Flood in California, February 21, 2005

Name: Flood in California, February 21, 2005
Start: 2005-02-21T15:30
End: 2005-02-21T18:15
Location: California

February 21, 2005 · NWS SGX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

1 flood, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: 1
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $75,000
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 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 Feb 21, 2:10 PM PST, 1 hour 20 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 21, 2:10 PM PST, 1 hour 20 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
210 PM PST MON FEB 21 2005

.SYNOPSIS...A STRONG WINTER STORM WILL CONTINUE TO BRING PERIODS OF
RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THE PRECIPITATION WILL BE
HEAVY AT TIMES WITH STRONG THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE AND FLOODING
LIKELY. DRY WEATHER IS EXPECTED LATER THIS WEEK UNDER WEAK HIGH
PRESSURE.

&&

.DISCUSSION...FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA INCLUDING ORANGE...
SAN DIEGO...WESTERN RIVERSIDE AND SOUTHWESTERN SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTIES.

STEADY RAIN FELL MOST OF THE DAY IN THE LOWER ELEVATIONS WITH
EMBEDDED HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. STREET FLOODING WAS WIDELY
REPORTED THROUGHOUT THE DAY. SEVERAL MUD AND ROCKSLIDES WERE ALSO
REPORTED. SNOW FELL ABOVE 6200 FEET.

THE WATER VAPOR LOOP SHOWS A DRY SLOT PUNCHING INTO SOCAL THIS
AFTERNOON...COINCIDING WITH THE BACK EDGE OF THE PRECIP OVER THE
COASTAL AREAS. SKIES CLEARED IN A FEW COASTAL AND INLAND AREAS IN
THE AFTERNOON. THE ATMOSPHERE IS STILL SATURATED IN THE LOWER LEVELS
SO SHOWERS WILL LIKELY CONTINUE IN THE FOOTHILLS AND MOUNTAINS
ALTHOUGH NOT QUITE AS HEAVY OR WIDESPREAD AS EARLIER TODAY. THIS
RESPITE WILL BE SHORTLIVED AS A SERIES OF SHORTWAVES ROTATES AROUND
THE UPPER LOW OFF THE COAST AND MOVES ACROSS SOCAL TONIGHT THROUGH
TUESDAY NIGHT. DEEP MOISTURE IN THE SOUTHWEST FLOW AHEAD OF THE
TROUGH WILL RESULT IN MORE RAIN IN THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS ON
ALREADY SATURATED GROUND...INCREASING THE THREAT FOR ROCK AND
MUDSLIDES.

SNOW LEVELS WERE NEAR 6200 FEET THIS AFTERNOON AND WILL SLOWLY LOWER
TO 5500 FEET WEDNESDAY AS COLD AIR SLOWLY SPREADS IN FROM THE WEST.
HIGH WATER CONTENT AND SYNOPTIC SCALE LIFT COMBINED WITH OROGRAPHICS
IN THE SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT WILL RESULT IN 1 TO 3 FEET OF SNOW ABOVE
6500 FEET.

ON WEDNESDAY THE CLOSED LOW WILL BE SITUATED OVER SAN DIEGO COUNTY.
ENOUGH RESIDUAL MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY WILL EXIST FOR SCATTERED
SHOWERS CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY BEFORE DECREASING OVERNIGHT.
THURSDAY LOOKS MOSTLY DRY AT THIS TIME...BUT THE MODELS ARE NOT
FORECASTING A STRONG RIDGE TO BUILD OVER THE WEST AS THEY WERE
EARLIER. EXPECT A GRADUAL DECREASE IN THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE ON
THURSDAY AND FRIDAY UNDER WEAK ZONAL FLOW.

&&

.SGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 3 PM...SEE LAXSPSSGX.

FLOOD WATCH FOR ALL OF SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA FROM UNTIL TUESDAY
EVENING...
SEE LAXFFASGX.

WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM TUESDAY FOR THE
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS...
SEE LAXWSWSGX.

SNOW ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM TUESDAY FOR SAN DIEGO COUNTY
MOUNTAINS...
SEE LAXWSWSGX.

HIGH SURF ADVISORY AND RIP CURRENT RISK FOR ORANGE COUNTY AND SAN
DIEGO COASTAL AREAS...
SEE LAXSRFSGX AND CFWSGX.

POTENTIAL FOR THUNDERSTORMS AND WATERSPOUTS IN THE COASTAL WATERS
THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...
SEE LAXMWSSGX.

&&

MOEDE

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 21, 3:00 PM PST, 30 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
300 PM PST MON FEB 21 2005

CAZ042-043-048-050-055-056-057-058-060-061-062-221400-
ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL AREAS-
SAN DIEGO COUNTY COASTAL AREAS-
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY VALLEYS-THE INLAND EMPIRE-
SAN DIEGO COUNTY VALLEYS-
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
SANTA ANA MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS-
SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
APPLE AND LUCERNE VALLEYS-
COACHELLA VALLEY-
SAN DIEGO COUNTY DESERTS-
300 PM PST MON FEB 21 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ALL OF EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN
CALIFORNIA.

