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Wind in Orange County, California
38 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.
Orange County, California, has 38 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 19 different years.
February is the busiest month, with 12 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 18 events against 14 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.3% of the 10,880 wind events recorded in California; its 4.8 per 100 square miles compares with 7.0 statewide.
21 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 7 reached hurricane force (74 mph).
Compared with California
| Measure | Orange County | California | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 38 | 10,880 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.8 | 7.0 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 0.1 | 2.8 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 133 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | February | January | June |
By year
Seasonality
8Feb
12Mar
9Apr
3May
0Jun
0Jul
0Aug
1Sep
0Oct
0Nov
2Dec
3
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 38 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 Feb 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Nov 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Feb 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jan 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Mar 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 55 mph | $12K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Mar 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jan 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jan 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 55 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jan 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Feb 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 45 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Feb 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jan 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 93 mph | $350K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jan 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jan 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Mar 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 30 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $45K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Feb 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Feb 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Dec 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Dec 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Feb 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Feb 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Feb 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Feb 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 89 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Feb 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $100K | $20K | — | — | County |
| 6 Dec 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $450K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Nov 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jan 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Feb 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 92 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Orange County had?
38 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 Orange County?
18 Feb 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 58 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Orange County?
The thunderstorm wind of 6 Dec 1998, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $450K.
How does Orange County compare with California for wind?
4.8 events per 100 square miles against 7.0 statewide; the county holds 38 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 30 Sep 2026. See the methodology, the Wind hub and the county page.