Flood in California, January 11, 2001

Name: Flood in California, January 11, 2001
Start: 2001-01-11T14:10
End: 2001-01-11T14:45
Location: California

January 11, 2001 · NWS SGX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Heavy rain, small hail, and street flooding accompanied a thunderstorm that moved southeast across the area. Some basements of houses were flooded.

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.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $45,000
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 SGX wrote it up.

Heavy rain, small hail, and street flooding accompanied a thunderstorm that moved southeast across the area. Some basements of houses were flooded.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS San Diego, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 11, 9:15 AM PST, 4 hours 55 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 11, 9:15 AM PST, 4 hours 55 minutes before

EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
915 AM PST THU JAN 11 2001

                             ...SYNOPSIS...
A MAJOR WINTER STORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THROUGH FRIDAY.
THIS STORM WILL BRING PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN...SNOW IN THE
MOUNTAINS...AND LOCAL STRONG GUSTY WINDS. LOCAL FLOODING IS POSSIBLE
MAINLY THIS MORNING...ESPECIALLY NEAR AREAS THAT HAVE HAD RECENT
FIRES. IN ADDITION...COASTAL FLOODING IS EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM
DUE TO A COMBINATION OF ASTRONOMICAL HIGH TIDES AND HEAVY SURF.
CLEARING ON THE WEEKEND...THEN DRY OFFSHORE FLOW MUCH OF NEXT WEEK.

                            ...DISCUSSION...
CHECK LIST BELOW AND LAXSPSSAN FOR SUMMARY OF CURRENT STATEMENTS.
STORM IS AS STRONG AS ADVERTISED...IF NOT STRONGER. MAIN BAND OF
HEAVY RAIN MOVING THROUGH AS PLANNED...BETWEEN 4-10 AM. BACK EDGE OF
RAIN MOVING THROUGH NW PART OF CWA AND WE WILL TRANSITION TO A
SHOWERY PATTERN. NEW ETA MODEL...WHICH PEGGED TIMING OF RAIN PRETTY
WELL IN YESTERDAYS RUN...SHOWS A SIMILAR THING FOR FRI. ANOTHER VORT
MAX NOW OVER BAY AREA FCST TO SWING INTO SOCAL BY ABOUT 10Z FRI AM
FOR ANOTHER BAND. THIS DOES NOT LOOK AS HEAVY AS THIS MORNING. THEN
AFTER 18Z FRI...IT GOES SHOWERY AGAIN THEN ENDS FRI EVE. SO FAR
RIVERS AND STREAMS BEHAVING WELL AS RAIN IS NOT QUITE INTENSE
ENOUGH...AND DRY SOILS SUCKING IT UP. AND WITH DECREASE ON THE
WAY...ANY FLOODING LOOKS UNDER CONTROL FOR NOW. SOME SNOW REPORTED BY
SPOTTERS BELOW 4K FT IN SBD MTNS. WILL UPDATE ZONE FCST AT 10 AM TO
DROP FLOOD ADVISORIES TO ADJUST SNOW LEVELS IN MTNS AND FRESHEN UP
CURRENT SITUATION.

COLDEST AIR MOVES INTO REGION LATER TODAY CREATING MORE UNSTABLE
COLUMN OF AIR. WITH SHOWERS MOST OF TODAY...SOME CONVECTION WILL
OCCUR AND MAYBE SOME SEVERE WEATHER. THINGS LIKE TSTORMS WITH
HAIL...WATERSPOUTS AND FUNNEL CLOUDS. MAY NEED TO START SEVERE WX
STATEMENTS ONCE THE FLOOD STATEMENTS STOP. WILL KEEP EYE ON IT.

NO PRECIP INDICATED FOR SAT WITH STRONG NVA AND DRIER WX. POS TILT
TROF STARTS TO FORM SUN...GIVING US CYCLONIC FLOW SUN...AND NE FLOW
WITH STRONG HIGH BUILDING INTO GREAT BASIN FOR A COLD DRY SANTA ANA
WIND EVENT FOR MON-TUE. THEN NICE WARM DRY OFFSHORE WED THRU WEEKEND
OF 20/21.

