954621,089$21.6 million
95436853$16.2 million
94952457$8.2 million
95448126$2.1 million
95472124$2.2 million
9542195$1.1 million
9547693$2.3 million
9543073$1.0 million
9547161$795,000
9540152$912,000
9549240$392,000
9495438$1.5 million
9544238$954,000
9544138$244,000
9542533$363,000
9545230$423,000
21$99,000
9540421$149,000
9546520$209,000
9540720$220,000
9548616$118,000
9492313$70,000
9540311$142,000
9540511$236,000
9546610$243,000
9540910$237,000
949229$18,000
949316$10,000
949285$1,196
954505$24,000

Flood events since 1996

  • Flood256
  • Flash Flood44
  • Coastal Flood34
  • Heavy Rain24

7 deaths recorded in flood events since 1996.

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.

River crests

River gauges in Sonoma County, the county that contains Windsor.

Most severe crest

February 18, 1986

Russian River at Guerneville, 49.50 ft

17.50 feet above the 32.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

February 27, 2019

Russian River at Guerneville, 45.38 ft

Major flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Feb 18, 1986Russian River at Guerneville49.50+17.50Major
Jan 10, 1995Russian River at Guerneville48.00+16.00Major
Dec 23, 1955Russian River at Guerneville47.62+15.62Major
Dec 23, 1964Russian River at Guerneville47.35+15.35Major
Feb 28, 1940Russian River at Guerneville46.87+14.87Major
Feb 27, 2019Russian River at Guerneville45.38+13.38Major
Jan 1, 1997Russian River at Guerneville44.99+12.99Major
Jan 5, 1966Russian River at Guerneville42.50+10.50Major
Jan 1, 2006Russian River at Guerneville41.81+9.81Major
Mar 10, 1995Russian River at Guerneville41.45+9.45Major
Jan 24, 1970Russian River at Guerneville41.30+9.30Major
Feb 1, 1963Russian River at Guerneville41.10+9.10Major
Jan 17, 1974Russian River at Guerneville40.70+8.70Major
Jan 27, 1983Russian River at Guerneville40.40+8.40Major
Feb 25, 1958Russian River at Guerneville40.20+8.20Major
Dec 1, 1937Russian River near Healdsburg30.80+7.80Major
Feb 28, 1940Russian River near Healdsburg30.00+7.00Major
Jan 17, 1978Russian River at Guerneville39.50+7.50Moderate
Jan 22, 1943Russian River at Guerneville39.50+7.50Moderate
Jan 14, 1969Russian River at Guerneville39.50+7.50Moderate
Jan 21, 1967Russian River at Guerneville39.30+7.30Moderate
Feb 6, 1942Russian River at Guerneville39.00+7.00Moderate
Dec 20, 1981Russian River at Guerneville39.00+7.00Moderate
Jan 17, 1954Russian River at Guerneville38.35+6.35Moderate
Jan 8, 1960Russian River at Guerneville38.10+6.10Moderate

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Adobe Creek at Manor Lane230.0——0
Adobe Creek at Sartori Drive33.0——0
Austin Creek near Cazadero21.0——0
Colgan Creek near Santa Rosa106.0——0
Colgan Creek near Sebastopol75.0——0
Copeland Creek at Rohnert Park8.0——0
Corona Creek at Sonoma Mountain Pkwy.44.0——0
Dry Creek (Russian R.) near Geyserville15.0——0
Dutch Bill Creek at Bohemian Highway and Tyrone Road102.0——0
East Washington Creek at Garfield Drive66.0——0
Green Valley Creek at Martinelli Road59.9——0
Kelly Creek at Sunnyslope Road63.5——0
Laguna de Santa Rosa at Stony Point Road NR Cotati84.0——0
Laguna de Santa Rosa near Sebastopol69.0——0
Maacama Creek near Kellogg14.8——0
Mark West Creek near Mirabel Heights55.0——0
Matanzas Creek at Santa Rosa173.3——0
Petaluma River at Corona Road24.927.98 ftFeb 3, 19980
Petaluma River at D Street Bridge8.46.38 ftFeb 7, 19980
Petaluma River at Payran Street Bridge13.7——0
Petaluma River at Shollenberger Park10.0——0
Petaluma River at Twin Bridges36.0——0
Russian River at Digger Bend NR Healdsburg25.4——0
Russian River at Geyserville39.7——0
Russian River at Guerneville32.049.50 ftFeb 18, 198615
Russian River at Jimtown26.2——0
Russian River near Healdsburg23.030.80 ftDec 1, 19372
Santa Rosa Creek at Santa Rosa41.0——0
Santa Rosa Creek at Willowside Road NR Santa Rosa70.0——0
Thompsen Creek at Sunnyslope Road76.0——0
Wiggins Creek at Rainsville Road38.7——0
Willow Brook at Old Redwood Highway Bridge40.7——0
Willow Brook at Penngrove Park60.7——0
Willow Brook at Stony Point Road37.737.13 ftFeb 3, 19980
  1. Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.

NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Drought

In severe drought or worse for 94 of 1,581 months since 1895 (6%); the longest spell lasted 13 months.

The drought index is for Sonoma County, the county that contains Windsor.

94

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

24

Months in extreme drought

6%

Share of all months, severe or worse

Lowest reading

July 2021

−5.44, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

13 months

September 2020 to September 2021.

Latest month

September 2026

−1.68, mild drought

Last severe month: August 2022.

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 0 1896: 0 1897: 0 1898: 0 1899: 0 1900: 0 1901: 0 1902: 0 1903: 0 1904: 0 1905: 0 1906: 0 1907: 0 1908: 0 1909: 0 1910: 0 1911: 0 1912: 0 1913: 0 1914: 0 1915: 0 1916: 0 1917: 0 1918: 1 1919: 0 1920: 1 1921: 0 1922: 0 1923: 0 1924: 5 1925: 0 1926: 0 1927: 0 1928: 0 1929: 0 1930: 0 1931: 0 1932: 0 1933: 0 1934: 0 1935: 0 1936: 0 1937: 0 1938: 0 1939: 1 1940: 0 1941: 0 1942: 0 1943: 0 1944: 0 1945: 0 1946: 0 1947: 4 1948: 0 1949: 0 1950: 0 1951: 0 1952: 0 1953: 0 1954: 0 1955: 0 1956: 0 1957: 0 1958: 0 1959: 4 1960: 0 1961: 0 1962: 0 1963: 0 1964: 1 1965: 0 1966: 0 1967: 0 1968: 0 1969: 0 1970: 0 1971: 0 1972: 0 1973: 0 1974: 0 1975: 0 1976: 3 1977: 8 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 0 1981: 0 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 3 1986: 0 1987: 4 1988: 4 1989: 2 1990: 0 1991: 0 1992: 0 1993: 0 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 0 1999: 0 2000: 0 2001: 0 2002: 0 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 0 2007: 1 2008: 8 2009: 4 2010: 0 2011: 0 2012: 0 2013: 1 2014: 5 2015: 10 10 2016: 1 2017: 0 2018: 1 2019: 0 2020: 5 2021: 9 2022: 8 2023: 0 2024: 0 2025: 0 18951905191519251935194519551965197519851995200520152025
Months each year with a Palmer index of −3 or lower, 1895 to 2025. Twelve means the whole year.
  1. The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.

NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.

Earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis and landslides

96 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles since 1900; the largest was magnitude 6.0 in 2014.

1,162

Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973

96

Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900

5

Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900

Largest within 50 miles

August 24, 2014

Magnitude 6.0

The 2014 South Napa, California Earthquake; 35.1 miles away, 6.9 miles deep.

Most recent, magnitude 3 or more

September 25, 2026

Magnitude 3.7

10 km W of Boonville, CA; 48.6 miles away.

Earthquakes of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles, by year 1973: 4 1974: 16 1975: 13 1976: 13 1977: 13 1978: 19 1979: 7 1980: 15 1981: 14 1982: 22 1983: 22 1984: 27 1985: 37 37 1986: 27 1987: 30 1988: 34 1989: 28 1990: 34 1991: 27 1992: 27 1993: 37 1994: 29 1995: 26 1996: 26 1997: 22 1998: 32 1999: 26 2000: 22 2001: 24 2002: 22 2003: 29 2004: 25 2005: 23 2006: 33 2007: 21 2008: 17 2009: 18 2010: 26 2011: 21 2012: 26 2013: 20 2014: 16 2015: 9 2016: 16 2017: 14 2018: 15 2019: 18 2020: 10 2021: 17 2022: 18 2023: 22 2024: 14 2025: 20 19731978198319881993199820032008201320182023
Per year, 1973 to 2025.

Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles

Earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles
Jul 28, 20264.217.63.78 km ESE of Cloverdale, CA
May 7, 20264.417.32.32 km NW of The Geysers, CA
Feb 21, 20264.219.41.25 km W of Cobb, CA
Jan 8, 20264.220.41.812 km ENE of Cloverdale, CA
Dec 14, 20254.016.11.96 km W of Glen Ellen, CA
Aug 14, 20254.017.92.16 km NW of The Geysers, CA
Jan 1, 20254.721.20.94 km NW of Cobb, CA
Dec 5, 20244.320.90.39 km WNW of Cobb, CA
Sep 7, 20244.316.60.11 km ESE of The Geysers, CA
Jun 8, 20244.518.82.27 km NW of The Geysers, CA
Jan 26, 20244.217.41.72 km N of The Geysers, CA
Jun 17, 20234.340.76.58km SE of Talmage, CA
Jun 3, 20234.217.60.54km WNW of The Geysers, CA
Jun 3, 20234.517.42.42km NW of The Geysers, CA
Apr 11, 20234.420.21.57km WNW of Cobb, CA
Sep 13, 20224.37.13.54km N of Santa Rosa, CA
Sep 13, 20224.47.23.53km N of Santa Rosa, CA
Jun 28, 20224.220.20.32km WNW of Cobb, CA
Dec 6, 20204.437.03.113km W of Lakeport, CA
Mar 25, 20204.117.31.32km NNW of The Geysers, CA
Nov 3, 20194.216.21.91km WSW of The Geysers, CA
Jun 11, 20194.118.81.27km NW of The Geysers, CA
Jun 3, 20194.020.21.87 km WNW of Cobb, CA
Apr 15, 20194.118.90.86km NW of The Geysers, CA
May 9, 20184.218.51.25km NW of The Geysers, CA
Jan 17, 20184.217.11.11km NE of The Geysers, CA
Feb 20, 20174.218.00.83 km SSW of Cobb, California
Dec 14, 20165.019.40.910 km W of Cobb, California
May 21, 20154.131.18.05 km WSW of Moskowite Corner, California
Aug 24, 20146.035.16.9The 2014 South Napa, California Earthquake
Jan 12, 20144.518.81.28 km W of Cobb, California
Mar 14, 20134.119.71.66 km W of Cobb, CA
Mar 14, 20134.418.70.85 km W of Cobb, California
Sep 25, 20124.547.36.73 km N of Talmage, California
May 5, 20124.217.71.14 km SW of Cobb, California
Feb 12, 20124.217.70.33 km SSW of Cobb, California
Feb 28, 20114.418.91.48 km W of Cobb, California
Jul 15, 20104.119.11.36 km NW of The Geysers, CA
Jan 4, 20094.316.72.46 km SW of Cobb, California
May 29, 20084.116.30.66 km SW of Cobb, California
Feb 23, 20084.119.21.37 km NW of The Geysers, CA
Apr 24, 20074.517.51.07 km WSW of Cobb, California
Oct 20, 20064.622.51.67 km NW of Cobb, California
Aug 2, 20064.517.15.35 km W of Glen Ellen, California
May 12, 20064.221.01.311 km WNW of Cobb, California
May 12, 20064.719.02.27 km W of Cobb, California
Oct 18, 20054.120.61.212 km ENE of Cloverdale, California
May 9, 20054.317.3-0.34 km SW of Cobb, California
May 8, 20054.136.85.37 km SSE of Moskowite Corner, California
Dec 27, 20044.315.01.88 km S of Cobb, California
Feb 18, 20044.620.51.64 km WNW of Cobb, California
Oct 3, 20034.120.50.57 km WNW of Cobb, California
Aug 3, 20034.217.81.14 km SW of Cobb, California
Jul 29, 20034.011.03.03 km SSW of Geyserville, California
May 25, 20034.18.32.92 km NE of Santa Rosa, California
May 20, 20034.017.9-0.17 km WSW of Cobb, California
Dec 14, 20014.338.73.78 km N of Hopland, California
Dec 7, 20014.238.43.97 km N of Hopland, California
Dec 7, 20004.416.82.25 km SW of Cobb, California
Sep 3, 20004.924.25.85 km WSW of Yountville, California
Jan 18, 20004.215.54.34 km N of Geyserville, California
Jan 11, 20004.616.73.66 km N of Geyserville, California
Jan 10, 20004.315.93.85 km NNW of Geyserville, California
Sep 22, 19994.213.95.67 km WSW of Kenwood, California
Aug 17, 19994.644.44.80 km S of Bolinas, California
Feb 18, 19994.216.52.46 km SW of Cobb, California
Jan 2, 19974.035.51.76 km NE of Hopland, California
Dec 4, 19964.317.51.34 km SW of Cobb, California
Sep 4, 19954.810.44.113 km SW of Middletown, California
Feb 28, 19954.128.62.92 km NNW of Lower Lake, California
Jan 15, 19954.119.40.66 km W of Cobb, California
Jan 17, 19944.226.86.69 km E of Hidden Valley Lake, California
Mar 15, 19934.017.21.65 km SW of Cobb, California
Sep 19, 19924.522.01.87 km NW of Cobb, California
Aug 14, 19904.219.60.46 km W of Cobb, California
Oct 11, 19864.038.64.04 km SW of Sea Ranch, California
Nov 12, 19854.121.2-0.65 km NW of Cobb, California
Aug 8, 19854.017.3-0.65 km SW of Cobb, California
Jul 3, 19854.328.32.712 km WSW of Kelseyville, California
Mar 15, 19854.125.17.811 km NNE of Cloverdale, California
Sep 24, 19844.335.12.811 km ENE of Clearlake, California
Sep 22, 19844.017.71.19 km WSW of Cobb, California
May 29, 19824.017.90.88 km WSW of Cobb, California
Sep 8, 19784.249.36.44 km SSW of Monument Hills, California
Mar 25, 19784.549.77.24 km SE of Calpella, California
Jun 10, 19744.35.13.42 km SE of Larkfield-Wikiup, California
Sep 16, 19734.235.71.215 km SW of Esparto, California
Oct 1, 19695.315.39.3Northern California
Oct 1, 19695.315.79.33 km E of Bloomfield, California
Apr 25, 19684.66.45.04 km NNW of Santa Rosa, California
Jun 6, 19625.242.66.26 km ESE of Talmage, California
Apr 4, 19564.415.8—4 km W of Deer Park, California
May 7, 19554.627.2—5 km SSW of Kelseyville, California
Nov 10, 19544.438.2—10 km WNW of Lakeport, California
Feb 25, 19194.622.2—1 km NW of Fetters Hot Springs-Agua Caliente, California
Jul 30, 19044.543.8—Southwest of Woodland, California
  1. Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the city centre.
  2. Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Tsunamis

