3,441 first-hand accounts of flood events in California, ranked by impact. Each is a NOAA-written narrative of the moment.
A low pressure system from the East brought a surge of subtropical monsoon moisture into the region. These ingredients set off periods of showers and thunderstorms, with areas of flash flooding affecting the San Diego, Riverside and San Bernardino County mountains, as well as…
Read the full account →An exceptionally strong westerly jet-stream aloft, and a deep upper-level trough of low pressure off the coast, steered a barrage of weather systems through southern California for several days. The action started off with high winds and then heavy rain on the sixth.
Read the full account →Due to continued heavy rain and subsequent high stream flows, a break in Black Rascal Creek flooded homes in north Merced. And Bear Creek raised over its banks in West Merced flooding a residential section in that vicinity.
Read the full account →Steady light to moderate rain began falling over the burned areas of the San Bernardino Mountains on 0600 PST 12/24/03. Approximately 24 hours later, mud, rock, and debris flows were being reported along highways and roads leading into the mountain resort communities.
Read the full account →The second in a series of October storms brought with it heavy rain, thunderstorms, flash flooding, and funnel clouds. Very heavy rain upwards of 9 inches in the mountains caused serious flash flooding and debris flows in parts of the San Bernardino Mountains.
Read the full account →A series of warm winter storms brought heavy rain, mudslides, flooding, and high winds to Northern California. - Levee overtopping, breaching, and river flooding occurred along the Feather and Sacramento mainstem rivers as well as along numerous smaller rivers, creeks, and…
Read the full account →The month ended with one last major monsoon day. Convection developed rapidly and near the same time as an approaching short wave trough and daytime heating.
Read the full account →An upper-level low pressure area moving slowly northeast over the lower deserts, and an associated weak disturbance aloft triggered a slow moving thunderstorm in the lower Coachella Valley near the community of Mecca just after midnight PST.
Read the full account →Widespread flooding occurred in the county, due to small streams over-flowing and poor drainage problems. The bulk of the damage occurred in East Palo Alto, San Mateo, Daly City, Colma, Brisbane, San Bruno, South San Francisco and Pacifica.
Read the full account →Thunderstorms developed across the eastern portion of Imperial County during the morning hours on September 9th and some of the stronger storms produced locally heavy rains with peak rain rates well in excess of one inch per hour.
Read the full account →An Atmospheric River event brought heavy rain and gusty winds with a strong winter storm that impacted the Bay Area for several days in mid-December. Cyclogenesis occurred with a 979 mb low forming off the Northern California coast.
Read the full account →Flooding that began on December 31st continued into early 2006. At least 13 road closures were reported due to mudslides and fallen trees. About 13 homes were damaged by flooding in Felton as the San Lorenzo River spilled out of its banks.
Read the full account →The stable weather pattern continued through November 27th. The first in a series of east-Pacific storms approached the northern part of the central California interior that evening.
Read the full account →A Pacific storm brought moderate to heavy rain and flash flooding to the region from the 2nd through the 4th. Two-day rainfall totals of 1 to 2 inches were recorded west of the mountains, while the southern slopes of the San Bernardino County mountains saw up to 5 inches of rain…
Read the full account →An atmospheric river event beginning early December 11th brought periods of heavy rainfall, flooding from overly saturated grounds and high river/stream water levels, and heavy snow above 7000 ft.
Read the full account →Thunderstorms redeveloped along the mountains to the south of Forest Falls/Mill Canyon and moved down the south slopes across Oak Glen, Cherry Valley, Beaumont, and Banning. Radar rainfall estimates in the Oak Glen area were near 4 inches.
Read the full account →Steady light to moderate rain began falling over the burned areas of the San Bernardino Mountains on 0600 PST 12/24/03. Approximately 24 hours later, mud, rock, and debris flows were being reported along highways and roads leading into the mountain resort communities.
Read the full account →The second in a series of October storms brought with it heavy rain, thunderstorms, flash flooding, and funnel clouds. Very heavy rain upwards of 9 inches in the mountains caused serious flash flooding and debris flows in parts of the San Bernardino Mountains.
Read the full account →Heavy rain over the Poomacha burn area on the south slope of Palomar Mountain triggered a significant debris flow shortly before midnight on November 30. The debris flow rushed down Amago Creek and caused serious damage to several vehicles, a house, and portions of highway 76.
Read the full account →The high pressure ridge over the region began to rebuild once again by July 17th. The flow aloft remained southwesterly, and skies remained generally clear until the 18th.
Read the full account →High pressure had strengthened by the third week of August and lasted for the remainder of the month over much of the western states and even into the Midwest.
Read the full account →A cold, upper-level closed low developed along the Central Coast and drifted south before stalling over southern California on the 23rd. Heavy showers began in the northern areas, spreading slowly south into San Diego County.
Read the full account →Almost two inches of rain fell in a two hour period, causing low lying roads and most creeks to flood. In Carlsbad, 5 women tried to cross a flooded bridge in a car, which stalled midway then floated downstream and overturned. Two women escaped, the other three drowned.
Read the full account →An upper-level low developed off Point Conception by October 27, and slowly drifted northeast toward the central California coast. The low pulled a moist, tropical airmass, including remnants from former Tropical Storm Kiko, into the central California interior on the 29th.
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