Try Wonders for freeEl Niño 2026 in California: what it could do in your county, and what to do
In 1997–98, 58 of 58 California counties got more December–February rain than normal, and the median one got 185%. In 2015–16, 20 did, and the median got 95% (Vose et al., 2014b). Here is every county, and a plan for yours.
By Wonders · September 24, 2026 · Data retrieved September 24, 2026
In the 1997–98 El Niño winter, California reported 17 storm deaths and more than $550 million in damage (National Climatic Data Center, 1998). NOAA puts it at three chances in four (75%) that by October–December this is the strongest El Niño in its index record, which goes back to 1950 (Climate Prediction Center, 2026b). A new National Flood Insurance Program policy usually takes effect 30 days after you buy it, so buy it at least a month before the storms (FloodSmart, n.d.).
The full story, the research behind it and who is working on it now are in the main post.
Make your plan
California, county by county
How many of the seven strongest El Niño winters since 1950 brought heavier winter rain than each county’s 1991–2020 normal (Climate Prediction Center, 2026a; Vose et al., 2014b); heavier rain is what came with the flood and storm disasters listed below. 32 of 58 were wetter in five or more; 0 in two or fewer.
- 0–1 of 7 lighter winter rain in most
- 2 of 7 lighter more often
- 3–4 of 7 no clear pattern
- 5 of 7 heavier winter rain more often
- 6–7 of 7 heavier winter rain in most
Federal disasters declared in those winters
In the 6 strong El Niño winters since 1965–66, 6 federal weather disaster declarations, recorded by FEMA, covered 45 of California's 58 counties (Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2026). Across all its counties, that is 97 designations in 6 winters, or 16.2 a winter, against 13.0 a winter in the other 55.
- 1965–66Heavy rains & flooding DR-211Flood · 4 counties
- 1965–66Severe storms & flooding DR-212Flood · 1 county
- 1972–73Severe storms, high tides & flooding DR-364Flood · 6 counties
- 1982–83Coastal storms, floods, slides & tornadoes DR-677Coastal Storm · 40 counties
- 1991–92Rain/snow/wind storms, flooding, mudslides DR-935Flood · 5 counties
- 1997–98Severe winter storms and flooding DR-1203Severe Storm · 41 counties
A declaration means damage large enough for federal aid, so these undercount smaller floods and storms. Declarations have also become more common over the decades, which weighs the comparison toward the recent winters.
What 1997–98 cost California
In the 1997–98 El Niño winter, California reported 17 storm deaths and more than $550 million in damage (National Climatic Data Center, 1998).
Then, a year or two on, fire: “When things dry out, all of that vegetation dries out, and that exacerbates or amplifies the fire season” (Ward, 2026).
Before the fire season, clear leaves, debris and anything flammable for at least 30 feet around your home (Ready.gov, n.d.-c).
What to do before the storms
- A new National Flood Insurance Program policy usually takes effect 30 days after you buy it, so buy it at least a month before the storms (FloodSmart, n.d.).
- Six inches of fast-moving water can knock over an adult, and 12 inches can carry away most cars. More than half of flood drownings happen when a vehicle is driven into flood water (National Weather Service, n.d.-c).
- Before the fire season, clear leaves, debris and anything flammable for at least 30 feet around your home (Ready.gov, n.d.-c).
- After a wildfire, flood risk stays significantly higher for up to five years, until plants grow back (Federal Emergency Management Agency, n.d.).
Every county
December–February rain as a share of the 1991–2020 normal, and federal weather disaster designations in the strong winters since 1965–66.
