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Wind in Imperial County, California
113 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
NCEI records 113 wind events in Imperial County, California, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 30 years.
August is the busiest month, with 57 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 85 events against 20 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1% of the 10,880 wind events recorded in California; its 2.7 per 100 square miles compares with 7.0 statewide.
77 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 6 reached hurricane force (74 mph).
Compared with California
| Measure | Imperial County | California | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 113 | 10,880 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 2.7 | 7.0 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 6.3 | 2.8 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 133 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | August | January | June |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
1Mar
0Apr
0May
0Jun
0Jul
11Aug
57Sep
35Oct
9Nov
0Dec
0
Magnitude distribution
NWS wind thresholds
- under 58 mph
- below severe threshold
- 58–73 mph
- severe
- 74–95 mph
- hurricane-force
- 96 mph and over
- extreme
Wind speed converted from the knots NCEI records; estimated and measured gusts are combined. Events without a speed are not binned.
Recorded events
All 113 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Sep 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $12K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Sep 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $12K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Sep 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Sep 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $12K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Sep 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Sep 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Sep 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Sep 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $1.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $400K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $50K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 25 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Sep 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Sep 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Sep 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Sep 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Oct 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Oct 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Oct 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Oct 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Oct 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $19K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Oct 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $70K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $1.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $1K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 10 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Sep 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Sep 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Oct 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Sep 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Oct 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Oct 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Sep 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Sep 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Sep 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Sep 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Sep 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Sep 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 100 mph | $4.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Feb 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Sep 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Sep 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Sep 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 1957 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 1955 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 1955 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 1955 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Imperial County had?
113 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of damaging wind became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded wind event in Imperial County?
18 Sep 2025 (Thunderstorm Wind, 64 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Imperial County?
The thunderstorm wind of 15 Sep 2007, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $4.0M.
How does Imperial County compare with California for wind?
2.7 events per 100 square miles against 7.0 statewide; the county holds 113 of the state's 10,880 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Wind hub and the county page.