Flash Flood in California, November 17, 1996

Name: Flash Flood in California, November 17, 1996
Start: 1996-11-17T05:30
End: 1996-11-17T06:00
Location: California

November 17, 1996 · NWS MTR · 1 event in 1 county or zone

After nearly 3 inches of rain in the fairly arid hills of Alameda County a series of levees. Water and mud up to 6 ft deep rushed down the street and three adjjoining cul de sacs.

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.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
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Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
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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.

After nearly 3 inches of rain in the fairly arid hills of Alameda County a series of levees. Water and mud up to 6 ft deep rushed down the street and three adjjoining cul de sacs. Submergin cars and several residences leaving 6 inches to 2 feet of Muck.

The radar

The San Francisco radar (KMUX), 55 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:29 UTC.

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Event by event

1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Alameda

When: November 17, 5:30 AM PST to 6:00 AM PST
Where: Alameda County, Pleasanton
Coordinates: 37.651, -121.918 (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

Every storm in California in 1996 Every state in 1996 This day in weather history Warnings in California, November 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: 5575521.