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Winter in Modoc County, California
48 winter storms and snow events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Winter Storm, Winter Weather, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Ice Storm, Lake-Effect Snow, Sleet.
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 48 winter events in Modoc County, California, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 19 years.
December is the busiest month, with 11 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 26 events against 22 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.7% of the 6,961 winter events recorded in California; its 1.2 per 100 square miles compares with 4.5 statewide.
Some winter weather and high wind events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county; zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county are included and marked "Forecast zone" in the table.
Compared with California
| Measure | Modoc County | California | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter events since 1950 | 48 | 6,961 | 287,339 |
| Per 100 square miles | 1.2 | 4.5 | 8.1 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 55.4 | 1.8 | 8.7 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 76 | 2,509 |
| Busiest month | December | February | January |
By year
Seasonality
7Feb
8Mar
4Apr
5May
1Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
3Nov
9Dec
11
Recorded events
All 48 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Dec 2025 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Feb 2025 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Mar 2024 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Mar 2024 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Feb 2024 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Jan 2024 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Jan 2024 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Jan 2022 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Dec 2021 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Mar 2020 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Feb 2019 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Feb 2019 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Apr 2018 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Jan 2017 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Dec 2015 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Nov 2015 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Dec 2012 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Feb 2011 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Feb 2011 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Dec 2010 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Nov 2010 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Feb 2008 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jan 2008 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jan 2008 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Jan 2008 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Feb 2007 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Apr 2006 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Apr 2006 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Apr 2006 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Mar 2006 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Nov 2005 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Nov 2005 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Nov 2005 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Dec 2004 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Dec 2004 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Nov 2004 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Oct 2004 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Oct 2004 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Oct 2004 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Dec 2003 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Dec 2003 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Dec 2003 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Nov 2003 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 May 2003 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Apr 2003 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Dec 2001 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Nov 2001 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Nov 2001 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
Questions and answers
How many winter events has Modoc County had?
48 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of winter storms and snow became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded winter event in Modoc County?
25 Dec 2025 (Winter Storm). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging winter event recorded in Modoc County?
NCEI records no damage estimate for events of this type in the county.
How does Modoc County compare with California for winter?
1.2 events per 100 square miles against 4.5 statewide; the county holds 48 of the state's 6,961 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 Winter hub and the county page.