California, 1997

Flash Flood in California, January 26, 1997

January 26, 1997 · NWS VEF · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Heavy rain from severe thunderstorms produced flash flooding around Needles stranding two cars in flood waters and leaving mud and debris on highway 95 south of town.

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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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$10,000
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 VEF wrote it up.

Heavy rain from severe thunderstorms produced flash flooding around Needles stranding two cars in flood waters and leaving mud and debris on highway 95 south of town.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, San Bernardino

When
January 26, 5:45 PM PST to 6:15 PM PST
Where
San Bernardino County, Needles
Property damage
$10,000
Coordinates
34.841, -116.178 (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 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: 5599362.