Alert archive / California / Flash Flood Warnings in 1992

Flash Flood Warning 13, NWS Los Angeles, CA

March 20, 1992Orange County, California

NWS Los Angeles, CA issued this flash flood warning at Mar 20, 1992, 6:14 PM PST for Orange County, California. It was in force for 2 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Mar 20, 1992, 6:14 PM PST (02:14 UTC)
Expired
Mar 20, 1992, 8:15 PM PST
In force
2 hr
Issued by
NWS Los Angeles, CA
Area
Whole counties

County Orange County, CA

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KLAX 210217 RRA
FFWLAX
CAC059-210415-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES CA
614 PM PST FRI MAR 20 1992
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOS ANGELES HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 815 PM PST FOR
PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION......
 
IN SOUTH CALIFORNIA
 
   ...ORANGE COUNTY
 
AT 600 PM...FLOODING WAS REPORTED IN THE FULLERTON AND EL TORO
AREAS WITH SAND BAGGING IN PROGRESS AS HEAVY RAIN CONTINUED
THROUGHOUT ORANGE COUNTY. DURING THE LAST HOUR...RAINFALL AMOUNTS
HAVE RANGED FROM 1 TO 11/2 INCHES.
 
FLOODING IS ESPECIALLY LIKELY ALONG THE WESTERN SLOPES OF THE
SANTA ANA MOUNTAINS AND ALONG INTERSTATE 405.
 
DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY.  THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO
CROSS SAFELY.  VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE
ABANDONED QUICKLY.  MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.
 
A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS
IMMINENT.  MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES.  DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO CROSS BRIDGES...DIPS...OR LOW SPOTS IF WATER COVERS
THE ROADWAY.  NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL
ONE...ON FOOT.  TO ESCAPE RISING WATER MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 20, 1:37 PM PST, 4 hours 37 minutes before
CAZ003-004-015-210300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SANTA MARIA CA
130 PM PST FRI MAR 20 1992

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN HEADED FOR SAN LUIS OBISPO
COUNTY AND SANTA BARBARA COUNTY THIS AFTERNOON...

A MODERATELY STRONG UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY
LOCATED ABOUT 100 MILES WESTSOUTHWEST OF POINT CONCEPTION. ASSOCIATED
WITH THIS LOW IS A BAND OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH POSSIBLE
HEAVY RAIN. THIS BAND WAS MOVING TOWARDS THE NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 20
MPH AND IS EXPECTED TO REACH SAN LUIS OBISPO AND SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
LATER THIS AFTERNOON.

ANY HEAVY SHOWERS THAT OCCUR WILL GENERALLY BE OF SHORT DURATION.
HOWEVER...SOME LOCAL FLOODING OF STREETS AND AGRICULTURAL FIELDS IS
POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY IN LOW LYING AREAS. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS
ANY STREETS THAT ARE FLOODED FOR THE WATER LEVEL MAY BE HIGHER THAN
YOU THINK. IF FLOODING OCCURS IN YOUR AREA...MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND
IMMEDIATELY.

THE HEAVIEST ACTIVITY APPEARS TO BE LATER THIS AFTERNOON.
HOWEVER...THE LOW IS NOT EXPECTED TO MOVE ONSHORE UNTIL LATE TONIGHT
OR EARLY SATURDAY. THEREFORE...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING WITH A SLOW CNLEARING TREND FOR
SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

FOR FURTHER WEATHER INFORMATION AND UPDATES LISTEN TO NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION OR RADIO STATION.

WOFFORD
Special weather statement, Mar 20, 1:47 PM PST, 4 hours 27 minutes before
CAZ011>021-202200-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES CA
2 PM PST FRI MAR 20 1992

...SNOW ADVISORY THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING ABOVE 5000 FT IN THE
   MOUNTAINS...
...LOCALLY HEAVY SHOWERS OR THUNDERSHOWERS POSSIBLE THROUGH THIS
   EVENING...

THE STORM SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN PRODUCING THE RAIN OVER SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA TODAY IS STILL ABOUT 180 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LOS ANGELES.
IT IS MOVING TOWARDS THE NORTHEAST AND IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INLAND
THIS EVENING AND EARLY TONIGHT WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSHOWERS.
SOME OF THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSHOWERS COULD BE HEAVY ACCOMPANIED
BY SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH. THE SHOWERS SHOULD
DECREASE LATER TONIGHT.

RAINFALL AMOUNTS TONIGHT IN COASTAL AREAS WILL AVERAGE 1/2 INCH TO
ONE INCH WITH SNOW ABOVE 5000 FEET IN THE MOUNTAINS. LOCAL SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 10 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE AT RESORT LEVELS.
DRIVING CONDITIONS IN THE MOUNTAINS WILL BE HAZARDOUS DUE TO
FOG...SNOW...AND BLOWING SNOW WITH WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH AT TIMES.

BY SATURDAY MORNING THE STORM CENTER IS EXPECTED TO MOVE IN OVER
THE VANDENBERG AND SANTA MARIA AREA BUT THE AIRMASS OVER SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA WILL STILL BE MOIST AND UNSTABLE ENOUGH FOR PARTLY CLOUDY
SKIES AND A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSHOWERS DURING
THE MORNING. BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON WITH THE STORM MOVING INTO
NEVADA AND WEAKENING THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSHOWERS WILL BE
DECREASING.

