FloodZoneMap.org

California Flood Stories

3,441 first-hand accounts of flood events in California, ranked by impact. Each is a NOAA-written narrative of the moment.

Flash Flood

Riverside, CA · Dec 20, 2010

A large Pacific plume of moisture ahead of an advancing trough of low pressure brought heavy rain and periods of serious flooding for nearly a week. The plume of moisture responsible was a form of an Atmospheric River.

Read the full account →
Flash Flood

Riverside, CA · Sep 1, 2023

An upper level storm system coming from the Eastern Pacific interacted with monsoonal moisture on September 1, 2023. The interaction of these features led to the development of heavy rain and thunderstorms, which caused several instances of flooding in the Coachella Valley.

Read the full account →
Flash Flood

Riverside, CA · Sep 1, 2023

An upper level storm system coming from the Eastern Pacific interacted with monsoonal moisture on September 1, 2023. The interaction of these features led to the development of heavy rain and thunderstorms, which caused several instances of flooding in the Coachella Valley.

Read the full account →
Flash Flood

Riverside, CA · Sep 1, 2023

An upper level storm system coming from the Eastern Pacific interacted with monsoonal moisture on September 1, 2023. The interaction of these features led to the development of heavy rain and thunderstorms, which caused several instances of flooding in the Coachella Valley.

Read the full account →
Flash Flood

Riverside, CA · Sep 1, 2023

An upper level storm system coming from the Eastern Pacific interacted with monsoonal moisture on September 1, 2023. The interaction of these features led to the development of heavy rain and thunderstorms, which caused several instances of flooding in the Coachella Valley.

Read the full account →
Flood

San Bernardino, CA · Sep 2, 2023

An upper level storm system coming from the Eastern Pacific interacted with monsoonal moisture on September 1, 2023. The interaction of these features led to the development of heavy rain and thunderstorms, which caused several instances of flooding in the Coachella Valley.

Read the full account →
Flash Flood$15K damage

Riverside, CA · Jul 25, 2007

Between 2230 and 2330 hours PDT, a large thunderstorm developed over the Indio Hills area. Heavy rainfall from this thunderstorm caused flash flooding along Dillon Road between Fargo Canyon and Pace Roads.

Read the full account →
Flash Flood

Tehama, CA · Nov 21, 2012

Heavy rain bands formed in a convergence zone in central Shasta County near the Redding and Shasta Lake area for several hours. The region was already saturated from previous rainfall and training storms caused significant amounts of rainfall the morning of Wednesday, November…

Read the full account →
Flood

Tulare, CA · Mar 30, 2023

Following the passage of the upper trough which moved across the area on March 29. A cold an unstable airmass prevailed over central California on March 30.

Read the full account →
Flash Flood

San Diego, CA · Jun 21, 2000

A slow moving thunderstorm dropped hail to a depth of several inches and an inch of rain over Palomar Mountain. The area had been severely burned during a wild fire the previous Fall.

Read the full account →
Flood

Orange, CA · Mar 28, 2022

A strong upper-level low impacted Southern California on March 28th and 29th. Widespread precipitation occurred with this system, with areas of heavy rain at lower elevations and snow in the mountains.

Read the full account →
Flood

San Diego, CA · Mar 28, 2022

A strong upper-level low impacted Southern California on March 28th and 29th. Widespread precipitation occurred with this system, with areas of heavy rain at lower elevations and snow in the mountains.

Read the full account →
Flood

San Diego, CA · Mar 28, 2022

A strong upper-level low impacted Southern California on March 28th and 29th. Widespread precipitation occurred with this system, with areas of heavy rain at lower elevations and snow in the mountains.

Read the full account →
Flash Flood$25K damage

San Bernardino, CA · Sep 2, 2007

A very moist, unstable airmass and weak easterly flow resulted in another round of thunderstorms across Southern California. Thunderstorms initiated over the higher terrain and then spread westward into the inland valleys.

Read the full account →
Flash Flood

Imperial, CA · Jul 22, 2021

A few strong thunderstorms developed in western Imperial County in the afternoon in a highly unstable environment with above normal moisture levels.

Read the full account →
Flood

San Diego, CA · Mar 30, 2023

A weak atmospheric river produced widespread moderate rainfall and high-elevation snow across Southern California March 29-30. Several stronger thunderstorm cells occurred across San Diego County, resulting in a Severe Thunderstorm Warning and a Tornado Warning.

Read the full account →
Flash Flood$20K damage

San Bernardino, CA · Jan 2, 2006

Heavy rain caused flooding of structures in Crestline and resulted in rock and mudslides along "The Narrows" section of highway 18. An estimated 250,000 pounds of debris had to be removed from the highway.

Read the full account →
Flash Flood

Riverside, CA · Sep 2, 2009

Mid-level moisture in Easterly flow aloft and marginal instability produced several thunderstorms over the Inland Empire and San Diego County mountains and valleys on the afternoon of September 2nd. These storms produced heavy rain, flash flooding, gusty winds, and hail.

Read the full account →
Coastal Flood

San Francisco, CA · Jan 17, 2019

A moderate to strong atmospheric river impacted much of California in the middle of the month. A weak surface low developed off the coast on January 15th bringing moderate to heavy rainfall to portions of the region.

Read the full account →
Coastal Flood

San Francisco, CA · Jan 5, 2019

A vigorous cold front swept through California on January 5th bringing widespread rainfall and gusty winds. Unstable air behind the frontal passage and sufficient low level shear allowed shallow thunderstorms to develop over the coastal waters, some of which contained rotating…

Read the full account →
Flash Flood

Sonoma, CA · Jan 16, 2019

A moderate to strong atmospheric river impacted much of California in the middle of the month. A weak surface low developed off the coast on January 15th bringing moderate to heavy rainfall to portions of the region.

Read the full account →
Flash Flood

Sonoma, CA · Jan 16, 2019

A moderate to strong atmospheric river impacted much of California in the middle of the month. A weak surface low developed off the coast on January 15th bringing moderate to heavy rainfall to portions of the region.

Read the full account →
Flash Flood

Sonoma, CA · Jan 16, 2019

A moderate to strong atmospheric river impacted much of California in the middle of the month. A weak surface low developed off the coast on January 15th bringing moderate to heavy rainfall to portions of the region.

Read the full account →
Flash Flood

Orange, CA · Feb 4, 2019

A cold front moved through Southern California and brought widespread rain, a few inches of snow, and frost to the region. Total rainfall amounts ranged from 1 to 2 inches, locally 4 inches in the San Diego County Mountains.

Read the full account →
← PreviousPage 106 of 144Next →

View California flood zone data →