California, 2000

Flash Flooding and Flood in California, February 13 to 14, 2000

February 13 to 14, 2000 · NWS MTR · 9 events in 7 counties and zones

Widespread rain with twenty four hour accumulations of more than 5 inches occured over the area on Feb 13 into February 14th. Urban and small stream flooding occured in nost counties of the area.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 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
$5.3 million
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
9

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.

Widespread rain with twenty four hour accumulations of more than 5 inches occured over the area on Feb 13 into February 14th. Urban and small stream flooding occured in nost counties of the area. Many roads including Hwy 1 and Hwy 116 were closed. Hwy 129 was closed by a mudslide in Santa Cruz County. 29 people were evacuated in Pescadero due to high waters. . A number of houses in Daly City had to be abandoned and eventually distroyed due to mudslides which were a result of the consecutive years of above average rain. Winds of more than 50 mph were recorded in Marin county and a number of trees were downed knocking out power to as many as 42,000 residents throughout the bay area. A tree blew down into one residence causing in excess of $250,000 damage. there were no deaths and only minor injuries.the russian river in sonoma county reached near flood stage but, damage was confined to low lying areas near the river such as some trailers and camping areas near forestville. Numerous traffic accidents and flight delays at SFO occurred during the storm.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 flash flood, 1 heavy rain, 1 flood, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, San Mateo

When
February 13, 2:54 AM PST
Where
San Mateo County, Colma
Property damage
$2.0 million
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
37.436, -122.356 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The roof of a Home Depot collapsed due to the accumulation of heavy rain flooding the interior of the stor with 6 inches of rain and exposing the interior to continuing rain.

Flood, Sonoma / Marin

When
February 13, 10:00 AM PST to February 14, 12:00 PM PST
Where
Sonoma / Marin forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

High Wind, Sonoma / Marin

When
February 13, 10:00 AM PST to February 14, 4:00 AM PST
Where
Sonoma / Marin forecast zone
Property damage
$250,000
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Flash Flood, Santa Cruz

When
February 13, 7:37 PM PST to February 14, 4:00 AM PST
Where
Santa Cruz County, Ben Lomond
Property damage
$2.0 million
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
37.022, -122.010 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Sonoma

When
February 13, 9:00 PM PST to February 14, 4:00 AM PST
Where
Sonoma County, Graton
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.525, -122.922 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Monterey

When
February 13, 9:00 PM PST to February 14, 4:00 AM PST
Where
Monterey County, Bolsa Knolls
Property damage
$1.0 million
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
36.240, -121.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

floods and mudslides water from the persistent rain washed out highway one south of Big Sur that still has not been reopened two months later.The Bolsa knolls area was flooded and water damaged a number of houses and businesses. Houses in Prunedale were flooded with water and mud. Fallen trees were the cause of power outages to around 2,400 people in North Monterey County. Pacific Grove Mifddle School was flooded and evacuated.

Flash Flood, Contra Costa

When
February 13, 9:00 PM PST to February 14, 4:00 AM PST
Where
Contra Costa County, Orinda
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
37.923, -121.951 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A 6 foot wall of water and mud flowed through the yardsand residences along Glorietta court near Moraga way.

Flash Flood, San Mateo

When
February 13, 9:30 PM PST to February 14, 4:00 AM PST
Where
San Mateo County, Pescadero
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
37.436, -122.356 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Santa Clara

When
February 13, 9:30 PM PST to February 14, 4:00 AM PST
Where
Santa Clara County, Coyote
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
37.233, -121.696 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Rain
Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
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 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyWarnings in California, February 2000

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: 5134644, 5134642, 5134643, 5134638, 5134641, 5134645, 5134646, 5134639, 5134640.