Alert archive / California / Flash Flood Warnings in 1995

Flash Flood Warning 9, NWS Los Angeles, CA

March 5, 1995San Bernardino County, California

NWS Los Angeles, CA issued this flash flood warning at Mar 5, 1995, 9:35 PM PST for San Bernardino County, California. It was in force for 2 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Mar 5, 1995, 9:35 PM PST (05:35 UTC)
Expired
Mar 6, 1995, 12:00 AM PST
In force
2 hr
Issued by
NWS Los Angeles, CA
Area
Whole counties

County San Bernardino County, CA

The nearest sounding before it

Edwards AFB, CA (KEDW), launched 00:00Z, 5.6 hours before the alert went out and 148 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Edwards AFB, CA at 00:00Z on 1995-03-06Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Edwards AFB, CA at 00:00Z on 1995-03-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 5 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
2868 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
38 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
5 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
45 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KLAX 060538
FFWLAX
CAC065-071-060800-

BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OXNARD CA
935 PM PST SUN MAR 5 1995

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR THE COASTAL SLOPES AND FOOTHILLS OF THE SAN 
BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS AND SAN JACINTO MOUNTAINS EXTENDED TO MIDNIGHT... 

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OXNARD HAS EXTENDED THE FLASH FLOOD 
WARNING FOR THE COASTAL SLOPES AND FOOTHILLS OF THE SAN BERNARDINO 
MOUNTAINS AND SAN JACINTO MOUNTAINS TO MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.

AT 915 PM...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS WERE PRODUCING RUNOFFS ALONG THE 
COASTAL SLOPES OF THE SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS. COUNTY OFFICIALS HAVE 
ALREADY CLOSED SEVERAL ROADS IN RANCHO CUCAMONGA...YUCAIPA AND FOREST 
FALLS. 

SATTELITE IMAGERY SHOWS THAT THE RAIN WILL NOT BEGIN TO TAPER OFF UNTIL 
NEAR MIDNIGHT. UNTIL THEN...RAINFALL RATES OF UP TO ONE HALF INCH PER 
HOUR CAN BE EXPECTED.

MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY IF FLOODING IS ENCOUNTERED. IF YOUR 
MOTOR VEHICLE IS OVERTAKEN BY FLOOD WATERS...ABANDON IT AND MOVE TO 
HIGHER GROUND ON FOOT. REMEMBER...IN ADDITION TO FLOODING...MUDSLIDES 
AND LANDSLIDES ARE A POSSIBILY ALONG STEEPER TERRAIN.

FOLLOW DIRECTIONS OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS OFFICIALS AND EVACUHATE IF 
REQUESTED TO DO SO. PERSONS IN THE WARNING AREA SHOULD BE PREPARED TO 
MOVE IMMEDIATELY...WITHOUT WAITING FOR INSTRUCTIONS...IF HEAVY FLOWS OF 
WATER...OR DEBRIS ARE OBSERVED IN THEIR AREA.

RORKE

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 5, 6:25 PM PST, 3 hours 10 minutes before
CAZ003-004-015-022-023-060600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SANTA MARIA, CA
625 PM PST SUN MAR 5 1995

...RAIN SHOWERS CONTINUE ALONG THE CENTRAL COAST...

AT 6 PM SATELLITE IMAGERY AND RADAR DATA INDICATED THAT THE LAST
AREA OF MODERATE RAIN IS MOVING OVER THE AREA NOW AND A BREAK IN THE
RAIN IS EXPECTED. MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN IS STILL BEING REPORTED
ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

A WEATHER SPOTTER IN CUYAMA AT 6 PM REPORTED HEAVY RAIN A SOME STREET
FLOODING. THIS SAME SPOTTER ALSO REPORTED THAT CALTRANS HAS CLOSED
PARTS OF HIGHWAY 166 DUE TO FLOODING. HIGHWAY 166 IS DANGEROUS TO
TRAVEL ON DUE TO THE FLOODING AND ASSOCIATED FOG.

SOME 24 HOUR RAINFALL TOTALS ENDING AT 4 PM INCLUDE...

