Flooding in California, February 2 to 28, 1998

Northern interior California was subjected to a major flooding event during the month. A series of storms laden with subtropical moisture pushed across the entire state. Statewide, damage estimates were in the 1 billion dollar range. Damage estimates, when available, are included in the flood entries that follow. All deaths that occurred are also included in the flood entries that follow. Crop losses were expected to be enormous, as the saturated conditions delayed planting, encouraged different diseases, and expanded the pest populations. The heaviest rain days of the month were the 2nd and 3rd (for example, 2.96 inches in downtown Sacramento), with the flooding being aggravated by significant rains on the 6th, 14th, 19th, 21st, and 23rd. Clear Lake, the largest natural lake completely contained in California, set an all-time record level on the 23rd. It was mainly the flattest regions in the Sacramento and Northern San Joaquin Valleys and the Sacramento--San Joaquin delta that had the most problems when the water could not drain fast enough.