| County | Wetter (of 7) | 97–98 | 15–16 | FEMA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda | 4 | 199% | 91% | 2 |
| Alpine | 5 | 137% | 100% | — |
| Amador | 5 | 161% | 104% | 1 |
| Butte | 5 | 173% | 100% | 2 |
| Calaveras | 5 | 167% | 103% | 1 |
| Colusa | 4 | 200% | 72% | 2 |
| Contra Costa | 4 | 192% | 91% | 2 |
| Del Norte | 5 | 143% | 150% | 2 |
| El Dorado | 5 | 149% | 105% | — |
| Fresno | 4 | 175% | 95% | 1 |
| Glenn | 4 | 211% | 86% | 2 |
| Humboldt | 5 | 158% | 141% | 3 |
| Imperial | 4 | 207% | 64% | — |
| Inyo | 5 | 204% | 55% | — |
| Kern | 5 | 229% | 77% | 3 |
| Kings | 5 | 188% | 92% | 1 |
| Lake | 5 | 187% | 104% | 2 |
| Lassen | 5 | 138% | 123% | — |
| Los Angeles | 5 | 223% | 55% | 3 |
| Madera | 4 | 170% | 98% | — |
| Marin | 4 | 190% | 91% | 3 |
| Mariposa | 4 | 173% | 97% | 1 |
| Mendocino | 5 | 182% | 126% | 2 |
| Merced | 5 | 213% | 103% | 2 |
| Modoc | 4 | 147% | 142% | — |
| Mono | 3 | 151% | 81% | — |
| Monterey | 5 | 217% | 88% | 2 |
| Napa | 4 | 164% | 83% | 2 |
| Nevada | 5 | 146% | 105% | — |
| Orange | 5 | 255% | 44% | 3 |
| Placer | 5 | 148% | 101% | 1 |
| Plumas | 5 | 143% | 104% | — |
| Riverside | 3 | 189% | 64% | 3 |
| Sacramento | 4 | 183% | 82% | 2 |
| San Benito | 5 | 220% | 89% | 2 |
| San Bernardino | 4 | 193% | 57% | 4 |
| San Diego | 3 | 191% | 79% | 4 |
| San Francisco | 4 | 211% | 91% | 1 |
| San Joaquin | 4 | 194% | 94% | 2 |
| San Luis Obispo | 5 | 207% | 73% | 3 |
| San Mateo | 5 | 203% | 90% | 2 |
| Santa Barbara | 5 | 277% | 61% | 3 |
| Santa Clara | 5 | 194% | 98% | 2 |
| Santa Cruz | 4 | 192% | 95% | 2 |
| Shasta | 5 | 175% | 122% | 1 |
| Sierra | 5 | 134% | 104% | — |
| Siskiyou | 4 | 152% | 141% | — |
| Solano | 4 | 175% | 80% | 3 |
| Sonoma | 4 | 185% | 97% | 2 |
| Stanislaus | 5 | 204% | 100% | 2 |
| Sutter | 5 | 178% | 73% | 2 |
| Tehama | 5 | 185% | 107% | 2 |
| Trinity | 5 | 173% | 135% | 2 |
| Tulare | 4 | 188% | 89% | 1 |
| Tuolumne | 4 | 161% | 96% | — |
| Ventura | 5 | 265% | 52% | 5 |
| Yolo | 4 | 168% | 69% | 2 |
| Yuba | 4 | 162% | 98% | 2 |
National Weather Service offices
The offices that issue forecasts and warnings for California (National Weather Service, n.d.-a):
- NWS Sacramento, CA(916) 979-3051
- NWS Eureka, CA(707) 443-6484
- NWS San Joaquin Valley, CA559-584-3752
- NWS Los Angeles, CA805-988-6610
- NWS San Francisco Bay Area, CA (831) 656-1725
- NWS Reno, NV(775) 673-8100
- NWS NWS Phoenix(602) 275-0073
- NWS Las Vegas, NV(702) 263-9744
- NWS Medford, OR(541) 773-1067
- NWS San Diego, CA(858)-675-8700
Questions
What can a strong El Niño winter do in California?
In the 1997–98 El Niño winter, California reported 17 storm deaths and more than $550 million in damage. In the 6 strong El Niño winters since 1965–66, 6 federal weather disaster declarations (recorded by FEMA) covered California, including 45 of its 58 counties: Heavy rains & flooding (1965–66); Severe storms & flooding (1965–66); Severe storms, high tides & flooding (1972–73); Coastal storms, floods, slides & tornadoes (1982–83) and more.
Does El Niño bring more rain to California?
In the seven strongest El Niño winters since 1950, 32 of California's 58 counties with a full record got more December–February rain than their 1991–2020 normal in at least five of the seven, and 0 in two or fewer. The rest, 26, show no consistent pattern. Heavier winter rain came with the flood and storm disasters listed on this page, and a new National Flood Insurance Program policy usually takes 30 days to start.
What did the 1997–98 El Niño do in California?
In the 1997–98 El Niño winter, California reported 17 storm deaths and more than $550 million in damage. 58 of 58 counties got more December–February rain than normal; the median county got 185% of normal. Federal disaster declarations that winter: DR-1203 (Severe winter storms and flooding).
How did the 2015–16 El Niño compare?
20 of 58 counties got more rain than normal, and the median county got 95% of normal, against 185% in 1997–98. A strong El Niño does not tell you which winter you will get, so prepare for the wet one: a new flood insurance policy usually takes 30 days to start.
