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National Weather ServiceCaliforniaRed Flag WarningArchive to October 11, 2026

Red Flag Warnings in California

The National Weather Service issued 49 red flag warnings for California in 2025 and 85 a year on average in 2008-2025; in 2021-2025 it had the 6th most of any state. 2026 through September: 50, 23% below the average of 65 for those months in 2008-2025. Modoc County Except for the Surprise Valley was covered most often (281 times since 2008).

How many red flag warnings does California get?

49 red flag warnings for California in 2025
501001502008: 11520082009: 6020092010: 4520102011: 6020112012: 10820122013: 8420132014: 11620142015: 6320152016: 8920162017: 12820172018: 10520182019: 6920192020: 13820202021: 11720212022: 5420222023: 4020232024: 8420242025: 4920252026: 5420262008-2025 average 852026 through September: 54501001502008: 11520082009: 602010: 4520102011: 602012: 10820122013: 842014: 11620142015: 632016: 8920162017: 1282018: 10520182019: 692020: 13820202021: 1172022: 5420222023: 402024: 8420242025: 492026: 5420262008-2025 average 852026 through September: 54501001502008: 11520082009: 602010: 4520102011: 602012: 10820122013: 842014: 11620142015: 632016: 8920162017: 1282018: 10520182019: 692020: 13820202021: 1172022: 5420222023: 402024: 8420242025: 492026: 5420262008-2025 average 852026 through September: 54501001502008: 11520082009: 602010: 452011: 602012: 1082013: 842014: 1162015: 6320152016: 892017: 1282018: 1052019: 692020: 13820202021: 1172022: 542023: 402024: 842025: 492026: 5420262008-2025 average 852026 through September: 54

Every red flag warning that covered part of California. 2026 is an outline: the year is not over.

The numbers
YearCount
2026 (through September)54
202549
202484
202340
202254
2021117
2020138
201969
2018105
2017128
201689
201563
2014116
201384
2012108
201160
201045
200960
2008115

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 11, 2026.

When in the year does California get them?

California's red flag warnings by month, 2008-2025
100200300Jan: 47JanFeb: 8FebMar: 24MarApr: 70AprMay: 87MayJun: 184JunJul: 235JulAug: 275AugSep: 243SepOct: 212OctNov: 84NovDec: 55Dec275100200300Jan: 47JanFeb: 8FebMar: 24MarApr: 70AprMay: 87MayJun: 184JunJul: 235JulAug: 275AugSep: 243SepOct: 212OctNov: 84NovDec: 55Dec275100200300Jan: 47JanFeb: 8FebMar: 24MarApr: 70AprMay: 87MayJun: 184JunJul: 235JulAug: 275AugSep: 243SepOct: 212OctNov: 84NovDec: 55Dec275100200300Jan: 47JFeb: 8FMar: 24MApr: 70AMay: 87MJun: 184JJul: 235JAug: 275ASep: 243SOct: 212ONov: 84NDec: 55D275

Sum of 2008-2025; the busiest month is labelled.

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 11, 2026.

Where in California?

County or forecast zoneSince 2008Since 2023Last issued
Modoc County Except for the Surprise Valley28146October 9, 2026
Siskiyou County from the Cascade Mountains East and South to Mt Shasta16327August 31, 2026
Western Klamath National Forest14730August 31, 2026
Eastern Lassen County13926October 9, 2026
Central Siskiyou County (including Shasta Valley)13626August 31, 2026
Los Angeles County Mountains / Angeles National Forest1130November 24, 2021
Surprise Valley California11222October 9, 2026
Northern Sacramento Valley to Southern Tehama County Line Below 1000 Ft11011September 26, 2025
Santa Clarita Valley10614August 20, 2025
Lower Colorado River Valley1043June 26, 2026
Ventura County Mountains / Los Padres National Forest1020November 24, 2021
Central Sacramento Valley including Glenn/Colusa/Yuba/Northern Sutter/Butte County Below 1000 Ft9911June 21, 2025

The NWS issues these products for counties or forecast zones; a zone can be part of a county or a mountain range.

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 11, 2026.

The latest red flag warnings for California in AreaZine's record

This list is AreaZine's record of the NWS alert feed, kept since April 6, 2026; the counts above come from the complete IEM archive.

Source: National Weather Service alerts (api.weather.gov).

Every red flag warning for California in AreaZine's record

107 notices in AreaZine's record; the latest first below. Every one, oldest first: May 12, 2026 to October 10, 2026.

