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San Francisco Peninsula Coast storm history

Storm events recorded in San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California between 1950 and 2025.

123
Total events
0
Tornadoes
0
Hail
3
Floods
21
Deaths
$9.4M
Property damage

Most significant events

Strongest tornadoes, deadliest events, and biggest damage in this county. Up to 50 shown.

December 3, 2025 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
Sneakerwave Sneakerwave1 death
A 32-year old man died after drowning off Bean Hollow State Beach in southern San Mateo County. California State Parks was informed of a possible drowning around 3:25 PM on December 3, when a woman told them that she and her husband were fishing on the rocks, when the woman went …
January 14, 2024 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
Dense Fog Dense Fog4 deaths
A small plane with four people onboard crashed near Moss Beach in San Mateo County, around 1 mile southwest of Half Moon Bay Airport, on January 14 at 7:34 PM. Witnesses saw the plane sputtering before the crash. Wreckage from the plane was found near Ross Cove. Search efforts fo…
November 25, 2023 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
Rip Current Rip Current1 death
A rip current at Martin's Beach in Half Moon Bay swept two people, a 5-year-old girl and a 54-year-old man, out to sea on Saturday November 25. The two had gotten too close to the water, lost their footing, and were swept out by the current. The timing of the event is unclear, bu…
November 6, 2022 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
High Surf High Surf1 death, 1 injury
One person drowned and another was rescued in the turbulent waters off Pacifica's Linda Mar Beach. No beach hazard product was in effect at the time. CDIP buoy off Point Reyes showed significant swell heights of around 7-8 feet at 12 seconds, and wind waves of around 6 feet at 9 …
January 18, 2021 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
High Surf High Surf1 death
Three people were swept into the ocean at Cowell Ranch State Beach in Half Moon Bay on Monday afternoon, two boys and their father. The 8 year old boy and his father were able to get out of the ocean, but the 12 year old boy was not https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2021/01/18/re…
January 10, 2021 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
High Surf High Surf1 death, 1 injury
Sunday afternoon a man and woman were searching for mussels at Pescadero State Beach in San Mateo County when large waves swept them off the rocks. The man was rescued and taken to the hospital, but crews were unable to rescue the woman.
December 8, 2020 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
High Surf High Surf1 death
A man and women were swept into the ocean in Pacifica during dangerous high surf. The woman was rescued but crews were unable to save the man https://fox40.com/news/california-connection/dangerous-surf-sweeps-3-people-out-to-ocean-woman-rescued/.
April 21, 2019 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
High Surf High Surf1 death
A 44 year old man died the afternoon of the 21st when his hang glider landed in the ocean near Devil's Slide along the San Mateo coastline. The pilot landed in the ocean and unhooked himself from the glider but could not make it to shore due to heavy surf and cliffs. He was found…
April 18, 2019 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
Rip Current Rip Current1 death
An 18 year old was last seen just after 3 pm PDT. boogie boarding in the water at Poplar Beach near Half Moon Bay by two friends who said he was unresponsive. They tried to help him out of the water, but they ended up needing to be rescued as well. Search was called off after 3 h…
July 1, 2018 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
Rip Current Rip Current1 death
A women drowned attempting to save three children swept out to the ocean by a rip current at Cowell Ranch Beach https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2018/07/01/woman-dies-saving-children-from-rip-current/.
September 1, 2017 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat3 deaths
Three San Mateo county residents died over the weekend as a result of the heat. Http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-six-deaths-heat-wave-bay-area-20170908-story.html. Http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Death-toll-from-Bay-Area-heat-wave-hits-6-12180514.php.
October 12, 2014 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
Sneakerwave Sneakerwave1 death, 2 injuries
Three people were on the beach at Gray Whale Cove when a Sneaker Wave washed them out into the ocean. A dozen beachgoers formed a human chain and pulled the three from the water. Emergency responders performed CPR on a woman pulled from the surf. She was airlifted to a hospital b…
March 16, 2011 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
High Surf High Surf1 death
A 35 year old welder from Hawaii died around 6 pm Wednesday in high surf. The wave faces reached heights of 40 to 45 feet on the biggest sets.
November 27, 2009 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
High Surf High Surf1 death
A sailboat in rough waters just south of Pillar Point capsized causing two men to enter the ocean. One man was rescued quickly while the other was not removed from the water until an hour after the mishap. He was pronounced dead by local paramedics.
December 3, 2007 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
High Surf High Surf2 deaths
High surf buffeted the coastline for a 2 day period. 2 fishermen died when their 25 foot fishing boat Good Guys capsized in the surf about 2 to 3 miles south of Pillar Point Harbor.
February 13, 2010 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
High Surf High Surf13 injuries
The Mavericks Big Wave Surf Contest is an annual event that occurs during the winter time when significantly high surf is happening under a partly cloudy to sunny sky. During the event a set of sneaker waves washed onto the shore were numerous spectators were enjoying the contest…
January 20, 2010 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
High Surf High Surf$1.5M damage
High surf caused an 80-foot-wide and 20-foot deep chunk of land to erode into the ocean in Pacifica at 5 a.m. on January 21. Residents of six apartment units were evacuated as the cliff eroded up to their back porches. The owners of the apartments are attempting to strengthen the…
April 1, 2006 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
Debris Flow Debris Flow$7.0M damage
November 16, 2025 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
High Wind High Wind
The PG&E station at North Peak Access Road reported a wind gust of 60 mph.
April 7, 2025 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
High Surf High Surf
A water rescue operation occurred in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Davenport on April 7. First responders were called to Davenport Landing at 2:17 PM as four people were in the water and struggling to return to shore. Three rescue swimmers from Cal Fire and two from Californ…