SAN +99

.SAN...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR MOUNTAINS...SEE LAXWSWSAN.
       URBAN FLOOD ADVISORY WEST OF THE MOUNTAINS...SEE LAXFLSSAN.
       RIVER STATEMENT FOR SAN DIEGO RIVER...SEE LAXRVSSAN.
       HEAVY SURF ADVISORY...SEE LAXMWSSAN.
       POTENTIAL COASTAL THUNDERSTORMS/WATERSPOUTS...SEE LAXMWSSAN.
       COASTAL FLOOD WARNING...SEE LAXCFWSAN.
       SMALL CRAFT@ ADVISORY...SEE LAXCWFSGX.
       HOURLY SUMMARY SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...SEE LAXSPSSAN.

MM

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jan 11, 9:00 AM PST, 5 hours 10 minutes before

CAZ042-043-048-050-055>058-060>062-111900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
900 AM PST THU JAN 11 2001

...SUMMARY OF ALL NON-ROUTINE PRODUCTS ISSUED FOR ORANGE...
SAN DIEGO...SOUTHWEST SAN BERNARDINO...AND WESTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTIES...

ORANGE COUNTY

    URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY UNTIL 10 AM.

    HEAVY SURF ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY FOR ALL BEACHES.

    COASTAL FLOOD WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY.

    MARINE WEATHER STATEMENT FOR THUNDERSTORMS WITH
    POSSIBLE WATERSPOUTS TODAY.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY

    URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY FOR AREAS BELOW
    5000 FT WEST OF THE MOUNTAINS UNTIL 10 AM TODAY.

    WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE 5000 FEET UNTIL
    9 PM TONIGHT.

    HEAVY SURF ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY FOR ALL BEACHES.

    COASTAL FLOOD WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY.

    MARINE WEATHER STATEMENT FOR THUNDERSTORMS WITH
    POSSIBLE WATERSPOUTS TODAY.

SOUTHWEST SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

    URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY FOR AREAS BELOW
    5000 FT WEST OF THE MOUNTAINS UNTIL 10 AM TODAY.

    WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE 5000 FEET UNTIL
    9 PM TONIGHT.

WESTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTY

    URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY FOR AREAS BELOW
    5000 FT WEST OF THE MOUNTAINS UNTIL 10 AM TODAY.

    WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE 5000 FEET UNTIL
    9 PM TONIGHT.

PLEASE REFER TO THE SPECIFIC NON-ROUTINE STATEMENTS FOR DETAILS ON THIS
STORM.

ATKIN

Special weather statement, Jan 11, 10:00 AM PST, 4 hours 10 minutes before

CAZ042-043-048-050-055>058-060>062-112000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
1000 AM PST THU JAN 11 2001

...SUMMARY OF ALL NON-ROUTINE PRODUCTS ISSUED FOR ORANGE...
SAN DIEGO...SOUTHWEST SAN BERNARDINO...AND WESTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTIES...

ORANGE COUNTY

    HEAVY SURF ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY FOR ALL BEACHES.

    COASTAL FLOOD WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY.

    MARINE WEATHER STATEMENT FOR THUNDERSTORMS WITH
    POSSIBLE WATERSPOUTS TODAY.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY

    WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE 5000 FEET UNTIL
    9 PM TONIGHT.

    HEAVY SURF ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY FOR ALL BEACHES.

    COASTAL FLOOD WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY.

    MARINE WEATHER STATEMENT FOR THUNDERSTORMS WITH
    POSSIBLE WATERSPOUTS TODAY.

SOUTHWEST SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

    WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE 5000 FEET UNTIL
    9 PM TONIGHT.

WESTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTY

    WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE 5000 FEET UNTIL
    9 PM TONIGHT.

PLEASE REFER TO THE SPECIFIC NON-ROUTINE STATEMENTS FOR DETAILS ON THIS
STORM.

ATKIN

Special weather statement, Jan 11, 12:00 PM PST, 2 hours 10 minutes before

CAZ042-043-048-050-055>058-060>062-112200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
1200 PM PST THU JAN 11 2001

...SUMMARY OF ALL NON-ROUTINE PRODUCTS ISSUED FOR ORANGE...
SAN DIEGO...SOUTHWEST SAN BERNARDINO...AND WESTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTIES...

