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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.

Flood

Monterey, CA · Nov 17, 2025

A low pressure system brought rain and winds to the Bay Area and Central Coast on November 16 and 17th. Special Marine Warnings and Special Weather Statements were issued due to isolated thunderstorms causing localized heavy rain and gusty winds.

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Flood

Monterey, CA · Nov 16, 2025

A low pressure system brought rain and winds to the Bay Area and Central Coast on November 16 and 17th. Special Marine Warnings and Special Weather Statements were issued due to isolated thunderstorms causing localized heavy rain and gusty winds.

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Flood

San Mateo, CA · Nov 17, 2025

A low pressure system brought rain and winds to the Bay Area and Central Coast on November 16 and 17th. Special Marine Warnings and Special Weather Statements were issued due to isolated thunderstorms causing localized heavy rain and gusty winds.

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Flood

Alameda, CA · Nov 17, 2025

A low pressure system brought rain and winds to the Bay Area and Central Coast on November 16 and 17th. Special Marine Warnings and Special Weather Statements were issued due to isolated thunderstorms causing localized heavy rain and gusty winds.

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Flood

Nevada, CA · Dec 11, 2016

A relatively warm storm with a concentrated moisture plume brought heavy rain, especially in the mountains and foothills. Rain amounts from 5 to 8 inches were reported in the Sierra, and runoff caused minor flooding.

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Flash Flood$70K damage

San Diego, CA · Feb 22, 2004

From 12 to 25 inches of snow fell over the San Bernardino mountains, from Wrightwood to Forest Falls. Over the Riverside County Mountains and the San Diego County mountains, snowfall ranged from eleven to eighteen inches.

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Flood

Riverside, CA · Jul 6, 2011

Strong high pressure aloft was centered over the four corners area of the southwest, which resulted in monsoonal flow into the region from the 4th through the 8th.

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Flash Flood$500K damage

San Bernardino, CA · Aug 26, 2003

Heavy rain, one inch in 30 minutes, dime size hail, and wind gusts in excess of 40 mph were observed in Twenty-nine Palms, 3 fatalities occurred there when a vehicle tried to ford a flooded road.

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Flash Flood$70K damage

San Bernardino, CA · Aug 28, 2000

Thunderstorms moved northwest across the San Bernardino Mountains to the Apple Valley area. Large hail was observed in Adelanto. Creeks and washes coming off the mountains were running full. Water and mud washed across State Highway 18 with many cars stranded.

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Flash Flood$20K damage

Monterey, CA · Oct 13, 2009

A strong low pressure system made its way through Northern and Central California accompanied by deep tropical moisture and very strong winds. Heavy rain combined with the wind to cause numerous trees, tree limbs and pole/telephone powers to fall.

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Flood$20K damage

Sonoma, CA · Oct 13, 2009

A strong low pressure system made its way through Northern and Central California accompanied by deep tropical moisture and very strong winds. Heavy rain combined with the wind to cause numerous trees, tree limbs and pole/telephone powers to fall.

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Flash Flood

San Bernardino, CA · Dec 22, 2023

A strong area of low pressure off the California coast brought heavy rain and thunderstorms to Southern California on December 21st. The biggest impact was a microburst near the Carlsbad Airport, where a wind gust of 48 knots/55 mph was measured via ASOS.

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Flash Flood

Riverside, CA · Dec 22, 2023

A strong area of low pressure off the California coast brought heavy rain and thunderstorms to Southern California on December 21st. The biggest impact was a microburst near the Carlsbad Airport, where a wind gust of 48 knots/55 mph was measured via ASOS.

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Flood

San Bernardino, CA · Dec 22, 2023

A strong area of low pressure off the California coast brought heavy rain and thunderstorms to Southern California on December 21st. The biggest impact was a microburst near the Carlsbad Airport, where a wind gust of 48 knots/55 mph was measured via ASOS.

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Flood

San Bernardino, CA · Dec 22, 2023

A strong area of low pressure off the California coast brought heavy rain and thunderstorms to Southern California on December 21st. The biggest impact was a microburst near the Carlsbad Airport, where a wind gust of 48 knots/55 mph was measured via ASOS.

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Flood

San Diego, CA · Dec 22, 2023

A strong area of low pressure off the California coast brought heavy rain and thunderstorms to Southern California on December 21st. The biggest impact was a microburst near the Carlsbad Airport, where a wind gust of 48 knots/55 mph was measured via ASOS.

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Flood

San Diego, CA · Dec 22, 2023

A strong area of low pressure off the California coast brought heavy rain and thunderstorms to Southern California on December 21st. The biggest impact was a microburst near the Carlsbad Airport, where a wind gust of 48 knots/55 mph was measured via ASOS.

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Flood

San Diego, CA · Feb 21, 2024

A storm system produced moderate to locally heavy rainfall across Orange and San Bernardino Counties, with lesser amounts farther south and east. Over an inch of rain fell across the aforementioned areas, with some locations seeing up to 3 inches of rain.

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Flood

San Diego, CA · Feb 20, 2024

A storm system produced moderate to locally heavy rainfall across Orange and San Bernardino Counties, with lesser amounts farther south and east. Over an inch of rain fell across the aforementioned areas, with some locations seeing up to 3 inches of rain.

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Flash Flood

Placer, CA · Dec 3, 2014

Heavy rain showers and thunderstorms brought record rainfall and flooding issues to portions of the Central Valley and foothills. There were 2 berm levees which failed in Tehama County, flooding over 200 homes and damaging farms and orchards.

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Flash Flood

Placer, CA · Dec 3, 2014

Heavy rain showers and thunderstorms brought record rainfall and flooding issues to portions of the Central Valley and foothills. There were 2 berm levees which failed in Tehama County, flooding over 200 homes and damaging farms and orchards.

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Flash Flood

Placer, CA · Dec 3, 2014

Heavy rain showers and thunderstorms brought record rainfall and flooding issues to portions of the Central Valley and foothills. There were 2 berm levees which failed in Tehama County, flooding over 200 homes and damaging farms and orchards.

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Storm Surge/Tide$240K damage

Orange, CA · Jan 9, 2001

The highest tide of the season combined with 4 foot surf to erode a sand berm. The water that spilled inland then flooded two dozen homes in the Surfside Colony community with about 2 feet of water.

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Flash Flood$15K damage

San Bernardino, CA · Feb 3, 2004

A Winter Storm, brought heavy precipitation and thunderstorms with damaging winds as it moved onshore through Southwest California. In the mountains above 5500 feet elevation, 9 to 14 inches of snow fell.

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