California, 1996

Flash Flood in California, February 4, 1996

February 4, 1996 · NWS MTR · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Widespread Flash Flooding on Small Rivers and Creeks such as Manzantas Creek in Santa Rosa. The Russian River also rose near but did not exceed Flood stage.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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  • Floods
  • Wind
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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS MTR wrote it up.

Widespread Flash Flooding on Small Rivers and Creeks such as Manzantas Creek in Santa Rosa. The Russian River also rose near but did not exceed Flood stage. 24 hour rainfall amounts were in the 4 to 6 inch range. over Sonoma County.

The radar

The Sacramento radar (KDAX), 108 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:01 UTC.

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Event by event

1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Sonoma

When
February 4, 10:00 AM PST to 4:00 PM PST
Where
Sonoma County, Santa Rosa
Coordinates
38.525, -122.922 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in California in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in California, February 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5573739.