Table 1. Most damaging atmospheric rivers 1978–2017.
Start date |
Initial landfall region |
Initial landfall latitude |
AR category |
Peak IVT (kg m−1 s−1) |
Claims |
Insured losses ($m) |
Total damages ($b) |
4 January 1995 | S. CA | 32.5°N | 4 | 966 | 4725 | 125.8 | 3.7 |
29 December 2005 |
N. CA | 40°N | 4 | 825 | 2554 | 117.6 | 3.5 |
29 December 1996 | Central CA | 35°N | 5 | 1260 | 3407 | 104.6 | 3.1 |
5 February 1996 | N. OR | 45°N | 3 | 729 | 2695 | 99.3 | 3.0 |
2 December 2007 | N. OR | 45°N | 5 | 1258 | 1447 | 83.9 | 2.5 |
15 February 1986 | WA | 47.5°N | 4 | 870 | 2048 | 66.6 | 2.0 |
7 March 1995 | S. OR | 42.5°N | 4 | 928 | 2343 | 58.7 | 1.8 |
5 January 2009 | S. OR | 42.5°N | 4 | 831 | 1636 | 53.9 | 1.6 |
1 February 1998 | Bay Area | 37.5°N | 4 | 795 | 2417 | 46.8 | 1.4 |
1 November 2006 | N. CA | 40°N | 5 | 1041 | 1184 | 38.7 | 1.2 |
25 January 1983 | Bay Area | 37.5°N | 5 | 1013 | 1545 | 34.9 | 1.0 |
25 February 1983 | Bay Area | 37.5°N | 3 | 658 | 1832 | 30.0 | 0.9 |
12 February 1980 | Baja CA | 30°N | 3 | 721 | 2059 | 28.5 | 0.9 |
3 January 1982 | N. CA | 40°N | 3 | 525 | 1422 | 28.1 | 0.8 |
11 February 1986 | N. CA | 40°N | 4 | 904 | 848 | 23.9 | 0.7 |
21 November 1990 |
WA | 47.5°N | 4 | 943 | 939 | 23.3 | 0.7 |