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Wind in Tulare County, California
43 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 43 wind events in Tulare County, California, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 19 years.
May is the busiest month, with 13 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 28 events against 14 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.4% of the 10,880 wind events recorded in California; its 0.9 per 100 square miles compares with 7.0 statewide.
5 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 0 reached hurricane force (74 mph).
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 | Tulare County | California | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 43 | 10,880 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 0.9 | 7.0 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 0.9 | 2.8 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 133 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | May | January | June |
By year
Seasonality
6Feb
4Mar
4Apr
2May
13Jun
1Jul
2Aug
1Sep
2Oct
6Nov
1Dec
1
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 43 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Mar 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Feb 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jan 2021 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Feb 2020 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Apr 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Sep 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Sep 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Feb 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $12K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jan 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jan 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $11K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jan 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $22K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jan 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jan 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Oct 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $12K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Oct 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Oct 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $22K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Oct 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Oct 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $60K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Oct 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | $110K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | $19M | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2000 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Mar 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Mar 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Feb 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Dec 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Nov 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | $200K | — | — | County |
| 24 May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 1966 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Tulare County had?
43 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 Tulare County?
5 Mar 2023 (Thunderstorm Wind, 40 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Tulare County?
The thunderstorm wind of 7 Apr 2001, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $0 and crop damage at $19M.
How does Tulare County compare with California for wind?
0.9 events per 100 square miles against 7.0 statewide; the county holds 43 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.