California, 2015

Flood in California, February 6 to 8, 2015

February 6 to 8, 2015 · NWS MFR · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Heavy rains brought flooding to streams and some urban areas in Siskiyou County.

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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
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 MFR wrote it up.

Heavy rains brought flooding to streams and some urban areas in Siskiyou County.

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 Medford, OR wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 6, 2:58 AM PST, 6 hours 2 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 6, 2:58 AM PST, 6 hours 2 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
258 AM PST FRI FEB 6 2015

.DISCUSSION...A VERY ENERGETIC PATTERN REMAINS IN PLACE OVER THE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST THIS MORNING. A BROAD UPPER LOW IS AFFECTING
MUCH OF THE NORTHEAST PACIFIC AND WE ARE ON THE LEADING EDGE OF
THE MOISTURE AND ENERGY AND WILL REMAIN UNDER THE GUN THROUGH THE
WEEKEND.

A VERY STRONG JET STREAK (~135 KT AT 400 MB) EMBEDDED WITHIN THE
MAIN FLOW IS APPROACHING THE COAST THIS MORNING AND WILL MOVE
ONSHORE THIS AFTERNOON. THE ASSOCIATED MOISTURE PLUME WILL
CONTINUE TO PRODUCE MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN OVER OUR AREA,
ESPECIALLY IN THE UPSLOPE AREAS FROM THE CASCADE CREST WESTWARD.
GOING PRECIPITATION FORECASTS HAVEN'T BEEN CHANGED THIS MORNING,
AND A VARIETY OF FLOOD WATCHES (INCLUDING FOR BURN SCARS IN
CALIFORNIA) REMAIN IN EFFECT.

WINDS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED AS IT HAS BEEN QUITE A BIT WINDIER THIS
MORNING THAN EXPECTED. WE'VE ALREADY SEEN A GUST TO 123 MPH AT
SQUAW PEAK, AND STRONG WINDS HAVE BEEN MIXING DOWN INTO THE
VALLEYS AS WELL, ESPECIALLY WHEN AIDED BY THE DOWNWARD MOMENTUM
FROM HEAVIER BURSTS OF RAIN. WE'VE HAD SEVERAL OF THOSE IN MEDFORD
ALREADY, AND WINDS HAVE GUSTED AS HIGH AS 44 MPH AS A RESULT. THE
COAST, PORTIONS OF THE SHASTA VALLEY, AND THE EAST SIDE HAVE ALSO
BEEN GETTING PUMMELED WITH HIGH WINDS. I'VE EXPANDED THE HIGH WIND
WARNINGS WE ALREADY HAD FOR THESE LOCATIONS, AND I ALSO ISSUED A
WIND ADVISORY FOR MUCH OF THE ROGUE VALLEY THIS MORNING TO BRIDGE
THE GAP WE HAD UNTIL THE HIGH WIND WARNING BEGINS FOR THE ROGUE
VALLEY LATER THIS MORNING. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO PEAK LATE THIS
MORNING AS THE JET STREAK MOVES ASHORE, AND ALL GUIDANCE SHOWS A
FEW HOURS OF VERY WINDY WEATHER FROM LATE MORNING INTO EARLY
AFTERNOON. THE MOUNTAINS AND EAST SIDE WILL PEAK A LITTLE LATER
TODAY.

THIS IS ALL JUST ROUND ONE WITH AT LEAST TWO MORE ROUNDS TO GO.
ANOTHER WAVE  OF LOW PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO MOVE ALONG THE COAST
BRINGING HEAVY RAIN AND WIND ON SATURDAY. THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
A VERY STRONG SYSTEM WITH MORE HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WINDS SUNDAY.
SUNDAY'S SYSTEM IS ONE TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON AS THE MODELS SHOW A
STRONG, NEGATIVELY TILTED UPPER SYSTEM WITH STRONG SURFACE LOW
PRESSURE MOVING INSIDE 130W. THIS IS A CLASSIC PATTERN FOR A
DAMAGING WIND STORM AT THE COAST. THE SYSTEMS OVER THE WEEKEND
WILL CERTAINLY NECESSITATE MORE WIND WARNINGS AND WE MAY ALSO NEED
ADDITIONAL FLOOD HEADLINES AS WELL. WE'VE CHOSEN NOT TO COMPLICATE
AN ALREADY VERY COMPLICATED WATCH, WARNING, AND ADVISORY MAP BY
ADDING ANY WATCHES FOR LATER STORMS. HOWEVER, RESIDENTS AND
TRAVELERS IN THE AREA SHOULD BE AWARE THAT VERY WET AND WINDY
WEATHER IS EXPECTED FOR MOST OF OUR AREA THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