ORANGE COUNTY

    HEAVY SURF ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY FOR ALL BEACHES.

    COASTAL FLOOD WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY.

    MARINE WEATHER STATEMENT FOR THUNDERSTORMS WITH
    POSSIBLE WATERSPOUTS TODAY.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY

    WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE 5000 FEET UNTIL
    9 PM TONIGHT.

    HEAVY SURF ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY FOR ALL BEACHES.

    COASTAL FLOOD WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY.

    MARINE WEATHER STATEMENT FOR THUNDERSTORMS WITH
    POSSIBLE WATERSPOUTS TODAY.

SOUTHWEST SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

    WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE 5000 FEET UNTIL
    9 PM TONIGHT.

WESTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTY

    WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE 5000 FEET UNTIL
    9 PM TONIGHT.

PLEASE REFER TO THE SPECIFIC NON-ROUTINE STATEMENTS FOR DETAILS ON THIS
STORM.

ECC

Special weather statement, Jan 11, 2:00 PM PST, 10 minutes before

CAZ042-043-048-050-055>058-060>062-120000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
200 PM PST THU JAN 11 2001

...SUMMARY OF ALL NON-ROUTINE PRODUCTS ISSUED FOR ORANGE...
SAN DIEGO...SOUTHWEST SAN BERNARDINO...AND WESTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTIES...

ORANGE COUNTY

    HEAVY SURF ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY FOR ALL BEACHES.

    COASTAL FLOOD WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY.

    MARINE WEATHER STATEMENT FOR THUNDERSTORMS WITH POSSIBLE
    WATERSPOUTS THROUGH FRIDAY.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY

    WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE 5000 FEET THROUGH
    FRIDAY.

    HEAVY SURF ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY FOR ALL BEACHES.

    COASTAL FLOOD WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY.

    MARINE WEATHER STATEMENT FOR THUNDERSTORMS WITH POSSIBLE
    WATERSPOUTS THROUGH FRIDAY.

SOUTHWEST SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

    WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE 5000 FEET THROUGH
    FRIDAY.

WESTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTY

    WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE 5000 FEET THROUGH
    FRIDAY.

PLEASE REFER TO THE SPECIFIC NON-ROUTINE STATEMENTS FOR DETAILS ON THIS
STORM.

ECC

Special weather statement, Jan 11, 2:00 PM PST, 10 minutes before

CAZ042-043-048-050-055>058-060>062-120000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
200 PM PST THU JAN 11 2001

...SUMMARY OF ALL NON-ROUTINE PRODUCTS ISSUED FOR ORANGE...
SAN DIEGO...SOUTHWEST SAN BERNARDINO...AND WESTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTIES...

ORANGE COUNTY

    MARINE WEATHER STATEMENT FOR HEAVY SURF ADVISORY FOR ALL BEACHES
    AND FOR THUNDERSTORMS WITH POSSIBLE WATERSPOUTS THROUGH
    FRIDAY.

    COASTAL FLOOD WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY

    WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE 5000 FEET THROUGH
    FRIDAY.

    MARINE WEATHER STATEMENT FOR HEAVY SURF ADVISORY FOR ALL BEACHES
    AND FOR THUNDERSTORMS WITH POSSIBLE WATERSPOUTS THROUGH FRIDAY.

    COASTAL FLOOD WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY.

SOUTHWEST SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

    WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE 5000 FEET THROUGH
    FRIDAY.

WESTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTY

    WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE 5000 FEET THROUGH
    FRIDAY.

PLEASE REFER TO THE SPECIFIC NON-ROUTINE STATEMENTS FOR DETAILS ON THIS
STORM.

ECC

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, San Diego

When: January 11, 2:10 PM PST to 2:45 PM PST
Where: San Diego County, La Jolla
Property damage: $45,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

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.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in California in 2001 Every state in 2001 This day in weather history Warnings in California, January 2001

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: 5229066.