States › California › Kern County › Flood
Flood in Kern County, California
459 floods and flash floods events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Flood, Flash Flood, Coastal Flood, Lakeshore Flood.
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.
Kern County, California, has 459 flood events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 30 different years.
January is the busiest month, with 96 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 396 events against 63 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 6.4% of the 7,136 flood events recorded in California; its 5.6 per 100 square miles compares with 4.6 statewide.
Compared with California
| Measure | Kern County | California | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flood events since 1950 | 459 | 7,136 | 183,559 |
| Per 100 square miles | 5.6 | 4.6 | 5.2 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 5.0 | 1.8 | 5.5 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 121 | 2,961 |
| Busiest month | January | January | June |
By year
Seasonality
96Feb
65Mar
61Apr
8May
18Jun
8Jul
37Aug
58Sep
14Oct
30Nov
18Dec
46
Recorded events
The 196 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 459. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Jan 2026 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jan 2026 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jan 2026 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jan 2026 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Dec 2025 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Dec 2025 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Dec 2025 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Dec 2025 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 2025 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 2025 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 2025 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 2025 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 2025 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 2025 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 2025 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 2025 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 2025 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Oct 2025 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Oct 2025 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Oct 2025 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Oct 2025 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Sep 2025 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Sep 2025 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Sep 2025 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2025 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Feb 2025 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Feb 2025 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Feb 2025 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Dec 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Nov 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Nov 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Feb 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Feb 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Feb 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Feb 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Feb 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Feb 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Feb 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Feb 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Feb 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Feb 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Feb 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Feb 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Feb 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Feb 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Feb 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Feb 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Feb 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Feb 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Feb 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Feb 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Feb 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Feb 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jan 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jan 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Dec 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Dec 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Dec 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 2023 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2023 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 2023 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Mar 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Mar 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Mar 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Mar 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Mar 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Feb 2023 | Flood | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Feb 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Feb 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Feb 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Feb 2023 | Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2019 | Flash Flood | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2019 | Flash Flood | — | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2019 | Flash Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jan 2017 | Flood | — | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jan 2017 | Flood | — | $36K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jan 2017 | Flood | — | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jan 2017 | Flood | — | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Dec 2016 | Flash Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Feb 2014 | Flood | — | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 2013 | Flash Flood | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 2013 | Flash Flood | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2013 | Flash Flood | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2013 | Flash Flood | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Mar 2013 | Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Oct 2012 | Flood | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 2012 | Flash Flood | — | $60K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2012 | Flood | — | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Mar 2012 | Flood | — | $12K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Mar 2012 | Flood | — | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Sep 2011 | Flood | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2011 | Flash Flood | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2011 | Flash Flood | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2011 | Flash Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2011 | Flash Flood | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2011 | Flash Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Mar 2011 | Flood | — | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Mar 2011 | Flood | — | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Mar 2011 | Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Feb 2011 | Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Feb 2011 | Flood | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jan 2011 | Flood | — | $13M | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jan 2011 | Flood | — | $800K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Dec 2010 | Flood | — | $1.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Dec 2010 | Flood | — | $350K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Dec 2010 | Flash Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Dec 2010 | Flood | — | $5.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Dec 2010 | Flood | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Oct 2010 | Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Oct 2010 | Flash Flood | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Oct 2010 | Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Oct 2010 | Flash Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Oct 2010 | Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Oct 2010 | Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jan 2010 | Flood | — | $35K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jan 2010 | Flood | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jan 2010 | Flash Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Dec 2009 | Flood | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2008 | Flash Flood | — | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2008 | Flash Flood | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2008 | Flash Flood | — | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2008 | Flash Flood | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2008 | Flash Flood | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2008 | Flash Flood | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2008 | Flash Flood | — | $1.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jan 2008 | Flash Flood | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jan 2008 | Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jan 2008 | Flood | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Oct 2007 | Flash Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Oct 2005 | Flash Flood | — | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Oct 2005 | Flash Flood | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2005 | Flash Flood | — | $199K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2003 | Flash Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Nov 2002 | Flood | — | $23K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 1999 | Flash Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 1998 | Flash Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 1998 | Flood | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 1998 | Flood | — | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 1998 | Flash Flood | — | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 1998 | Flood | — | — | $5.7M | — | — | County |
| 23 Feb 1998 | Flash Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Sep 1997 | Flash Flood | — | $5.0M | — | — | 4 | County |
| 3 Sep 1997 | Flash Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Sep 1997 | Flash Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 1997 | Flash Flood | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Mar 1997 | Flood | — | $150K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many flood events has Kern County had?
459 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of floods and flash floods became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded flood event in Kern County?
3 Jan 2026 (Flood). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging flood event recorded in Kern County?
The flood of 2 Jan 2011, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $13M.
How does Kern County compare with California for flood?
5.6 events per 100 square miles against 4.6 statewide; the county holds 459 of the state's 7,136 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 Flood hub and the county page.