Flash Flood and Flooding in California, December 6, 1997

A slow moving low pressure center off the coast, spawned late night showers and thunderstorms. The showers continuously developed off the coast, and moved inland over central portions of Orange County, starting before daybreak on the sixth, and lasting until the early morning hours on the seventh. Rainfall generally ranged from 4 to 8 inches across the area, resulting in widespread flooding. One observer in Mission Viejo reported 10 inches of rain from this event. The hardest hit area was the coastal plain southwest of the Santa Ana Mountains. It was the heaviest rain recorded in at least 70 years. Collapsing hillsides, and raging water, triggered flooding that forced scores of people to flee their homes, while others climbed atop stalled automobiles to escape the rising waters. A Local State of Emergency was declared, as mud and debris flows damaged hundreds of homes and businesses, and halted transportation. Storm debris littered the coastline. Some areas, like the Rhine Channel in Newport Bay, were clogged to the point where they resembled a landfill. Total damage estimates for the county included $5.6 million to private homes and businesses, and over $12 million to public facilities, and for debris clean-up. Some heavy rain did spill over the Santa Ana Mountains, resulting in flooding in the community of El Cerrito, in western Riverside County. Over 4 inches of rain caused moderate to heavy damage to 8 homes and and minor damage to 10 others. Farther north in the Victor Valley of San Bernardino County, heavy rains caused local flooding in many communities. Heavy downpours in Adelanto shortly after midnight, flooded an apartment complex, forcing residents to evacuate, and sent a river of mud and water a foot deep running down some streets. During the evening of the sixth, a pair of teenage lobster fisherman were caught in a storm a mile west of the beach at North Island Naval Air Station. Swells more than 6 feet high capsized their 18-foot skiff. They were rescued several hours later with cuts and bruises.