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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

Mariposa, CA · Dec 31, 2022

A large upper trough moved slowly through California on December 30 and 31. This system had a deep fetch of tropical moisture associated with it which resulted in a period of moderate to heavy precipitation along with widespread flooding across much of the area on December 31.

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Flood

Fresno, CA · Dec 31, 2022

A large upper trough moved slowly through California on December 30 and 31. This system had a deep fetch of tropical moisture associated with it which resulted in a period of moderate to heavy precipitation along with widespread flooding across much of the area on December 31.

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Flood

Santa Cruz, CA · Sep 18, 2022

An upper level jet diving down the coast of California, combined with plentiful lower level moisture advected from the Pacific set the stage for an early season rain storm and strong winds around much of the Bay Area and Central Coast.

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Flood

San Diego, CA · Sep 9, 2022

Tropical Cyclone Kay formed on September 4th, 2022 and made its closest approach to Southern California on the 9th and 10th, with the center of Kay coming within 120 miles of San Diego.

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Flood

Riverside, CA · Sep 10, 2022

Tropical Cyclone Kay formed on September 4th, 2022 and made its closest approach to Southern California on the 9th and 10th, with the center of Kay coming within 120 miles of San Diego.

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Flood

Riverside, CA · Sep 12, 2022

Tropical Cyclone Kay formed on September 4th, 2022 and made its closest approach to Southern California on the 9th and 10th, with the center of Kay coming within 120 miles of San Diego.

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Flood

Riverside, CA · Sep 12, 2022

Tropical Cyclone Kay formed on September 4th, 2022 and made its closest approach to Southern California on the 9th and 10th, with the center of Kay coming within 120 miles of San Diego.

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Flood

Monterey, CA · Sep 18, 2022

An upper level jet diving down the coast of California, combined with plentiful lower level moisture advected from the Pacific set the stage for an early season rain storm and strong winds around much of the Bay Area and Central Coast.

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Flood

Monterey, CA · Sep 18, 2022

An upper level jet diving down the coast of California, combined with plentiful lower level moisture advected from the Pacific set the stage for an early season rain storm and strong winds around much of the Bay Area and Central Coast.

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Flood

San Francisco, CA · Dec 31, 2022

An atmospheric river impacted the Bay Area on December 31st, resulting in significant rainfall across the San Francisco Bay Area. Initial forecasts called for the most intense rainband to progressively move south towards the Central Coast as the day went on.

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Flood

San Francisco, CA · Dec 31, 2022

An atmospheric river impacted the Bay Area on December 31st, resulting in significant rainfall across the San Francisco Bay Area. Initial forecasts called for the most intense rainband to progressively move south towards the Central Coast as the day went on.

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Flood

San Francisco, CA · Dec 31, 2022

An atmospheric river impacted the Bay Area on December 31st, resulting in significant rainfall across the San Francisco Bay Area. Initial forecasts called for the most intense rainband to progressively move south towards the Central Coast as the day went on.

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Flood

San Mateo, CA · Dec 31, 2022

An atmospheric river impacted the Bay Area on December 31st, resulting in significant rainfall across the San Francisco Bay Area. Initial forecasts called for the most intense rainband to progressively move south towards the Central Coast as the day went on.

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Flood

Alameda, CA · Dec 31, 2022

An atmospheric river impacted the Bay Area on December 31st, resulting in significant rainfall across the San Francisco Bay Area. Initial forecasts called for the most intense rainband to progressively move south towards the Central Coast as the day went on.

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Flood

Santa Cruz, CA · Dec 31, 2022

An atmospheric river impacted the Bay Area on December 31st, resulting in significant rainfall across the San Francisco Bay Area. Initial forecasts called for the most intense rainband to progressively move south towards the Central Coast as the day went on.

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Flood

San Francisco, CA · Dec 31, 2022

An atmospheric river impacted the Bay Area on December 31st, resulting in significant rainfall across the San Francisco Bay Area. Initial forecasts called for the most intense rainband to progressively move south towards the Central Coast as the day went on.

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Flood

San Francisco, CA · Dec 31, 2022

An atmospheric river impacted the Bay Area on December 31st, resulting in significant rainfall across the San Francisco Bay Area. Initial forecasts called for the most intense rainband to progressively move south towards the Central Coast as the day went on.

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Storm Surge/Tide$10K damage

San Diego, CA · Dec 1, 1998

The combination of spring high tides and heavy surf caused minor beach erosion , damage , and flooding of low lying coastal roads. Rocks and other debris were deposited each morning onto Highway 101 and in parking lots of restaurants located on the coastal strip between Cardiff…

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Storm Surge/Tide

Orange County Coastal, CA · Sep 9, 2022

Tropical Cyclone Kay formed on September 4th, 2022 and made its closest approach to Southern California on the 9th and 10th, with the center of Kay coming within 120 miles of San Diego.

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Flash Flood$150K damage

San Diego, CA · Jan 27, 2008

Upper-level low pressure parked off the coast caused several periods of heavy rain and snow across the area. Very heavy snow fell in the mountains near Wrightwood during the first few days of the storm.

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Flash Flood$150K damage

San Diego, CA · Jan 27, 2008

Upper-level low pressure parked off the coast caused several periods of heavy rain and snow across the area. Very heavy snow fell in the mountains near Wrightwood during the first few days of the storm.

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Flash Flood$80K damage

San Diego, CA · Mar 2, 2004

Another Winter Storm brought heavy rain to Southern California. Mudslides and flash flooding occured in the burned aras of north and east San Diego County. Minor flooding occurred in Riverside County.

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Flood

Mendocino, CA · Dec 24, 2025

After a very wet period from December 19th-21st, another round of storms brought more rain and damaging winds to the region in the days leading up to Christmas. Impacts were felt across the region from December 23rd to the 26th.

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Flood

Humboldt, CA · Dec 24, 2025

After a very wet period from December 19th-21st, another round of storms brought more rain and damaging winds to the region in the days leading up to Christmas. Impacts were felt across the region from December 23rd to the 26th.

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