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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.

Flash Flood

San Bernardino, CA · Jul 28, 2021

A weak inverted trough moving across southwest Arizona and southeast California along with daytime heating resulted in the development of isolated thunderstorms over Joshua Tree National Park.

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Flash Flood

Riverside, CA · Jul 28, 2021

A weak inverted trough moving across southwest Arizona and southeast California along with daytime heating resulted in the development of isolated thunderstorms over Joshua Tree National Park.

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Flood

Fresno, CA · Jun 5, 2011

A developing Pacific storm approached California on June 4th. Cold air pushed into the San Joaquin Valley, plunging temperatures to well below normal.

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Flood

Fresno, CA · Jun 5, 2011

A developing Pacific storm approached California on June 4th. Cold air pushed into the San Joaquin Valley, plunging temperatures to well below normal.

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Flood

Fresno, CA · Jun 22, 2011

June was certainly a month of extremes that produced near record heat in the San Joaquin Valley, many days of unseasonably cool weather, and even a day of record shattering rainfall.

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Flood

Fresno, CA · Feb 18, 2011

By February 12th, satellite loops showed a series of storms over the eastern Pacific. Computer forecast models indicated that the storm forecast to arrive around the 17th would be a very cold system with snow levels dropping into the foothills.|The first cold front moved into…

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Flood

Fresno, CA · Feb 18, 2011

By February 12th, satellite loops showed a series of storms over the eastern Pacific. Computer forecast models indicated that the storm forecast to arrive around the 17th would be a very cold system with snow levels dropping into the foothills.|The first cold front moved into…

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Flood

Merced, CA · Mar 24, 2011

Dry conditions prevailed over the area through March 15th, with gusts of 45-60 mph at times in the mountain and desert areas of Kern County. The weather pattern then changed sharply, transitioning to a 12-day period which saw periods of heavy precipitation and below normal…

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Flood

Merced, CA · Mar 24, 2011

Dry conditions prevailed over the area through March 15th, with gusts of 45-60 mph at times in the mountain and desert areas of Kern County. The weather pattern then changed sharply, transitioning to a 12-day period which saw periods of heavy precipitation and below normal…

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Flood

Madera, CA · Mar 24, 2011

Dry conditions prevailed over the area through March 15th, with gusts of 45-60 mph at times in the mountain and desert areas of Kern County. The weather pattern then changed sharply, transitioning to a 12-day period which saw periods of heavy precipitation and below normal…

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Flood

Kern, CA · Mar 23, 2011

Dry conditions prevailed over the area through March 15th, with gusts of 45-60 mph at times in the mountain and desert areas of Kern County. The weather pattern then changed sharply, transitioning to a 12-day period which saw periods of heavy precipitation and below normal…

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Flood

Kern, CA · Mar 23, 2011

Dry conditions prevailed over the area through March 15th, with gusts of 45-60 mph at times in the mountain and desert areas of Kern County. The weather pattern then changed sharply, transitioning to a 12-day period which saw periods of heavy precipitation and below normal…

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Flood

Merced, CA · Mar 24, 2011

Dry conditions prevailed over the area through March 15th, with gusts of 45-60 mph at times in the mountain and desert areas of Kern County. The weather pattern then changed sharply, transitioning to a 12-day period which saw periods of heavy precipitation and below normal…

Read the full account →
Flood

Merced, CA · Mar 24, 2011

Dry conditions prevailed over the area through March 15th, with gusts of 45-60 mph at times in the mountain and desert areas of Kern County. The weather pattern then changed sharply, transitioning to a 12-day period which saw periods of heavy precipitation and below normal…

Read the full account →
Flood

Merced, CA · Mar 24, 2011

Dry conditions prevailed over the area through March 15th, with gusts of 45-60 mph at times in the mountain and desert areas of Kern County. The weather pattern then changed sharply, transitioning to a 12-day period which saw periods of heavy precipitation and below normal…

Read the full account →
Flood

Kings, CA · Apr 7, 2011

An upper-level trough dropped out of the Gulf of Alaska and approached the California coast on April 6th. This feature brought cooler temperatures, with Fresno down 6 degrees from the 5th, and Bakersfield down 4 degrees.

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Flash Flood$10K damage

San Bernardino, CA · Jul 28, 1999

In what was described by local residents as the worst flooding in 14 years, severe thunderstorms pounded Needles with damaging winds and torrential rain.

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Flood

Contra Costa, CA · Dec 27, 2022

A strong low pressure system moving down the Pacific Coast tapped into sub-tropical moisture, bringing heavy rain and strong winds from the night of December 26th through the 27th. A wind advisory was issued for the immediate coastline and coastal mountains and East Bay Hills.

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Flood

Monterey, CA · Dec 27, 2022

A strong low pressure system moving down the Pacific Coast tapped into sub-tropical moisture, bringing heavy rain and strong winds from the night of December 26th through the 27th. A wind advisory was issued for the immediate coastline and coastal mountains and East Bay Hills.

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Flood

San Francisco, CA · Dec 27, 2022

A strong low pressure system moving down the Pacific Coast tapped into sub-tropical moisture, bringing heavy rain and strong winds from the night of December 26th through the 27th. A wind advisory was issued for the immediate coastline and coastal mountains and East Bay Hills.

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Flood

Santa Cruz, CA · Dec 27, 2022

A strong low pressure system moving down the Pacific Coast tapped into sub-tropical moisture, bringing heavy rain and strong winds from the night of December 26th through the 27th. A wind advisory was issued for the immediate coastline and coastal mountains and East Bay Hills.

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Flood

Monterey, CA · Dec 27, 2022

A strong low pressure system moving down the Pacific Coast tapped into sub-tropical moisture, bringing heavy rain and strong winds from the night of December 26th through the 27th. A wind advisory was issued for the immediate coastline and coastal mountains and East Bay Hills.

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Flood$70K damage

San Bernardino, CA · Nov 24, 2001

Residential streets and apartments flooded in Fontana and the I-10 freeway partially flooded. Streets flooded in Colton, Rancho Cucamonga, Rialto, and San Bernardino. Heavy rain caused a rockslide that partially blocked Highway 189 near Twin Peaks.

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Flash Flood$100K damage

San Mateo, CA · Jan 25, 2008

A nearly stationary frontal band hung over parts of the Bay Area bringing intense rainfall for several hours. The hardest hit areas were the coastal sections of Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo Counties.

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