Tsunami records for Sonoma County.

Highest water recorded

Mar 28, 1964

11.8 ft, Salmon Creek Beach, CA

From Prince William Sound, AK (magnitude 9.2 earthquake).

On record

4 tsunamis

Since 1957.

Tsunamis recorded here
Mar 11, 2011Honshu Island, M9.13.310
Mar 28, 1964Prince William Sound, AK, M9.211.820
May 22, 1960Southern Chile, M9.52.010
Mar 9, 1957Andreanof Islands, AK, M8.61.010
  1. Places where NOAA's Global Historical Tsunami Database records a tsunami's water arriving, with the greatest height it reached above sea level at the time. Only tsunamis NOAA rates probable or definite are counted. Heights from eyewitness accounts and tide gauges are mixed, and older events are less completely recorded.

NOAA NCEI/WDS Global Historical Tsunami Database, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Volcanoes within 100 miles

Volcanoes within 100 miles
Clear Lake Volcanic Field29.6High4,721
  1. U.S. volcanoes within 100 miles, from the USGS Volcano Hazards Program. The threat category is the USGS 2018 National Volcanic Threat Assessment, which ranks volcanoes by how hazardous their past eruptions were and how many people and how much infrastructure lie near them. It is not a forecast of eruption.

USGS Volcano Hazards Program, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Mapped landslides

Landslides mapped in Sonoma County.

11,728

Landslides mapped, probable or better

53

With a recorded date

4

Source inventories

Mapped by CA GS (11,695), NASA (24), USGS Conterminous (6), USGS CA SF Bay Dec 2022 - Jan 2023 (3).

  1. Landslides mapped in the USGS compilation of landslide inventories across the United States (version 3.0, 2025), rated probable or better. The compilation joins inventories made by federal and state agencies for different purposes and areas, so the number mapped in a county reflects how closely it has been surveyed as much as how often its slopes fail. An area with few records may simply not have been mapped. Deaths are as recorded in the inventories; a slide listed in two inventories is counted once.

USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0, retrieved October 27, 2026.

Severe weather and other events

813 events in the National Weather Service record for Sonoma County, 806 of them since 1996.