ON SUNDAY A WEAK STORM IS EXPECTED TO BE OFF CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
BUT AT THIS TIME THERE IS ONLY A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS FROM
THIS SYSTEM. ANOTHER MORE INTENSE STORM IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OFF
THE CALIFORNIA COAST MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY WITH A THREAT OF MORE
RAIN TUESSDAY. IT IS STILL TOO EARLY TO DETERMINE RAINFALL AMOUNTS
FROM THIS STORM.

HAMMOND
Special weather statement, Mar 20, 2:47 PM PST, 3 hours 27 minutes before
CAZ011>021-202200-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES CA
3 PM PST FRI MAR 20 1992

...SNOW ADVISORY THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING ABOVE 5000 FT IN THE
   MOUNTAINS...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM FOR THE COASTAL SLOPES OF THE
   MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILL AREAS OF VENTURA COUNTY AND WESTERN LOS
   ANGELES COUNTY...
THE STORM SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN PRODUCING THE RAIN OVER SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA TODAY IS STILL ABOUT 180 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LOS ANGELES.
IT IS MOVING TOWARDS THE NORTHEAST AND IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INLAND
THIS EVENING AND EARLY TONIGHT WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSHOWERS.
SOME OF THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSHOWERS COULD BE HEAVY ACCOMPANIED
BY SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH. SOME OF THE HEAVIER
SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED IN THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH AREA MENTIONED ABOVE.

RAINFALL AMOUNTS TONIGHT IN COASTAL AREAS WILL AVERAGE 1/2 INCH TO
ONE INCH BUT COULD EXCEED 2 INCHES IN THE FLASH FLOOD AREA. SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 10 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE AT RESORT LEVELS IN
THE MOUNTAINS.

DRIVING CONDITIONS IN THE MOUNTAINS WILL BE HAZARDOUS DUE TO
FOG...SNOW...AND BLOWING SNOW WITH WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH AT TIMES.

BY SATURDAY MORNING THE STORM CENTER IS EXPECTED TO MOVE IN OVER
THE VANDENBERG AND SANTA MARIA AREA BUT THE AIRMASS OVER SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA WILL STILL BE MOIST AND UNSTABLE ENOUGH FOR PARTLY CLOUDY
SKIES AND A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSHOWERS DURING
THE MORNING. BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON WITH THE STORM MOVING INTO
NEVADA AND WEAKENING THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSHOWERS WILL BE
DECREASING.

ON SUNDAY A WEAK STORM IS EXPECTED TO BE OFF CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
BUT AT THIS TIME THERE IS ONLY A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS FROM
cTHIS SYSTEM. ANOTHER MORE INTENSE STORM IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OFF
THE CALIFORNIA COAST MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY WITH A THREAT OF MORE
RAIN TUESDAY. IT IS STILL TOO EARLY TO DETERMINE RAINFALL AMOUNTS
FROM THIS STORM.

HAMMOND
Special weather statement, Mar 20, 4:25 PM PST, 1 hour 49 minutes before
CAZ011>021-210600-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES CA
430 PM PST FRI MAR 20 1992

...SNOW ADVISORY THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING ABOVE 5000 FT IN THE
   MOUNTAINS...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM FOR THE COASTAL SLOPES OF THE
   MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILL AREAS OF VENTURA COUNTY AND WESTERN LOS
   ANGELES COUNTY...
...URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM FOR
   THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY AND ALL OF ORANGE
   COUNTY...

THE AREA OF LOCAL HEAVY RAIN AND THUNDERSHOWERS IS NOW MOVING INLAND
TO THE MOUNTAINS AND NORTHERN DESERTS. LOCAL HEAVY SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSHOWERS CAN BE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE IN THESE AREAS FOR THE
NEXT SEVERAL HOURS PRODUCING LOCAL FLOODING OF STREET INTERSECTIONS
AND SMALL STREAMS.
RAINFALL AT THE LOS ANGELES CIVIC CENTER FOR THE STORM AS OF 4 PM
WAS 1.32 INCHES WITH .82 OF AN INCH BETWEEN 3 AND 4 PM.

DRIVING CONDITIONS IN THE MOUNTAINS WILL BE HAZARDOUS DUE TO
FOG...SNOW...AND BLOWING SNOW WITH WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH AT TIMES.

BY SATURDAY MORNING THE MAIN STORM CENTER IS EXPECTED TO MOVE IN OVER
THE VANDENBERG AND SANTA MARIA AREA BUT THE AIRMASS OVER SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA WILL STILL BE MOIST AND UNSTABLE ENOUGH FOR PARTLY CLOUDY
SKIES AND A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSHOWERS DURING
THE MORNING. BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON WITH THE STORM MOVING INTO
NEVADA AND WEAKENING THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSHOWERS WILL BE
DECREASING.

ON SUNDAY A WEAK STORM IS EXPECTED TO BE OFF CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
BUT AT THIS TIME THERE IS ONLY A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS FROM
THIS SYSTEM. ANOTHER MORE INTENSE STORM IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OFF
THE CALIFORNIA COAST MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY WITHE A THREAT OF MORE
RAIN TUESDAY. IT IS STILL TOO EARLY TO DETERMINE RAINFALL AMOUNTS
FROM THIS STORM.

HAMMOND

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in California, 1992Every flash flood warning in 1992

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.