UFO Sightings in California
15,215 UFO sightings reported in California since 1935, peaking in 2014 (869 reports); most often described as light.
- Total sightings
- 15,215
- Span
- 1935–2028
- Peak year
- 2014 (869 reports)
- Dominant shape
- Light
1935–2028 · peak 2014 (869 reports)
Top cities in California
Los Angeles
1942–2022 · peak 2007 (29 reports)
San Diego
1944–2022 · peak 2007 (32 reports)
Sacramento
1956–2022 · peak 2012 (26 reports)
San Jose
1947–2022 · peak 2012 (21 reports)
San Francisco
1956–2021 · peak 2008 (26 reports)
Fresno
1953–2022 · peak 2014 (18 reports)
Long Beach
1957–2022 · peak 2017 (13 reports)
Bakersfield
1961–2022 · peak 1995 (13 reports)
Santa Rosa
1955–2022 · peak 2015 (10 reports)
Santa Barbara
1968–2022 · peak 2020 (12 reports)
Riverside
1976–2020 · peak 2008 (11 reports)
Modesto
1947–2021 · peak 2009 (13 reports)
Redding
1986–2022 · peak 2012 (10 reports)
Burbank
1981–2021 · peak 2003 (24 reports)
Huntington Beach
1945–2020 · peak 2012 (8 reports)
Anaheim
1963–2020 · peak 2015 (12 reports)
Ventura
1967–2021 · peak 2012 (13 reports)
El Cajon
1969–2022 · peak 2014 (14 reports)
Irvine
1980–2022 · peak 2007 (18 reports)
Oakland
1968–2022 · peak 2003 (6 reports)
Crescent City · CA, USA
Man witnesses strange white, oval-shaped light being pursued by 2 fast aircraft. Very high, fast. Obj dramatically outpaced a/c.
Simi Valley · CA, USA
5 MILE High Laser Beam, guarded by AMSEC/SAIC, International Security Corp.
Auburn · CA, USA
Young girl w/ friends witness bizarre "triangle w/ 3 red, dim lights," streak across sky. Strobed bright light. Scared, nauseous.
Hollister · CA, USA
Man calls to relay sighting of "very large white light in sky." Obj. developed "tail like comet." Other observers. Called police.
Greenwood · CA, USA
Man & wife see very bright obj do "loop" then see 3 more objs. Got other witnesses, saw 11 objs! Seemed to "shoot at each other."
Antelope · CA, USA
broken trangular patterned lights
Playa del Rey · CA, USA
Anomalous light approaches LAX neighborhood and disappears at high altitude.
Potter Valley · CA, USA
Woman suddenly awakens at dawn and witnesses bright red "dot" hovering outside her window. Suddenly got larger, moved to N.
Potter Valley · CA, USA
2nd similar sighting. Woman sees a large, bright red/orange disc, followed by blinking sphere, streak by window 2nd day in row.
Poway · CA, USA
Rainbow colored cloud that changed colors constantly, hovering just above treeline.
La Habra · CA, USA
UFO in sky with light blinking independent ring of light disk saucer shape
Alturas · CA, USA
Two brothers pull off highway to rest during all-night drive. One remembers experiencing strange, sharp buzzing sound; confused.
Stanford · CA, USA
Woman out walking sees "round object w/ ring oriented vertically around it." Appeared in E sky, passed overhead to hor. in 30 sec..
Humbolt · CA, USA
USNavy Ch. Petty Off. repts. seeing "red orb under Jupiter." Obj. moved right, then left, then zipped off at very fast rate.
Napa · CA, USA
Woman repts. seeing obj. hovering in sky to W of Napa. Claims "it blew up into 5 pieces." Obj. turquoise, w/ tower. (Unconfirmed.)
San Francisco · CA, USA
Woman sees a bright white obj. hovering steadily in daytime sky. 1/5 size of moon. Suddenly got smaller. (Was soap bubble in sky.)
Sacramento · CA, USA
Man reports object with white & red lights "very close to sun and moon." (??) (Detailed facts not available.)
Van Nuys · CA, USA
I saw this craft, it sounded like an airplane flying overhead at first, and it was shaped like a stick-figure bird (silver). I lived o
South East Merced · CA, USA
Large silent rotating diamond, largeer than a B-52, Supended as thou they were looking at me when i saw no mentally they left, the craf
Sacramento · CA, USA
Woman watching satellite, sees small, round ball moving across the sky. Ran around corner of bldg. to follow obj., but was gone.
Santa Rosa · CA, USA
Man reports witnessing unusual object against mountains to E of city. (Facts unclear)
Santee · CA, USA
The object was in the form of a light, silently traveling from north to south, dissappearing from view without acceleration.
Redwood · CA, USA
Couple witness very bright light in W sky descend, disappear from sight. Appeared to have multiple different, discrete colored lights.
Bakersfield · CA, USA
Many individuals report multiple objects in formation moving, zigzagging in sky above city. Had red, green, & white lights.
Bakersfield · CA, USA
Couple witness very bright obj. streak overhead to SW horizon. 1/4 size of moon. Very fast. White in center, yellow fringe.