0

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

0

Hail, 2 inches or larger

1

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

1

Winter weather events since 1996

26

Heat events since 1996

13

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

December 9, 2003

0.75 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

August 16, 2020

69 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Rip currents420May 4, 2019
High surf and sneaker waves23235Mar 25, 2025
Storm surge and tide300Nov 25, 2011
Lightning301Aug 16, 2020
Dense fog and smoke2504Dec 12, 2025
Debris flows6710Feb 13, 2025

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Jan 1, 2006Flood$104 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    The major flooding that began late in December continued into early January. Widespread low-land flooding across the county persisted with the hardest hit areas around the Russian River in Healdsburg and Guerneville. The Petaluma River also over-flowed its banks as did the Sonoma Creek. Total number of structures tagged by county officials with damage was 66 with property damage over $100 million.

  2. Dec 31, 2005Flood$104 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Widespread low-land flooding occurred across Sonoma County with mainstem river gages along the Russian River remaining above flood stage for several days. Devastating flooding occurred near the Russian River in Healdsburg as well as Guerneville. The Petaluma River overflowed its banks as well, as did the Sonoma Creek. Approximately 66 structures were tagged by county officials as significantly damaged in the wake of the flooding. An average of 4 to 6 inches of rain fell over a 24 hour period, 2 days after 1 to 3 inches drenched the same area. The flood continued to affect the area into early January.

  3. Apr 1, 2006Debris Flow, North Bay Interior Valleys$14.4 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Persistent heavy rainfall caused a massive number of landslides across the Sonoma and Marin County valleys area during the first half of April. About $20 million of damage was done to agriculture, with over $9 million spent in road repair damage in Sonoma County alone. Over $5 million worth of damage was done to single family dwellings in Sonoma - with lesser (but still substantial) amounts of damage experienced to businesses and public buildings. In Marin county the hardest hit areas were Mill Valley, Fairfax and San Rafael. In Mill Valley a man was killed after he was buried in a mudslide in his back yeard.

  4. Feb 3, 1998Flash Flood$5.0 million
  5. Feb 2, 1998Flash Flood$2.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Flash Flood on Willow Brook at Stoney Point Road near Petaluma. 25 homes near the river were evacuated as well as 40 to 50 residents of a Mobile home park.

  6. Jan 25, 2001Lightning$1.0 million
  7. Dec 5, 1998Tornado$1.0 million
  8. Mar 25, 2011Debris Flow, North Bay Interior Valleys$855,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    In San Anselmo heavy rain and strong wind caused mudslides, trees to blow down and power poles to topple. The following are other damage reports from around the city. On Florence Road trees fell into the public right of way blocking the roadway and crushing a car. It also took down several PGE, cable and telephone poles. On Woodruff Ave, a mudslide traveled 1/4 mile down the road carrying structure debris and blocking a main intersection that accesses 12 homes. On Scenic Ave, a mudslide entered a roadway and wind blew down a few power poles. At 29 Summit Ave, a mudslide closed roads; caused water, gas and sewer lines to break and took out numerous trees. On Redwood Rd, the road…

  9. Jan 25, 2008Flash Flood$800,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Very heavy rain caused flash flooding around Petaluma late Friday night, January 26th. The Petaluma River near Corona Road went over its flood stage of 25.5 feet reaching nearly 30 feet. At least a dozen homes were flooded as were several businesses.

  10. Dec 27, 2006Strong Wind, Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore$500,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Strong winds - sustained at least up to 30 mph hit the Marin County Coast - causing a tree to fall on a restaurant.

  1. Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.

Weather records

From Graton, 8.3 miles from the city centre, with records from 1926.

