Flash Flooding in California, January 1, 1997

Name: Flash Flooding in California, January 1, 1997
Start: 1997-01-01T09:00
End: 1997-01-01T12:00
Location: California

January 1, 1997 · NWS MTR · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

Rainfall rates have ranged from 1/2 to one inch per hour the last few hours. River and streams are high and the ground is saturated.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

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.

Rainfall rates have ranged from 1/2 to one inch per hour the last few hours. River and streams are high and the ground is saturated. Additional rain will cause urban flooding and flooding of creeks, small rivers, and streams. 88D radar showing another band of heavy rain off the San Mateo and Santa Cruz county coasts. Rainfall rates are increasing over Monterey County.

The radar

The San Francisco radar (KMUX), 55 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:00 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Alameda

When: January 1, 9:00 AM PST to 12:00 PM PST
Where: Alameda County, Countywide
Coordinates: 37.651, -121.918 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Spotter report of flooding in the city of Walmut Creek 1130 PST.

Flash Flood, Contra Costa

When: January 1, 9:00 AM PST to 12:00 PM PST
Where: Contra Costa County, Countywide
Coordinates: 37.923, -121.951 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

KCBS television crew reported flooding in the cities of Richmond and Martenez. 1055 PST.

Flash Flood, San Mateo

When: January 1, 9:00 AM PST to 12:00 PM PST
Where: San Mateo County, Countywide
Coordinates: 37.436, -122.356 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

San Mateo County Sheriff reported La Honda Road closed due to mudslide 1000 AM.

Flash Flood, Santa Clara

When: January 1, 9:00 AM PST to 12:00 PM PST
Where: Santa Clara County, Countywide
Coordinates: 37.233, -121.696 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Monterey

When: January 1, 9:00 AM PST to 12:00 PM PST
Where: Monterey County, West Portion
Coordinates: 36.240, -121.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Big Sur River at Big Sur rose above warning stage at 922 PST.

Flash Flood, Santa Cruz

When: January 1, 9:00 AM PST to 12:00 PM PST
Where: Santa Cruz County, Countywide
Coordinates: 37.022, -122.010 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Spotter report of 1/4 inch of rain in 20 minutes 1030 PST. Sporter report of one inch rain in one hour 1126 PST. The San Lorenzo River at Felton rose above warning stage 1130 PST.

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 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in California, January 1997

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: 5623757, 5623758, 5624212, 5624213, 5624214, 5624215.