QUIETER WEATHER LOOKS TO BE IN THE OFFING FOR NEXT WEEK AS AN
UPPER RIDGE BUILDS BACK OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. -WRIGHT

&&

.AVIATION...BASED ON THE 06/06Z TAF CYCLE...WIND SHEAR WILL BE A
CONCERN AT OR NEAR ALL 4 OF THE TERMINALS THROUGH THE DAY AS WINDS
INCREASE TO 50-60 KNOTS AROUND 2000 FEET ABOVE GROUND WHILE SOME
SHELTERED VALLEY LOCATIONS MAINTAIN LIGHT WINDS AT TIMES. EAST OF
THE CASCADES SOME HIGHER LEVEL WINDS OF 50 TO 70 KNOTS WILL LIKELY
MIX DOWN INTO THE VALLEYS THIS MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON. THIS MAY
BRING VERY STRONG WIND GUSTS TO EAST SIDE TERMINALS. COASTAL
LOCATIONS AND SOME WEST SIDE VALLEYS, INCLUDING KMFR ARE ALSO
EXPECTED TO SEE PERIODS OF STRONG GUSTY WINDS TODAY.  STRONG WINDS
ALOFT WILL ALSO CREATE WIDESPREAD TURBULENCE WITH STRONG MOUNTAIN
WAVE TURBULENCE EXPECTED. ADDITIONAL STRONG STORMS ARE EXPECTED
THROUGH SUNDAY AND MAY BRING ADDITIONAL PERIODS OF STRONG WINDS AND
WIDESPREAD TURBULENCE.

EXPECT MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN ALONG THE COAST WITH MOUNTAIN
OBSCURATIONS TO THE COAST RANGE AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS. WINDS ARE
EXPECTED TO PEAK LATE TONIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING ALONG THE COAST BUT
WILL REMAIN GUSTY THROUGH THE 24 HOUR PERIOD.  INLAND...ALSO EXPECT
MODERATE RAINFALL, WITH AREAS OF HEAVY RAIN MAINLY FOR WESTERN AND
SOUTHERN SISKIYOU COUNTY, INCLUDING KMHS. THIS WILL BRING AREAS OF
MVFR CIGS TO THE COAST THIS MORNING...SPREADING INTO AREAS FROM THE
CASCADES WEST AS THE DAY PROGRESSES. IFR CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE IN
PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN. WIDESPREAD MOUNTAIN OBSCURATIONS
ARE EXPECTED. SK

&&

.MARINE...UPDATED 600 PM PST THURSDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2015....A SERIES OF
STRONG FRONTS WILL MOVE THROUGH THE WATERS INTO THIS WEEKEND. THE
NEXT FRONT WILL MOVE INTO THE WATERS THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT AND
WILL BRING STRONGER WINDS THAN THE PREVIOUS FRONT WITH STRONG GALES
TO STORM FORCE WINDS EXPECTED. WINDS AND SEAS ARE EXPECTED TO PEAK
LATE THIS EVENING INTO TONIGHT.  SEAS ARE FORECAST TO BUILD  TO
AROUND 18 TO 22 FEET DURING THIS PERIOD. ANOTHER STRONG FRONTS WILL
WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA ON SATURDAY AND MAY BRING ADDITIONAL GALES.
THEN SUNDAY AFTERNOON INTO SUNDAY EVENING, MODELS SHOW A STRONG LOW
APPROACHING THE WATERS FRONT THE SOUTHWEST AND MOVING NORTH ALONG
THE OREGON COAST. THIS MAY BRING THE POTENTIAL FOR ANOTHER STRONG
GALE TO STORM EVENT.  VERY STEEP AND HAZARDOUS SEAS ARE EXPECTED
THROUGH SATURDAY WITH ADDITIONAL VERY STEEP SEAS LATE SUNDAY INTO
MONDAY. /CC

&&

.MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR ORZ030-031.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR ORZ030-031.

     HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 10 AM PST SATURDAY FOR ORZ021-022.

     FLOOD WATCH THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON FOR ORZ021>024-026-028.

     HIGH SURF ADVISORY UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING FOR ORZ021-022.

     WIND ADVISORY FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM PST THIS EVENING
     FOR ORZ023>025.

     HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON FOR ORZ027>029.

     HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM PST THIS
     EVENING FOR ORZ026.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR ORZ026.

CA...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR CAZ081-085.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR CAZ081-085.

     FLOOD WATCH THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON FOR CAZ080>083-085.

     FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR CAZ080-081.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON FOR CAZ084.

