Debris Flows in California, January 7 to 8, 2005

Name: Debris Flows in California, January 7 to 8, 2005
Start: 2005-01-07T17:00
End: 2005-01-08T21:37
Location: California

January 7 to 8, 2005 · NWS HNX · 3 events in 2 counties and zones

Continued precipitation on saturated soils generated some rock falls on rural roads near Mariposa in Mariposa County and Badger in Tulare County in the early evening hours of the 7th. The period of rainfall lasting from the 7th through 11th resulted in additional rock slides onto Highway 49 at French Camp Road in Mariposa County early in the evening of the 8th.

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $30,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

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 HNX wrote it up.

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 Hanford, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 7, 3:50 PM PST, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 7, 3:50 PM PST, 1 hour 10 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA
350 PM PST FRI JAN 7 2005

.SHORT TERN...FOR THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INTERIOR...THE LATEST
POTENT WINTER STORM WAS MOVING INTO CALIFORNIA TODAY...BRINGING
STRONG...GUSTY WINDS TO THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INTERIOR AND LOCALLY
HEAVY SNOW TO THE MOUNTAINS. SNOW HAS ENDED IN THE KERN COUNTY
DESERTS...AFTER ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES FELL...SO HAVE
ALLOWED THE SNOW ADVISORY FOR THE KERN COUNTY DESERTS TO EXPIRE.

SATELLITE LOOPS SHOW THE FIRST UPPER-LEVEL LOW HAS OPENED INTO A
SHORT-WAVE TROUGH AND IS MERGING WITH THE LOW WEST OF OREGON. AS
THE SHORT-WAVE GETS CAUGHT IN THE CYCLONIC FLOW AROUND THE LOW...IT
WILL LIFT NORTHEAST...RELAXING THE PRESSURE GRADIENTS ACROSS THE
STATE. AS A RESULT...EXPECT WINDS TO DIMINISH THIS EVENING ACROSS
THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AND THE SIERRA NEVADA FOOTHILLS.

THE 12/18Z MODELS FORECAST THE LOW OFF OREGON TO REMAIN NEARLY
STATIONARY THROUGH SUNDAY WITH THE A STRONG UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH IN
PLACE ALONG THE COAST. ANOTHER SHORT-WAVE WILL ROTATE THROUGH THE
TROUGH TONIGHT AND SATURDAY...BRINGING ANOTHER ROUND OF RAIN AND
MOUNTAIN SNOW TO THE HANFORD WARNING/FORECAST AREA AFTER THE RESPITE
SEEN AT THIS TIME BETWEEN SHORT-WAVES. FOR MONDAY...THE TROUGH IS
FORECAST TO MOVE ONSHORE...ALTHOUGH THE MODELS DIFFER SOMEWHAT ON
TIMING. AS THE TROUGH MOVES INTO THE STATE...IT WILL BRING ANOTHER
PUSH OF RAIN AND SNOW TO THE REGION. AS A RESULT...WILL EXTEND THE
WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA AND THE KERN
COUNTY MOUNTAINS THROUGH MONDAY.

WITH SOIL NEAR SATURATION FROM THE RECENT RAINS...THE NEXT RAIN
EPISODES WILL ADD TO THE RUNOFF INTO STREAMS...CREEKS...AND AREAS
WITH POOR DRAINAGE. WILL EXTEND THE SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY FOR
THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS THROUGH MONDAY...AND WILL ISSUE
AN URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY FOR THE CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AND THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA FOOTHILLS.

.LONG TERM...FOR MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY...EXTENDED RANGE PROGS
REMAIN IN FAIRLY GOOD AGREEMENT MOVING THE UPPER LOW THROUGH CENTRAL
CALIFORNIA MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY...SHIFTING IT EAST OF THE REGION
BY TUESDAY EVENING. WILL CONTINUE WITH CHANCE POPS TUESDAY AS THE
LOW MOVES THROUGH...THEN JUST SOME LINGERING SHOWERS IN THE
MOUNTAINS TUESDAY NIGHT. A RIDGE WILL BUILD OVER THE EASTERN PACIFIC
WEDNESDAY FOR DRIER CONDITIONS ACROSS CENTRAL CALIFORNIA. THE RIDGE
AXIS WILL SHIFT TO A POSITION ALONG THE COAST THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.
WITH PLENTY OF MOISTURE IN THE VALLEY...THIS WILL BRING A RETURN TO
FOG IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY.

