An Urban and Small Stream Flood Warning was issued for California zone CAZ080/081/082/083 at 1038 PST on 04/16 and expired at 0900 PST on 04/18. Heavy rains did occur, but the only verifying report was the one listed above.
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.
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 episode as NWS MFR wrote it up.
An Urban and Small Stream Flood Warning was issued for California zone CAZ080/081/082/083 at 1038 PST on 04/16 and expired at 0900 PST on 04/18. Heavy rains did occur, but the only verifying report was the one listed above.
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 Medford, OR wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 17, 8:57 AM PST, 2 hours 32 minutes earlier.
SOUTHWEST OREGON AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD, OR
857 AM PST TUE FEB 17 2004
.DISCUSSION...
WILL START WITH WINDS. BUSY MORNING WITH LOW PRESSURE CENTER
BRUSHING BY THE SOUTHERN OREGON COAST THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON. WINDS
HAVE COME UP DRAMATICALLY AT THE COAST WITH LIGHT WINDS CHANGING
RAPIDLY TO SOUTH AT 60 TO 65 MPH ALONG THE COASTAL STRIP. THE SHASTA
VALLEY WIND WAS ALSO COMING UP QUICKLY WITH WEED GUSTING TO 42 MPH
WITH 55+ MPH EXPECTED BEFORE 10 AM. THE ROGUE AND UMPQUA VALLEYS
HAVE NOT SEEN THE WIND COME UP YET ON THE VALLEY FLOOR BUT THE
HIGHER ELEVATIONS ARE EXPERIENCING STRONGER WINDS WHICH SHOULD
INCREASE INTO LATE MORNING. IT DOESNT LOOK LIKE THE EAST SIDE WILL
SEE HIGH WIND WARNING CRITERIA MET TODAY...ALTHOUGH IT WILL BECOME
WINDY AND MAY GET TO ADVISORY CRITERIA...THE VERY STRONG WINDS ALOFT
WILL LIKELY NOT SURFACE ACROSS THE VALLEYS. THE 12Z KMFR SOUNDING
SHOWED NO DISTINCT MID LEVEL INVERSION TO HELP DEFLECT THE STRONG
WINDS DOWN TO THE VALLEY FLOORS.
HAVE HAD NO WEATHER SPOTTER FEEDBACK ON THE URBAN AND SMALL STREAM
FLOOD WARNINGS FOR SISKIYOU...CURRY...COOS...AND JOSEPHINE COUNTIES.
SURPRISINGLY THE INLAND VALLEYS HAD JUST AS MUCH RAIN AS MANY
COASTAL LOCATIONS. STREAMS WERE RUNNING LOW BEFORE THIS RAIN AND
HAVE COME UP SIGNIFICANTLY BUT IT APPEARS THAT ANY FLOODING IS
PROBABLY MINOR...AND THE GREATEST FLOODING POTENTIAL WOULD BE IN
SISKIYOU COUNTY WHERE 3-4 INCHES OF RAIN FELL IN 24 HOURS. DOES NOT
APPEAR THAT ANY FLOODING WILL OCCUR ON THE MAINSTEM RIVER SINCE
LEVELS WERE VERY LOW TO BEGIN WITH AND THIS EVENT WAS NOT VERY
PROLONGED NOR EXCESSIVE.
HAD SOME IMPRESSIVE SNOW AT THE VERY HIGH ELEVATIONS. MT ASHLAND SKI
AREA HAD 24+ INCHES AND BLIZZARD CONDITIONS AT 6500-7500 FT. CRATER
LAKE HAD 23 INCHES...CRESCENT ON HWY 97 HAD 6 INCHES OF WET HEAVY
SNOW. AMAZINGLY...THERE WAS SOME SNOW IN HAPPY CAMP (1100 FT) DUE TO
VERY HEAVY PRECIPITATION RATES AND TRAPPED COLD AIR.
WILL WAIT A COUPLE HOURS TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH THE VARIOUS WIND
AND FLOOD STATEMENTS...ALTHOUGH MAY DOWNGRADE EAST SIDE WIND WARNING
TO AN ADVISORY SOON.
&&
.MFR...WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...GALE WARNING FLORENCE, OR TO CA BORDER.
URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD WARNING ZONES 21,22,24.
HIGH WIND WARNING TODAY 21,22
HIGH WIND WARNING TODAY ZONES 29>31.
WIND ADVISORY TODAY 24,26.
CA...GALE WARNING OR BORDER TO PT ST GEORGE, CA.
URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD WARNING ZONES 80>83.
HIGH WIND WARNING TODAY ZONE 81.
HIGH WIND WARNING TODAY ZONES 83>85.
WIND ADVISORY TODAY ZONES 80,82.