February 4, 2025 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
High Wind High Wind
The PG&E station on North Peak Access Road reported a wind gust of79 mph.
November 22, 2024 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
High Wind High Wind
The North Peak Access Road PG&E station reported a 69 mph gust.
January 14, 2024 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
Rip Current Rip Current2 injuries
A father and son were pulled from the ocean near Pacifica on January 14. At 12:52 PM, two fire companies, a rescue unit, a CHP helicopter, state park personnel and Coast Guard air and water units responded to the two people struggling in the water north of Mori Point. Rescue swim…
January 14, 2024 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
High Surf High Surf1 injury
A dog and its owner were swept out to sea at Sharp Point near Pacifica. The dog was swept out and the owner went in after the dog. The dog made it back to shore, but the owner struggled to return. Video taken at the scene showed rescue swimmers assisting the man onto shore, and t…
December 28, 2023 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
High Surf High Surf1 injury
A surfer was reported in distress at Linda Del Mar beach near Pacifica, and made their way back to shore with the help of the Coast Guard.
March 14, 2023 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
Strong Wind Strong Wind
A fallen eucalyptus tree closed California Highway 92 near Half Moon Bay.
February 21, 2023 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
High Wind High Wind
The Sweeney Ridge weather station operated by PGE reported a wind gust of 64 mph.
September 18, 2022 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Maximum gust 50 mph measured by CalFire Portable RAWS at 743 ft elevation.
September 6, 2022 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
Heat Heat
Half Moon Bay set a daily record high temperature of 81 deg, beating its previous record 80 deg set in 2004.
April 11, 2022 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
Strong Wind Strong Wind
In El Granada, Highway 1 was closed for several hours in both directions just south of Coronado St. because of downed communication lines, as per The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2022/04/11/high-wind-topples-tree-downed-lines-palo-alto-sout…
June 24, 2021 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
Rip Current Rip Current
On June 24th the sheriff's office received a report of a distressed man in the water at Tunitas Creek Beach. He was unable to be located by rescuers. His body was recovered on July 2nd at San Gregorio State Beach by a State Parks employee. https://www.ksbw.com/article/3-bodies-fo…
June 7, 2021 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Mesonet (PG&E) station at BFI Office reported gust of 45 mph.
May 19, 2021 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Mesonet (PG&E) station at BFI Office reported wind gusts between 45 and 55 mph with a peak gust of 63 mph.
May 8, 2021 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
High Surf High Surf
Three men were stranded on rocks off Pescadero State Beach when the tide began to rise and during rough surf conditions https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2021/05/08/three-men-stranded-on-rocks-at-pescadero-state-beach-rescued/.
March 15, 2021 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Mesonet station BFI Office (PG&E) measured gusts of 45 mph with a peak gust of 47 mph.
January 26, 2021 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Various sites showing gusts between 45 and 55 mph.
January 24, 2021 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Half Moon Bay Airport measure gusts between 35-45 mph with a peak gust of 46 mph.
January 19, 2021 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Tree down blocking roadway at Stage Rd and SR-84.
January 18, 2021 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Spring Valley RAWS station reported gusts between 45 and 50 mph with a peak gust of 54 mph.
January 10, 2021 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
High Surf High Surf
Half Moon Bay Buoy reported waves between 16 to 20 feet at 17 to 20 seconds.
January 9, 2021 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
Dense Fog Dense Fog
Visibility dropped down to 1/4 mile at the SF airport while runway visibility was reduced to 600 ft. This caused 22 aircraft holds for 669 minutes and 16 diversions at the airport.
December 14, 2020 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
Coastal Flood Coastal Flood
Photographs show Pacifica Pier just south of San Francisco surrounded by large waves during high tide https://www.sfgate.com/weather/article/king-tide-highest-of-year-San-Francisco-15800425.php. Additional photographs show resulting minor coastal flooding of a nearby roadway.
December 8, 2020 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
Sneakerwave Sneakerwave1 injury
A woman walking her dog on a beach was knocked over by a sneaker wave and nearly drowned https://fox40.com/news/california-connection/dangerous-surf-sweeps-3-people-out-to-ocean-woman-rescued/. Exact timing and location unknown.
December 8, 2020 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
High Surf High Surf
Surfers at Mavericks near Half Moon Bay reported waves in excess of 40 feet https://www.surfline.com/surf-news/mavericks-day-days/106147.
December 8, 2020 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
High Surf High Surf
The buoy at Half Moon Bay reported swells of 15 to 20 feet at periods of 17 to 19 seconds.
November 8, 2020 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Mesonet (PG&E) station at BFI Office measured gusts around 40 mph with a peak gust of 50 mph.
May 19, 2020 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
High Surf High Surf
The U.S. Coast Guard rescued three people from a disabled sailboat in Pillar Point Harbor late on the night of May 19. Hazardous seas conditions were present at the rescue scene with up to 15 foot seas and 20 mph winds as reported by the Coast Guard. A small craft advisory was in…
April 17, 2020 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
Rip Current Rip Current
The Coast Guard rescued a kayaker who's boat had overturned off the coast of Pacifica. The kayaker appeared to be suffering from hypothermia. No further details available https://blog.sfgate.com/latitude38/2020/04/21/coast-guard-rescues-kayaker-off-pacifica/.
February 9, 2020 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Spring Valley RAWS measured gusts over 45 mph with a peak gust of 53 mph.
January 2, 2020 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California
Rip Current Rip Current
A woman was at Cowell Ranch State Beach on January 2nd with her family and dog when her dog was caught in the waves. The woman went after her dog and was then swept out to see. The dog was able to get back to shore on her own and the woman was rescued and brought back to shore ht…

Events by year

YearEventsTornadoes
202540
202440
202340
202240
2021130
2020120
2019200
201880
2017110
201540
201420
201330
201220
201140
201060
200970
200880
200710
200650
200510