.DAY ONE... TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT.

A STRONG STORM MOVING THROUGH SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA WILL CONTINUE
SHOWERS...HEAVY AT TIMES...AND SNOW IN THE MOUNTAINS. LOCAL PONDING
OF WATER AND ROCK AND MUD SLIDES ARE POSSIBLE IN STEEP TERRAIN.

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH TONIGHT FOR THE
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS ABOVE 5500 FEET...AND
SNOW ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS
ABOVE 5500 FEET THROUGH TONIGHT. SEE LAXWSWSGX.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE AREA BELOW THE
SNOW LEVEL THROUGH TONIGHT. SEE LAXFFASGX.

MARINE WEATHER STATEMENT FOR THE COASTAL WATERS. SEE LAXMWSSGX.

HIGH SURF ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT. SEE LAXCFWSGX.

LOCAL DENSE FOG IN THE MOUNTAINS WITH VISIBILITY BELOW ONE QUARTER
MILE AT TIMES.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.

THE STORM WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT ALL OF SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA INTO
WEDNESDAY.

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM TUESDAY FOR THE
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS ABOVE 5500 FEET...AND
SNOW ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS
ABOVE 5500 FEET UNTIL 600 PM TUESDAY. SEE LAXWSWSGX.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL TUESDAY EVENING FOR THE
ENTIRE AREA BELOW THE SNOW LEVEL UNTIL TUESDAY EVENING. SEE
LAXFFASGX.

HIGH SURF ADVISORY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. SEE LAXCFWSGX.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED.

ATKIN

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 21, 11:47 AM PST, 3 hours 43 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
1147 AM PST MON FEB 21 2005

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0836 AM     FLOOD            FOUNTAIN VALLEY         33.71N 117.95W
02/21/2005                   ORANGE             CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            URBAN FLOODING IN HUNTINGTON BEACH NEAR EDINGER AND
            GOTHARD. SMALLER STREAMS AND DRAINAGE CHANNELS ARE
            REACHING CAPACITY.

1035 AM     FLOOD            SAN DIEGO               32.72N 117.16W
02/21/2005                   SAN DIEGO          CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            BRIEF HEAVY RAIN IN POINT LOMA. RIGHT LANES OF ROSECRANS
            STREET FLOODED. UNDER ESTIMATED ONE FOOT OF WATER.

1046 AM     FLOOD            5 ENE DANA POINT        33.48N 117.62W
02/21/2005                   ORANGE             CA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            ROADWAY FLOODING IN SEVERAL AREAS ALONG HIGHWAY 74.

1046 AM     FLOOD            5 E TEMECULA            33.50N 117.04W
02/21/2005                   RIVERSIDE          CA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            RUSHING WATER OVER THE ROADWAY AT PECHANGA PKWY AND WOLF
            VALLEY RD.

&&

PG

Local storm report, Feb 21, 12:36 PM PST, 2 hours 54 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
1236 PM PST MON FEB 21 2005

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1231 PM     FLOOD            ADELANTO                34.57N 117.44W
02/21/2005                   SAN BERNARDINO     CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MANY ROADS IN THE VICTOR VALLEY FLOODED WITH WATER OR
            MUD. INTERSECTION OF HWY 18 AND 395 NEARLY IMPASSABLE DUE
            TO MUD FLOW.

&&

PG

Local storm report, Feb 21, 2:11 PM PST, 1 hour 19 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
211 PM PST MON FEB 21 2005

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0200 PM     FLOOD            SAN DIEGO               32.72N 117.16W
02/21/2005                   SAN DIEGO          CA   COUNTY OFFICIAL

            SAN DIEGO RIVER GAGE AT FASHION VALLEY AT 11.3 FT AND
            RISING...AT LAKE HODGES WATER IS 0.5 FT OVER THE SPILLWAY
            AND RISING AT ABOUT 0.1 FT PER HOUR...THE SANTA MARGARITA
            RIVER IS FLOODING AT SANDIA CREEK RD. WATER IS 1.5 FT
            OVER THE ROAD...SAN LUIS REY RIVER 1.5 FEET AT
            I-15...SPRING VALLEY CREEK IS 4 FT OVER QUARRY ROAD WHICH
            IS CLOSED...ESCONDIDO CREEK 3 FT OVER THE ROAD AT COUNTRY
            CLUB ROAD.

&&

PG

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 County Coasts

When: February 21, 3:30 PM PST to 6:15 PM PST
Where: San Diego County Coasts forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 37.567, -119.867

The San Diego River rose above flood stage early in the afternoon on the 21st, crested at 11.46 feet at 5:15 PM that evening, and fell back below flood stage an hour later. The river washed out a low water crossing in the Mission Valley area and caused flooding in the typical trouble spots around the Fashion Valley Mall. A man described as a transient was swept away on the 22nd when he tried to wade across the rain-swollen river. His body was recovered two weeks later.

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
Flood, San Diego County Coasts	2005-02-22		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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in California in 2005 Every state in 2005 This day in weather history Warnings in California, February 2005

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: 5441775.