Flash Flood, Alameda
- When
- January 2, 5:52 AM PST to 9:00 AM PST
- Where
- Alameda County, Countywide
- Coordinates
- 37.651, -121.918 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Spotter report of a mudslide closing Niles Canyon Road.
Flash Flooding in California, January 2, 1997
Over the past hour 88D radar has shown another band of moderate to heavy rain moving over the warned areas. Rainfall rates of 1/3 to 1/2 inch per hour have been noted.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 5 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 5
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.
Over the past hour 88D radar has shown another band of moderate to heavy rain moving over the warned areas. Rainfall rates of 1/3 to 1/2 inch per hour have been noted. Expect smaller rivers and streams to rise the next few hours.
The radar
The San Francisco radar (KMUX), 55 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:49 UTC.
Event by event
5 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Flash Flood, Contra Costa
- When
- January 2, 5:52 AM PST to 9:00 AM PST
- Where
- Contra Costa County, Countywide
- Coordinates
- 37.923, -121.951 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Spotter reports of flooding in the cities of Orinda, Pleasant Hill, and Concord.
Flash Flood, San Mateo
- When
- January 2, 5:52 AM PST to 9:00 AM PST
- Where
- San Mateo County, Countywide
- Coordinates
- 37.436, -122.356 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Butano Creek has flooded and closed Pescadero Road.
Flash Flood, Santa Clara
- When
- January 2, 5:52 AM PST to 9:00 AM PST
- Where
- Santa Clara County, Countywide
- Coordinates
- 37.233, -121.696 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Spotter report of flooding in the city of Morgan Hill.
Flash Flood, Santa Cruz
- When
- January 2, 5:52 AM PST to 9:00 AM PST
- Where
- Santa Cruz County, Countywide
- Coordinates
- 37.022, -122.010 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Spotter report of .49 inches of rain in 50 minutes 0655 PST. The Corralitos Creek is above bankfull and the San Lorenzo River is just below bankfull but rising.
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
- Flash Flood in California, January 2 to 3, 1997
- Flash Flood in California, January 2, 1997
- Heavy Snow in Utah, January 2 to 3, 1997
- Dense Fog in Wisconsin, January 2, 1997
- Flash Flooding in California, January 2, 1997
- Flood and Heavy Rain in Puerto Rico, January 2 to 3, 1997
- Flooding in Washington, January 2, 1997
- Flood in Hawaii, January 2, 1997
- Flood in Montana, January 2, 1997
- Heat in Alabama, January 2, 1997
- Lightning Strike in Washington, January 2, 1997
- Heavy Snow in Arizona, January 2 to 3, 1997
More
Every storm in California in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings 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: 5624332, 5624333, 5624334, 5624335, 5624336.