California, 1997

Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in California, September 1, 1997

September 1, 1997 · NWS VEF · 7 events in 1 county or zone

4 flash flood, 3 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$75,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
7

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.

The radar

The Edwards AFB radar (KEYX), 129 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:04 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 flash flood, 3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, San Bernardino

When
September 1, 1:00 PM PST
Where
San Bernardino County, Twenty Nine Palms
Coordinates
34.841, -116.178 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Localized flooding and water crossing State Route 62 was reported by the Twentynine Palms Police Department.

Thunderstorm Wind, San Bernardino

When
September 1, 1:04 PM PST
Where
San Bernardino County, Twenty Nine Palms
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates
34.130, -116.050

Thunderstorm winds up to 63 mph were recorded at Twentynine Palms Airport.

Flash Flood, San Bernardino

When
September 1, 1:28 PM PST
Where
San Bernardino County, Twenty Nine Palms
Coordinates
34.841, -116.178 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

California O.E.S. reported flash flooding along State Route 62 near Twentynine Palms and impending road closure.

Thunderstorm Wind, San Bernardino

When
September 1, 1:46 PM PST
Where
San Bernardino County, Twenty Nine Palms
Measured
75 kt (86 mph)
Coordinates
34.130, -116.050

A thunderstorm wind gust of 86 mph was recorded at Twentynine Palms Airport.

Thunderstorm Wind, San Bernardino

When
September 1, 2:20 PM PST
Where
San Bernardino County, Twenty Nine Palms
Measured
90 kt (104 mph)
Coordinates
34.130, -116.050

Three gusts of 90 knots (104 mph) were reported at the Twentynine Palms Airport.

Flash Flood, San Bernardino

When
September 1, 3:50 PM PST to 7:00 PM PST
Where
San Bernardino County, 6 mi E of Twenty Nine Palms
Coordinates
34.841, -116.178 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A 20 mile stretch of State Route 62 was closed between Godwin Road and Highway 177 due to flash flooding. Mud slides and water had washed several vehicles off the road. The number of injured motorists was unknown. State route 62 was badly damaged and remained closed until at least 7:00 pm PST.

Flash Flood, San Bernardino

When
September 1, 4:35 PM PST
Where
San Bernardino County, Twenty Nine Palms
Property damage
$75,000
Coordinates
34.841, -116.178 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several houses were flooded in the Wonder Valley area, just east of Twentynine Palms.

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.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

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, September 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: 5619948, 5619949, 5619950, 5619951, 5619952, 5619953, 5619954.