&&

.HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE
                                   SOUTHERN SIERRA AND TEHACHAPI
                                   MOUNTAINS THROUGH MONDAY.
                                ...HIGH WIND WARNING FOR THE
                                   CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN SAN
                                   JOAQUIN VALLEY THROUGH 7 PM
                                   THIS EVENING.
                                ...WIND ADVISORY FOR THE
                                   FOOTHILLS OF THE SOUTHERN
                                   SIERRA NEVADA THROUGH 7 PM
                                   THIS EVENING.
                                ...SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY
                                   FOR THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS
                                   AND DESERTS THROUGH MONDAY.
                                ...URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD
                                   ADVISORY FOR THE CENTRAL AND
                                   SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
                                   AND THE FOOTHILLS OF THE
                                   SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA THROUGH
                                   MONDAY.

&&

SANGER/BEAN

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 7, 5:00 PM PST, 0 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED ISSUANCE TIME
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA
500 PM PST FRI JAN 7 2005

CAZ096-097-081300-
SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON-TULARE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
500 PM PST FRI JAN 7 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA
FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON...AND THE TULARE COUNTY MOUNTAINS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MONDAY.
PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE /WWUS46 KHNX/
FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

THE WINTER STORM WARNING WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY. PLEASE REFER
TO THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE /WWUS46 KHNX/ FOR FURTHER
DETAILS. FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS
EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS TO THEIR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

CAZ093-094-081300-
MARIPOSA MADERA AND FRESNO COUNTY FOOTHILLS-TULARE COUNTY FOOTHILLS-
500 PM PST FRI JAN 7 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE SIERRA NEVADA FOOTHILLS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM THIS EVENING. PLEASE REFER
PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST WEATHER MESSAGE /WWUS76 KHNX/ FOR
FURTHER DETAILS.

ALSO...A SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MONDAY.
PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST FLOOD STATEMENT /WGUS86 KHNX/ FOR FURTHER
DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

THE SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY.
PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST FLOOD STATEMENT /WGUS86 KHNX/ FOR FURTHER
DETAILS. FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS
EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS TO THEIR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

CAZ098-099-081300-
INDIAN WELLS VALLEY-SOUTHEASTERN KERN COUNTY DESERT-
500 PM PST FRI JAN 7 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE INDIAN WELLS VALLEY...AND
THE SOUTHEASTERN KERN COUNTY DESERT.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

A SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 6 PM
MONDAY. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY
/WGUS86 KHNX/ FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

THE SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY CONTINUES THROUGH MONDAY.
PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY /WGUS86 KHNX/
FOR FURTHER DETAILS. FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD...NO HAZARDOUS
WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS TO THEIR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

CAZ089>092-081300-
WEST CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-EAST CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-
SOUTHWESTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-SOUTHEASTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-
500 PM PST FRI JAN 7 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN SAN
JOAQUIN VALLEY.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

A HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM THIS EVENING.
PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST WEATHER MESSAGE /WWUS76 KHNX/ FOR FURTHER
DETAILS.

AN URBAN AND SMALL STREAMS FLOOD ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT
UNTIL 6 PM MONDAY.  PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST FLOOD STATEMENT
/WGUS86 KHNX/ FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

THE URBAN AND SMALL STREAMS FLOOD ADVISORY WILL CONTINUE THROUGH
MONDAY. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST FLOOD STATEMENT /WGUS86 KHNX/
FOR FURTHER DETAILS. FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD...NO HAZARDOUS
WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS TO THEIR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

CAZ095-081300-
KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
500 PM PST FRI JAN 7 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MONDAY.
PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE /WWUS46 KHNX/
FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

A SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MONDAY.
PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST FLOOD STATEMENT /WGUS86 KHNX/ FOR FURTHER
DETAILS.

.DAY TWO...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

THE WINTER STORM WARNING WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY. PLEASE
REFER TO THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE /WWUS46 KHNX/ FOR FURTHER
DETAILS.

THE SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY ALSO.
PLEASE REFER TO THE FLOOD STATEMENT /WGUS86 KHNX/ FOR FURTHER
DETAILS. FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS
EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS TO THEIR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

JWM

Event by event

3 debris flow. Local standard time, as filed.

Debris Flow, S Sierra Foothills

When: January 7, 5:00 PM PST to 7:00 PM PST
Where: S Sierra Foothills forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Debris Flow, Tulare Cty Foothills

When: January 7, 5:00 PM PST to 7:30 PM PST
Where: Tulare Cty Foothills forecast zone
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Debris Flow, S Sierra Foothills

When: January 8, 5:45 PM PST to 9:37 PM PST
Where: S Sierra Foothills forecast zone
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

What these are

Debris Flow: A fast-moving slurry of mud, rock and debris, usually on a slope soaked by heavy rain or stripped by a fire.

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, January 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: 5438318, 5438319, 5438320.