    OLD MAN MOUNTAIN      2.60 INCHES
    LOPEZ LAKE            1.65
    SAN LUIS OBISPO       1.34
    SAN MARCOS PASS       2.28
    SANTA BARBARA         2.01
    PASO ROBLES           1.01
    LOMPOC                1.54
    SANTA MARIA           1.42

MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO DRIVE WITH CAUTION ON WET ROADWAYS TONIGHT.
SLOW DOWN AND ALLOW EXTRA DISTANCE BETWEEN YOUR VEHICLE AND THE ONE
IN FRONT OF YOU. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS.

EVANS
Special weather statement, Mar 5, 6:26 PM PST, 3 hours 9 minutes before
CAZ003-004-015-022-023-060600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SANTA MARIA, CA
625 PM PST SUN MAR 5 1995

...RAIN SHOWERS CONTINUE ALONG THE CENTRAL COAST...

AT 6 PM SATELLITE IMAGERY AND RADAR DATA INDICATED THAT THE LAST
AREA OF MODERATE RAIN IS MOVING OVER THE AREA NOW AND A BREAK IN THE
RAIN IS EXPECTED. MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN IS STILL BEING REPORTED
ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

A WEATHER SPOTTER IN CUYAMA AT 6 PM REPORTED HEAVY RAIN A SOME STREET
FLOODING. THIS SAME SPOTTER ALSO REPORTED THAT CALTRANS HAS CLOSED
PARTS OF HIGHWAY 166 DUE TO FLOODING. HIGHWAY 166 IS DANGEROUS TO
TRAVEL ON DUE TO THE FLOODING AND ASSOCIATED FOG.

SOME 24 HOUR RAINFALL TOTALS ENDING AT 4 PM INCLUDE...

    OLD MAN MOUNTAIN      2.60 INCHES
    LOPEZ LAKE            1.65
    SAN LUIS OBISPO       1.34
    SAN MARCOS PASS       2.28
    SANTA BARBARA         2.01
    PASO ROBLES           1.01
    LOMPOC                1.54
    SAxNTA MARIA           1.42

MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO DRIVE WITH CAUTION ON WET ROADWAYS TONIGHT.
SLOW DOWN AND ALLOW EXTRA DISTANCE BETWEEN YOUR VEHICLE AND THE ONE
IN FRONT OF YOU. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS.

EVANS
Special weather statement, Mar 5, 6:34 PM PST, 3 hours 1 minute before
CAZ003-004-015-022-023-060600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SANTA MARIA, CA
625 PM PST SUN MAR 5 1995

...RAIN SHOWERS CONTINUE ALONG THE CENTRAL COAST...

AT 6 PM SATELLITE IMAGERY AND RADAR DATA INDICATED THAT THE LAST
AREA OF MODERATE RAIN IS MOVING OVER THE AREA NOW AND A BREAK IN THE
RAIN IS EXPECTED. MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN IS STILL BEING REPORTED
ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

A WEATHER SPOTTER IN CUYAMA AT 6 PM REPORTED HEAVY RAIN A SOME STREET
FLOODING. THIS SAME SPOTTER ALSO REPORTED THAT CALTRANS HAS CLOSED
PARTS OF HIGHWAY 166 DUE TO FLOODING. HIGHWAY 166 IS DANGEROUS TO
TRAVEL ON DUE TO THE FLOODING AND ASSOCIATED FOG.

SOME 24 HOUR RAINFALL TOTALS ENDING AT 4 PM INCLUDE...

    OLD MAN MOUNTAIN      2.60 INCHES
    LOPEZ LAKE            1.65
    SAN LUIS OBISPO       1.34
    SAN MARCOS PASS       2.28
    SANTA BARBARA         2.01
    PASO ROBLES           1.01
    LOMPOC                1.54
    SANTA MARIA           1.42

MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO DRIVE WITH CAUTION ON WET ROADWAYS TONIGHT.
SLOW DOWN AND ALLOW EXTRA DISTANCE BETWEEN YOUR VEHICLE AND THE ONE
IN FRONT OF YOU. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS.

EVANS

The office that day

Everything else NWS Los Angeles, CA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 5, 9:35 PM PSTFlash Flood WarningLOXRiverside2 hr
Mar 5, 11:35 PM PSTFlash Flood WarningLOXSan Bernardino3 hr
Mar 5, 11:35 PM PSTFlash Flood WarningLOXRiverside3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in California, 1995Every flash flood warning in 1995

Sources

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