Which National Weather Service offices cover California?
NWS Sacramento, CA, NWS Eureka, CA, NWS San Joaquin Valley, CA, NWS Los Angeles, CA, NWS San Francisco Bay Area, CA, NWS Reno, NV, NWS NWS Phoenix, NWS Las Vegas, NV, NWS Medford, OR, NWS San Diego, CA. Enter a ZIP code above to find the one for your address.
How this page was made
Rain is NOAA’s monthly county series (Vose et al., 2014a, 2014b): December–February totals in the seven winters when NOAA’s relative Niño index was 1.5 °C or more (Climate Prediction Center, 2026a), against the 1991–2020 mean. Disasters are FEMA’s county designations for weather incidents beginning November to April, counted from 1965–66 (Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2026). Names are the Census Bureau’s (U.S. Census Bureau, 2020); offices are the National Weather Service’s county zones (National Weather Service, n.d.-a). Seven winters is a small sample, and the one ahead is forecast to be stronger than any of them (Climate Prediction Center, 2026b). Retrieved September 24, 2026.
References
- Climate Prediction Center. (2026a). Relative Oceanic Niño Index (RONI) [Dataset]. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/data/indices/RONI.ascii.txt
- Climate Prediction Center. (2026b, September 10). El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) diagnostic discussion. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.shtml
- Federal Emergency Management Agency. (n.d.). Flood after fire: The increased risk. Ready.gov. Retrieved https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/Flood_After_Fire_Fact_Sheet.pdf
- Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2026). OpenFEMA dataset: Disaster Declarations Summaries - v2 [Dataset]. https://www.fema.gov/openfema-data-page/disaster-declarations-summaries-v2
- FloodSmart. (n.d.). Buy a policy. Federal Emergency Management Agency. Retrieved September 24, 2026, from https://www.floodsmart.gov/get-insured/buy-a-policy
- National Climatic Data Center. (1998). Service Assessment and Report: The winter of 1997–1998 severe storms (Technical Report 98-02). NOAA National Climatic Data Center. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/monitoring-content/billions/reports/19971201-19980228-severe-storm/tr9802.pdf
- National Weather Service. (n.d.-a). API web service. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved September 24, 2026, from https://www.weather.gov/documentation/services-web-api
- National Weather Service. (n.d.-b). NOAA Weather Radio. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved September 24, 2026, from https://www.weather.gov/nwr/
- National Weather Service. (n.d.-c). Turn Around Don’t Drown. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved September 24, 2026, from https://www.weather.gov/safety/flood-turn-around-dont-drown
- National Weather Service. (n.d.-d). Wireless Emergency Alerts. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved September 24, 2026, from https://www.weather.gov/wrn/wea
- Ready.gov. (n.d.-a). Financial preparedness. U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved September 24, 2026, from https://www.ready.gov/financial-preparedness
- Ready.gov. (n.d.-b). Tornadoes. U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved September 24, 2026, from https://www.ready.gov/tornadoes
- Ready.gov. (n.d.-c). Wildfires. U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved September 24, 2026, from https://www.ready.gov/wildfires
- Ready.gov. (n.d.-d). Winter weather. U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved September 24, 2026, from https://www.ready.gov/winter-weather
- U.S. Census Bureau. (2020). 2020 FIPS codes for counties and county equivalent entities [Dataset]. https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/codes2020/national_county2020.txt
- U.S. Census Bureau. (2024). 2024 Gazetteer files: ZIP Code Tabulation Areas [Dataset]. https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html
- Vose, R. S., Applequist, S., Squires, M., Durre, I., Menne, M. J., Williams, C. N., Fenimore, C., Gleason, K., & Arndt, D. (2014a). Improved Historical Temperature and Precipitation Time Series for U.S. Climate Divisions. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 53(5), 1232–1251. https://doi.org/10.1175/jamc-d-13-0248.1
- Vose, R. S., Applequist, S., Squires, M., Durre, I., Menne, M. J., Williams, C. N., Fenimore, C., Gleason, K., & Arndt, D. (2014b). NOAA Monthly U.S. Climate Divisional Database (NClimDiv) [Dataset]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.7289/V5M32STR
- Ward, A. (2026, September 16). Extreme meteorology (El Niño) with Dr. Marshall Shepherd [Audio podcast episode]. In Ologies with Alie Ward. https://www.alieward.com/ologies/extrememeteorology
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