Riverside storm history
Storm events recorded in Riverside, California between 1950 and 2025.
927
Total events
27
Tornadoes
31
Hail
424
Floods
10
Deaths
$275.4M
Property damage
Most significant events
Strongest tornadoes, deadliest events, and biggest damage in this county. Up to 50 shown.
Tornado F3 Tornado
Media outlets from LA reported 2 fatalities associated with skydiving deaths. At least 1 large dust devil was reported at the time of the accident and was reported to cause the instructor to loose control of the chute. The temperature was 103F and wind gusts were as high as 18 mp…
Thunderstorms with very heavy rain developed across portions of eastern Riverside County during the evening hours on September 30th. The stronger storms produced intense rain that led to flash flooding to the southwest of Joshua Tree National Park and to the north of the Salton S…
A 39 year old Menifee woman was driving south on Goetz Road when the car was swept off the road by swift runoff from the Salt Creek, where it flows into Canyon Lake. She was found dead in her car at the bottom of the lake several hours later.
Heavy rain reduced visibility to less than 30 feet and flooded Highway 70 and Interstate 10, causing several vehicles to lose control and spin out.
CHP reported 6 flooded roadways in Paloma Valley with one vehicle briefly stranded.
Estimated 8 million in damage reported from thunderstorms microburst. Up to 20 utility poles downed, snapped or damaged in Imperial Irrigation District. Thunderstorms collapsed on desert floor. Strong winds also brought down a large tree onto a vehicle, trapping a man inside.
Heavy Rainfall of 5 to 9 inches in 24 hours caused devastating flash floods on Highway 243 north of Idyllwild. The state highway remains closed as of late April 2019. This was north of the Cranston Burn Scar.
Rainfall of 4 to 8 inches of occurred in less than 24 hours (heaviest during the morning and early afternoon hours on February 14). Debris flows and heavy runoff into the San Jacinto creek caused widespread damage to state highway 74 including complete wash outs at Strawberry Cre…
Heavy rainfall of 3 to 5 inches occurred on the desert slope of Mt San Jacinto and the Coachella Valley floor. This resulted in massive flooding and water flow into the Whitewater river (up to 10,000 CFS). Flooding severely damaged highway 111 causing a week long closure.
Heavy rainfall of 3 to 6 inches occurred in 12 hours and up to 1 inch per hour rates. This was the most significant flash flooding and debris flows since the December 6, 2018 event. The Holy fire scar flooded and sent debris flows through Temescal Canyon road and into homes and o…
Widespread flooding and flash flooding in Coachella Valley reported in Indian Canyon and tributaries to the Whitewater River. Palm Springs airport set a daily record for rainfall with 3.6 inches, most of the rainfall in less than 6 hours. The City of Indio alone reported 1 millio…
The damage was west of Highway 111 between 64th and 66th Avenues, paralleling Highway 86 towards the mountains, or approximately 3 1/2 miles. An emergency manager for the Imperial irrigation water district (IID) reported a total of 140 poles damaged, 30 of which were steel.
Aided by lingering tropical moisture from former hurricane Dolores, intense thunderstorms with torrential rain developed near Desert Center during the afternoon hours on July 19th. Based on radar estimates, over 6 inches of rain fell over several hours along and just to the south…
A stationary thunderstorm brought persistent heavy rain in Mecca between 0200 and 0800 PST, resulting in flash flooding of two mobile home parks. Approximately 15 to 20 mobile homes in the Duroville and Saint Anthony's mobile home parks were damaged. The American Red Cross set up…
Rob Balfour reported strong winds at the Buck Fire base camp at Diamond Lake, with estimated max gusts of 60 mph. The winds destroyed two large tents, several camping tents and some awnings. A few port-a-potties overturned as well.