PACIFIC COASTAL WATERS...STORM WARNING UNTIL 7 AM PST THIS
     MORNING FOR PZZ350-356-370-376.

     GALE WARNING UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON FOR PZZ350-356-370-
     376.

     HAZARDOUS SEAS WARNING UNTIL 4 PM PST SATURDAY FOR PZZ350-356-
     370-376.

&&

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 6, 7:34 AM PST, 1 hour 26 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
734 AM PST FRI FEB 6 2015

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

0733 AM     HEAVY RAIN       2 ESE ASHLAND           42.18N 122.66W
02/06/2015  M1.45 INCH       JACKSON            OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            24 HR RAINFALL ENDING AT 7:00 AM PST. HEAVY
            RAIN DURATION 24 HOURS. OBSERVER LOCATION 2
            MI. S. OF ASHLAND AIRPORT.

&&

FB
Local storm report, Feb 6, 7:43 AM PST, 1 hour 17 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
743 AM PST FRI FEB 6 2015

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

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       4 W MERLIN              42.51N 123.49W
02/06/2015  M3.32 INCH       JOSEPHINE          OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTS A 24-HOUR RAINFALL
            OF 3.32 INCHES TAKEN AT 7:00 AM. HEAVY RAIN
            DURATION 24 HOURS. OBSERVER LOCATION 1.5 MI
            DOWNSTREAM OF ROBERTSON BRIDGE.

&&

BS
Local storm report, Feb 6, 8:01 AM PST, 59 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
801 AM PST FRI FEB 6 2015

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

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       5 NNE NORTH BEND        43.47N 124.20W
02/06/2015  M2.07 INCH       COOS               OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTS A 24 HOUR
            RAINFALL TOTAL OF 2.07 INCHES TAKEN AT 7:00
            AM. HEAVY RAIN DURATION 24 HOURS. OBSERVER
            LOCATION 6 MI N OF NORTH BEND.

&&

BS
Local storm report, Feb 6, 8:20 AM PST, 40 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
820 AM PST FRI FEB 6 2015

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

0820 AM     HEAVY RAIN       6 SE SELMA              42.23N 123.52W
02/06/2015  M2.59 INCH       JOSEPHINE          OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            24 HOUR RAINFALL ENDING AT 8 AM PST. HEAVY
            RAIN DURATION 24 HOURS. OBSERVER LOCATION N
            FORK THOMPSON CR RD ACROSS FROM BORICA.

&&

FB
Local storm report, Feb 6, 8:43 AM PST, 17 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
843 AM PST FRI FEB 6 2015

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

0840 AM     HEAVY RAIN       2 ENE MURPHY            42.36N 123.29W
02/06/2015  M1.97 INCH       JOSEPHINE          OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            24 HR RAINFALL ENDING AT 8 AM. HEAVY RAIN
            DURATION 24 HOURS. OBSERVER LOCATION GRANTS
            PASS.

0839 AM     HEAVY RAIN       5 NNW BROOKINGS         42.12N 124.32W
02/06/2015  M2.97 INCH       CURRY              OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            24 HR RAINFALL ENDING AT 8 AM. HEAVY RAIN
            DURATION 24 HOURS. OBSERVER LOCATION 5 MI N
            OF BROOKINGS NEAR CAPE FERRELO.

0837 AM     HEAVY RAIN       5 N WEED                41.49N 122.37W
02/06/2015  M2.40 INCH       SISKIYOU           CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            24 HR RAINFALL ENDING AT 8 AM. WIND GUSTS TO
            35 MPH. HEAVY RAIN DURATION 24 HOURS.
            OBSERVER LOCATION 1 MILES N OF GENANDA.

&&

NWS MEDFORD OR
IRIS SYSTEM
Local storm report, Feb 6, 8:50 AM PST, 10 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
850 AM PST FRI FEB 6 2015

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

0848 AM     HEAVY RAIN       2 SSW OBRIEN            42.05N 123.71W
02/06/2015  M4.80 INCH       JOSEPHINE          OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            24 HOUR RAIN TOTAL. 3.01 MIDNIGHT TO 8 AM.
            SCANNER REPORTS OF ROADS CLOSED DUE TO
            FLOODING AROUND O'BRIEN.

&&

JBL

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, Siskiyou

When
February 6, 9:00 AM PST to February 8, 9:00 AM PST
Where
Siskiyou County, Callahan
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
41.320, -122.800

Flooding was reported along the Scott River near Callahan and near Kidder Creek. There were also reports of farmland flooding along the Shasta River.

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

More

Every storm in California in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in California, February 2015

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: 551679.