All-time high
115°FSep 6, 2022
All-time low
14°F2 times, most recently Dec 23, 1990
Warmest night
71°FSep 3, 1961
Coldest day
34°FDec 15, 1972
Wettest day
6.95 inFeb 4, 1937
Snowiest day
1.0 inJan 29, 1937
Hottest year
2014mean 60.0°F
Coldest year
1948mean 54.3°F
Wettest year
198384.65 in
Driest year
201312.63 in
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Graton 32°F 60° 37° 7.1 Jan 63° 38° 7.0 Feb 67° 39° 4.7 Mar 71° 41° 2.3 Apr 77° 45° 1.3 May 82° 48° 0.3 Jun 84° 50° 0.0 Jul 85° 50° 0.1 Aug 85° 48° 0.3 Sep 79° 44° 2.3 Oct 67° 39° 4.8 Nov 59° 37° 8.3 Dec Precipitation, inches
Average daily high and low by month, and average monthly precipitation, over the last 30 years.
Days reaching 95°F per year 1976: 19 1977: 20 1978: 19 1979: 19 1980: 9 1981: 26 1982: 11 1983: 17 1984: 25 1985: 18 1986: 3 1987: 15 1988: 16 1989: 12 1990: 13 1991: 11 1992: 10 1993: 13 1994: 13 1995: 16 1996: 10 1997: 12 1998: 10 1999: 11 2000: 11 2001: 15 2002: 20 2003: 20 2004: 16 2005: 7 2006: 10 2007: 16 2008: 26 2009: 24 2010: 17 2011: 12 2012: 13 2013: 6 2014: 20 2015: 23 2016: 15 2017: 20 2018: 11 2019: 18 2020: 33 33 2021: 15 2022: 22 2025: 11 19761986199620062016
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 15.9.

Station Graton (USC00043578), 200 ft elevation, 8.3 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1926 to October 6, 2026; 98.1% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.

NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.

Federal disaster declarations

36 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides, April 3, 2023.

Declarations for Sonoma County.

Federal disaster declarations
Apr 3, 2023Severe StormSevere Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4699-CA
Mar 10, 2023FloodSevere Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesEmergencyEM-3592-CA
Jan 14, 2023FloodSevere Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4683-CA
Jan 9, 2023FloodSevere Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesEmergencyEM-3591-CA
Oct 16, 2020FireWildfiresMajor disasterDR-4569-CA
Sep 27, 2020FireGlass FireFire managementFM-5376-CA
Aug 22, 2020FireWildfiresMajor disasterDR-4558-CA
Aug 18, 2020FireLnu Lightning Fire ComplexFire managementFM-5331-CA
Mar 22, 2020BiologicalCovid-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4482-CA
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCovid-19EmergencyEM-3428-CA
Oct 24, 2019FireKincade FireFire managementFM-5295-CA
May 17, 2019Severe StormSevere Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4434-CA
Oct 10, 2017FireWildfiresMajor disasterDR-4344-CA
Oct 9, 2017FireNuns FireFire managementFM-5220-CA
Oct 9, 2017FirePartrick FireFire managementFM-5222-CA
Oct 9, 2017FireTubbs FireFire managementFM-5215-CA
Apr 1, 2017FloodSevere Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4308-CA
Feb 14, 2017Severe StormSevere Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4301-CA
Sep 13, 2015FireValley FireFire managementFM-5112-CA
Jun 5, 2006Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-1646-CA
Feb 3, 2006Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and LandslidesMajor disasterDR-1628-CA
Sep 13, 2005HurricaneHurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3248-CA
Sep 4, 2004FireCa-Geysers Fire-09-04-2004Fire managementFM-2554-CA
Feb 9, 1998Severe StormSevere Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1203-CA
Jan 4, 1997Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, Mud and LandslidesMajor disasterDR-1155-CA
Mar 12, 1995Severe StormSevere Winter Storms, Flooding Landslides, Mud FlowMajor disasterDR-1046-CA
Jan 10, 1995Severe StormSevere Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mud FlowsMajor disasterDR-1044-CA
Sep 13, 1994Fishing LossesThe El Nino (the Salmon Industry)Major disasterDR-1038-CA
Feb 3, 1993FloodSevere Winter Storm, Mud & Land Slides, & FloodingMajor disasterDR-979-CA
Feb 11, 1991FreezingSevere FreezeMajor disasterDR-894-CA
Feb 21, 1986FloodSevere Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-758-CA
Feb 9, 1983Coastal StormCoastal Storms, Floods, Slides & TornadoesMajor disasterDR-677-CA
Jan 7, 1982FloodSevere Storms, Flood, Mudslides & High TideMajor disasterDR-651-CA
Jan 20, 1977DroughtDroughtEmergencyEM-3023-CA
Jan 26, 1969FloodSevere Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-253-CA
Dec 24, 1964FloodHeavy Rains & FloodingMajor disasterDR-183-CA

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.

Sources and vintage

Every number on this page comes from these public records.

  • Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
  • Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
  • Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
  • Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
  • Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
  • Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USC00043578.
  • River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
  • Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Tsunamis NOAA NCEI/WDS Global Historical Tsunami Database.
  • Volcanoes USGS Volcano Hazards Program, U.S. volcanoes and 2018 threat assessment.
  • Landslides USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0 (2025).
  • Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.

Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.