Motorists reported a tornado crossing Interstate 10 near Intake Blvd, where two semi trucks were blown over. Numerous power poles down, and considerable damage to homes and other structures in and around Blythe. Roofs were blown off some homes. The rain-wrapped tornado had peak w…
Flood Flood
Multiple road closures in northern Palm Springs on low water crossings of drainage out of the San Bernardino Mts. Indian Canyon Dr, N Gene Autry Trail, and E Vista Chino all experienced road closures. Whitewater River Headwaters station upstream in the San Bernardino Mountains go…
Flood Flood
Dept. of Highways reported two inches of standing water in the right lanes of southbound I-215 near highway 60.
Flood Flood
Dept of Highways reported flooding on Highland Springs Avenue. Water is approximately 6-10 inches deep.
Flood Flood
Media video reports flooded roadway on Indian Canyon Drive, between Pierson Blvd and Dillon Road. Closed due to flood waters and sand.
Flood Flood
Media video shows flooded roadway along date Palm Drive, south of Interstate 10. Intersection of Date Palm and Los Gatos Rd. Flooded, with Los Gatos being closed, due to high water.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Mesonet station ELOC1 6.0 SW Lake Elsinore reported 0.52 inches of rainfall.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Mesonet station ELOC1 El Cariso reported 0.53 inches of rainfall.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Mesonet 4 miles NE of Cabazon reported measure wind gust from thunderstorm of 49 mph. SCE Stubbe Canyon Obs reported a 49 mph wind gust at 2:30 pm.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Wiley's Well Road at Interstate 10 closed in both directions due to flooding. No damages or injuries reported.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
CA-177 closed in both directions between I-10 and CA-62 due to flooding, with at least one car stuck in the floodwaters. No injuries reported.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
SCE Painted Canyon Rd observation station reported wind gust of 62 mph.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Video showed flooding along Box Canyon Road low water crossing south of the I-10 exit. Timing estimated from radar. No damages or injuries reported.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Mesonet station 645SE near Banning reported a wind gust of 50 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm outflow wind gusts occurred across this region with gusts 50-60 MPH. Highland Springs station reported a gust to 72 MPH.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Mesonet station 4 miles ESE Perris recorded a 76 mph gust associated with thunderstorm outflow. Likely a microburst.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Report of a tree down blocking the Emerett Ln in Perris. Nearby SCE Orange Avenue station reported a peak wind gust of 41 mph at 420 PM.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Palm Canyon Creek ALERT gauge reported 1.30 inches of rain in 33 minutes due to a thunderstorm. A total of 1.42 inch was reported.
Events by year
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 39 | 0 |
| 2024 | 33 | 0 |
| 2023 | 51 | 0 |
| 2022 | 68 | 2 |
| 2021 | 58 | 0 |
| 2020 | 14 | 0 |
| 2019 | 36 | 0 |
| 2018 | 39 | 1 |
| 2017 | 34 | 0 |
| 2016 | 10 | 0 |
| 2015 | 37 | 3 |
| 2014 | 35 | 0 |
| 2013 | 40 | 0 |
| 2012 | 30 | 2 |
| 2011 | 13 | 0 |
| 2010 | 22 | 1 |
| 2009 | 4 | 0 |
| 2008 | 16 | 4 |
| 2007 | 7 | 0 |
| 2006 | 11 | 1 |
| 2005 | 63 | 4 |
| 2004 | 25 | 0 |
| 2003 | 46 | 0 |
| 2002 | 37 | 0 |
| 2001 | 35 | 0 |
| 2000 | 18 | 0 |
| 1999 | 29 | 0 |
| 1998 | 23 | 1 |
| 1997 | 5 | 0 |
| 1996 | 8 | 1 |
| 1994 | 4 | 1 |
| 1993 | 2 | 0 |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990 | 3 | 0 |
| 1989 | 3 | 0 |
| 1988 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 |
| 1986 | 2 | 0 |
| 1985 | 1 | 1 |
| 1984 | 4 | 0 |
| 1982 | 2 | 1 |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 | 2 | 0 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 |
| 1976 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 | 2 | 1 |
| 1973 | 4 | 1 |
| 1960 | 1 | 0 |
| 1955 | 1 | 1 |