Flood, San Luis Obispo
- When
- February 23, 4:00 AM PST to February 24, 9:00 AM PST
- Where
- San Luis Obispo County, San Luis Obispo
- Coordinates
- 35.387, -120.452 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flash Flooding and Flood in California, February 23 to 24, 1998
storm of the month struck Central and Southern California. Rainfall totals ranged from 1 to 4 inches over the coast with up to 14 inches in the mountains.
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
The toll
- Deaths
- 5
- Injuries
- 1
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 4
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 LOX wrote it up.
The final...and deadliest...storm of the month struck Central and Southern California. Rainfall totals ranged from 1 to 4 inches over the coast with up to 14 inches in the mountains. Widespread urban and small stream flooding was reported. Most major highways reported closures due to flooding or mudslides. In fact, the community of Ojai was left isolated when Highways 33, 101 and 150 were closed. In Palmdale, up to 3 feet of water was reported at some intersections. In Newhall, one woman suffered minor injuries after being rescued from a water channel. Five deaths were attributed to the storm. In Santa Maria, a section of Highway 166 eroded, killing two California Highway Patrol officers. In Claremont, two students died when a eucalyptus tree fell onto their utility vehicle. In San Dimas, a man drowned when he fell into San Dimas Creek.
The radar
The Vandenberg AFB radar (KVBX), 61 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:02 UTC.
Event by event
3 flash flood, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Flash Flood, Santa Barbara
- When
- February 23, 11:30 AM PST to February 24, 9:00 AM PST
- Where
- Santa Barbara County, Countywide
- Deaths
- 2 direct, 0 indirect
- Coordinates
- 34.538, -120.031 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flash Flood, Ventura
- When
- February 23, 11:30 AM PST to February 24, 9:00 AM PST
- Where
- Ventura County, Countywide
- Injuries
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Coordinates
- 34.358, -119.126 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flash Flood, Los Angeles
- When
- February 23, 2:00 PM PST to February 24, 9:00 AM PST
- Where
- Los Angeles County, Countywide
- Deaths
- 3 direct, 0 indirect
- Coordinates
- 34.198, -118.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The people who died
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood, Santa Barbara | 1998-02-23 | 39 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
| Flash Flood, Santa Barbara | 1998-02-23 | 41 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
| Flash Flood, Los Angeles | 1998-02-23 | 19 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
| Flash Flood, Los Angeles | 1998-02-23 | 19 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
| Flash Flood, Los Angeles | 1998-02-23 | 41 | Male | In Water | Direct |
What these are
- Flood
- Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
- 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
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in California, February 23 to 24, 1998
- Flood in California, February 23 to 25, 1998
- Flash Flooding and Coastal Flood in Massachusetts, February 23 to 25, 1998
- Damaging Wind in California, February 23, 1998
- Heavy Snow in Nevada, February 23 to 24, 1998
- Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, February 23, 1998
- Heavy Rain in New Jersey, February 23, 1998
- Winter Storm in New York, February 23 to 25, 1998
- Strong Wind and Heavy Rain in Rhode Island, February 23 to 25, 1998
- Coastal Flood and High Wind in New Jersey, February 23 to 24, 1998
- Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, February 23 to 24, 1998
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in West Virginia, February 23 to 24, 1998
More
Every storm in California in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in California, February 1998
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: 5630028, 5630029, 5630030, 5630027.