&&
SANDLERHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR 547 AM PST TUE FEB 17 2004 PZZ350-353-356-370-373-376-181430- CAPE ARAGO TO FLORENCE, OR 20 TO 60 NM- CAPE ARAGO TO FLORENCE, OR WESTWARD 20 NM- CAPE BLANCO TO CAPE ARAGO, OR 20 TO 60 NM- CAPE BLANCO TO CAPE ARAGO, OR WESTWARD 20 NM- PT. ST. GEORGE, CA TO CAPE BLANCO, OR 20 TO 60 NM- PT. ST. GEORGE, CA TO CAPE BLANCO, OR WESTWARD 20 NM- 547 AM PST TUE FEB 17 2004 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHERN OREGON AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA .DAY ONE...TODAY GALE WARNING FROM FLORENCE OREGON TO CALIFORNIA BORDER AND FROM PT ST GEORGE CALIFORNIA TO THE OREGON BORDER. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. CAZ080-083-ORZ021-022-024-181430- CURRY COUNTY COAST-EASTERN CURRY COUNTY AND JOSEPHINE COUNTY- NORTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST SISKIYOU COUNTY- SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST-WESTERN SISKIYOU COUNTY- 547 AM PST TUE FEB 17 2004 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHERN OREGON AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA .DAY ONE...TODAY URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD WARNING. HIGH WIND WARNING FOR CURRY COUNTY COAST AND SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST. AND FOR NORTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST SISKIYOU COUNTY IN CALIFORNIA. WIND ADVISORY FOR JACKSON...JOSEPHINE AND EASTERN CURRY COUNTY OF OREGON. WIND ADVISORY FOR WESTERN AND CALIFORNIA. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. CAZ081-085-ORZ029-031-181430- CENTRAL AND EASTERN LAKE COUNTY-CENTRAL SISKIYOU COUNTY- KLAMATH BASIN-MODOC COUNTY- 547 AM PST TUE FEB 17 2004 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHERN OREGON AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA .DAY ONE...TODAY HIGH WIND WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. CAZ082-181430- SOUTH CENTRAL SISKIYOU COUNTY- 547 AM PST TUE FEB 17 2004 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHERN OREGON AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA .DAY ONE...TODAY WIND ADVISORY FOR SOUTH CENTRAL SISKIYOU COUNTY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. ORR
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
934 AM PST TUE FEB 17 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0859 AM HEAVY RAIN DUNSMUIR 41.23N 122.27W
02/17/2004 3.42 INCH SISKIYOU CA TRAINED SPOTTER
24 HOUR ACCUMULATION ENDING AT 8 AM.
0855 AM SNOW ASHLAND 42.19N 122.70W
02/17/2004 8.00 INCH JACKSON OR TRAINED SPOTTER
SNOW ACCUMULATION OVERNIGHT. CURRENTLY RAINING
HARD.LOCATED AT TOP OF SISKIYOU PASS EAST OF I-5 AT
ELEVATION OF 4750 FEET.
0854 AM HEAVY RAIN WEED 41.42N 122.38W
02/17/2004 3.39 INCH SISKIYOU CA TRAINED SPOTTER
24 HOUR ACCUMULATION ENDING AT 7 AM.
&&
LLJPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
946 AM PST TUE FEB 17 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0943 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 S MCCLOUD 41.21N 122.14W
02/17/2004 4.47 INCH SISKIYOU CA TRAINED SPOTTER
24 HR TOTAL ENDING AT 9AM.
0941 AM HEAVY RAIN 5 N BROOKINGS 42.13N 124.29W
02/17/2004 2.57 INCH CURRY OR TRAINED SPOTTER
24 HR TOTAL ENDING AT 8AM.
&&
LLJPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
1014 AM PST TUE FEB 17 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1009 AM HEAVY RAIN MEDFORD 42.34N 122.85W
02/17/2004 1.77 INCH JACKSON OR TRAINED SPOTTER
1.77 INCHES IN THE PAST 24 HOURS ENDING AT 10 AM.
&&
RESPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
1048 AM PST TUE FEB 17 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0640 AM AVALANCHE 2 E ASHLAND 42.19N 122.66W
02/16/2004 JACKSON OR TRAINED SPOTTER
SOUTHEAST WINDS 40+ MPH.
1100 AM HEAVY RAIN SELMA 42.28N 123.61W
02/15/2004 1.19 INCH JOSEPHINE OR TRAINED SPOTTER
PAST 48 HOURS ENDING AT 11 AM.
&&
LLJPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT ... CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
1050 AM PST TUE FEB 17 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1109 PM HEAVY RAIN HAPPY CAMP 41.79N 123.38W
02/16/2004 0.00 INCH SISKIYOU CA TRAINED SPOTTER
SY100 REPORTED .87 OF AN INCH OR RAIN PAST 8 HOURS, JUST
STARTED SNOWING.
&&
LLJPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
1059 AM PST TUE FEB 17 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1057 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 S ASHLAND 42.18N 122.70W
02/17/2004 2.25 INCH JACKSON OR TRAINED SPOTTER
20 HOUR ACCUMULATION ENDING AT 11 AM.
&&
LLJThe Medford radar (KMAX), 56 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:30 UTC.
1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A county official reported flooding on College Ave. in Weed at 0935 PST.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2004Every state in 2004This day in weather historyWarnings in California, February 2004
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: 5384102.