  1. Red Flag Warning: South-Central Shasta County Including Redding Metro, Northern Sacramento Valley in Tehama County and Central Glenn County Including Interstate 5, CA South-Central Shasta County Including Redding Metro, Northern Sacramento Valley in Tehama County and Central Glenn County Including Interstate 5 Warning
  2. Red Flag Warning: Southern Mono County, Northern Sierra Front - Carson City/Douglas/Storey/Southern Washoe/Eastern Lyon/Far Southern Lassen Counties, Southern Sierra Front - Alpine/Northern Mono/South Southern Mono County, Northern Sierra Front - Carson City/Douglas/Storey/Southern Washoe/Eastern Lyon/Far Southern Lassen Counties, Southern Sierra Front - Alpine/Northern Mono/Southern Lyon/Western Mineral Counties and 2 more expired
  3. Red Flag Warning: Southern Mono County, Northern Sierra Front - Carson City/Douglas/Storey/Southern Washoe/Eastern Lyon/Far Southern Lassen Counties, Southern Sierra Front - Alpine/Northern Mono/South Southern Mono County, Northern Sierra Front - Carson City/Douglas/Storey/Southern Washoe/Eastern Lyon/Far Southern Lassen Counties, Southern Sierra Front - Alpine/Northern Mono/Southern Lyon/Western Mineral Counties and 2 more expired
  4. Red Flag Warning: Surprise Valley California, Eastern Lassen County and Northern Washoe County, CA and NV Surprise Valley California, Eastern Lassen County and Northern Washoe County expired
  5. Red Flag Warning: Southern Mono County, Northern Sierra Front - Carson City/Douglas/Storey/Southern Washoe/Eastern Lyon/Far Southern Lassen Counties, Southern Sierra Front - Alpine/Northern Mono/South Southern Mono County, Northern Sierra Front - Carson City/Douglas/Storey/Southern Washoe/Eastern Lyon/Far Southern Lassen Counties, Southern Sierra Front - Alpine/Northern Mono/Southern Lyon/Western Mineral Counties and 2 more expired
  6. Red Flag Warning: Modoc County Except for the Surprise Valley, CA Modoc County Except for the Surprise Valley expired
  7. Red Flag Warning: Surprise Valley California, Eastern Lassen County and Northern Washoe County, CA and NV Surprise Valley California, Eastern Lassen County and Northern Washoe County expired
  8. Red Flag Warning: Surprise Valley California, Eastern Lassen County and Northern Washoe County, CA and NV Surprise Valley California, Eastern Lassen County and Northern Washoe County expired
  9. Red Flag Warning: Modoc County Except for the Surprise Valley, CA Modoc County Except for the Surprise Valley expired
  10. Red Flag Warning: Northern Sierra Front - Carson City/Douglas/Storey/Southern Washoe/Eastern Lyon/Far Southern Lassen Counties and Southern Sierra Front - Alpine/Northern Mono/Southern Lyon/Western Mi Northern Sierra Front - Carson City/Douglas/Storey/Southern Washoe/Eastern Lyon/Far Southern Lassen Counties and Southern Sierra Front - Alpine/Northern Mono/Southern Lyon/Western Mineral Counties expired
  11. Red Flag Warning: Modoc County Except for the Surprise Valley, CA Modoc County Except for the Surprise Valley expired
  12. Red Flag Warning: Modoc County Except for the Surprise Valley, CA Modoc County Except for the Surprise Valley expired
  13. Red Flag Warning: Northern Lake Including Gravelly Valley, Eastern Lake Including Clearlake and Middletown, Southern Lake Including Cobb and Konocti and 1 more, CA Northern Lake Including Gravelly Valley, Eastern Lake Including Clearlake and Middletown, Southern Lake Including Cobb and Konocti and 1 more expired
  14. Red Flag Warning: Surprise Valley California, Eastern Lassen County and Northern Washoe County, CA and NV Surprise Valley California, Eastern Lassen County and Northern Washoe County expired
  15. Red Flag Warning: Southern Mono County, West Humboldt Basin - Pershing County and Lahontan Basin - Churchill and Eastern Mineral Counties, CA and NV Southern Mono County, West Humboldt Basin - Pershing County and Lahontan Basin - Churchill and Eastern Mineral Counties expired
  16. Red Flag Warning: Northern Sierra Front - Carson City/Douglas/Storey/Southern Washoe/Eastern Lyon/Far Southern Lassen Counties and Southern Sierra Front - Alpine/Northern Mono/Southern Lyon/Western Mi Northern Sierra Front - Carson City/Douglas/Storey/Southern Washoe/Eastern Lyon/Far Southern Lassen Counties and Southern Sierra Front - Alpine/Northern Mono/Southern Lyon/Western Mineral Counties expired
  17. Red Flag Warning: Northern Lake Including Gravelly Valley, Eastern Lake Including Clearlake and Middletown, Southern Lake Including Cobb and Konocti and 1 more, CA Northern Lake Including Gravelly Valley, Eastern Lake Including Clearlake and Middletown, Southern Lake Including Cobb and Konocti and 1 more expired
  18. Red Flag Warning: South-Central Shasta County Including Redding Metro, Sierra Nevada of Tehama-Butte-Plumas Counties Between 1000-3000 ft, Northern Sacramento Valley in Tehama County and 6 more, CA South-Central Shasta County Including Redding Metro, Sierra Nevada of Tehama-Butte-Plumas Counties Between 1000-3000 ft, Northern Sacramento Valley in Tehama County and 6 more expired
  19. Red Flag Warning: Glenn and Colusa County Coast Range Above 3000 ft and Western Glenn and Colusa County Foothills Between 1000-3000 ft, CA Glenn and Colusa County Coast Range Above 3000 ft and Western Glenn and Colusa County Foothills Between 1000-3000 ft expired
  20. Red Flag Warning: Southern Mono County, Southern Sierra Front - Alpine/Northern Mono/Southern Lyon/Western Mineral Counties and Lahontan Basin - Churchill and Eastern Mineral Counties, CA and NV Southern Mono County, Southern Sierra Front - Alpine/Northern Mono/Southern Lyon/Western Mineral Counties and Lahontan Basin - Churchill and Eastern Mineral Counties expired

Source: National Weather Service alerts (api.weather.gov). A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.

What is a red flag warning?

A red flag warning means critical fire weather is happening or about to happen: strong wind, very low humidity and dry fuels together, so a fire that starts can spread fast. Each office sets the criteria with its land-management partners. A warning means the hazard is happening, about to happen, or very likely: act now to protect people and property. The national record · Every warning type in California.

How does California compare with its neighbours?

California gets more red flag warnings than any state on its border.

StateA year, 2021-2025A year, 2008-2025Rank of all states
California69856th
Oregon58498th
Arizona425411th
Nevada374514th

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 11, 2026.

More records for California