A major atmospheric river impacted Southern California February 13th through 15th bringing heavy rain and high winds. Over the course of 48 hours, many mountain locales recorded 8 to 10 inches of rain, with Palomar Mountain (San Diego County) recording over 10 inches of rain in 24 hours.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 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 SGX wrote it up.
A major atmospheric river impacted Southern California February 13th through 15th bringing heavy rain and high winds. Over the course of 48 hours, many mountain locales recorded 8 to 10 inches of rain, with Palomar Mountain (San Diego County) recording over 10 inches of rain in 24 hours. Palm Springs recorded 3.7 inches of rain in 24 hours. This heavy rain resulted in major flash flooding and damage to roads. High snow levels resulted in flooding in the San Bernardino Mountains. Flash flood thresholds were exceeded in the Holy Fire burn scar, with an hourly maximum rainfall rate of 1.02 inches at Leach Canyon. Major flash flooding occurred at the Holy Fire burn scar. Roads were also damaged from this storm, with many roads closed for weeks for major repairs.
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 13, 2:15 PM PST, 2 hours 45 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Diego CA
215 PM PST Wed Feb 13 2019
.SYNOPSIS...
A trough of low pressure to the northwest will direct a strong
atmospheric river into southwest California tonight and Thursday.
Lighter rainfall this evening will become more widespread
overnight. The rainfall will be heavy at times late tonight
through Thursday afternoon with the greatest rainfall on the
coastal mountain slopes. There will also be strong gusty south to
west winds in the mountains and deserts through Friday. Snow
levels initially above 8000 feet will lower significantly
Thursday night and Friday with periods of showers continuing into
Monday.
&&
.DISCUSSION...FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA INCLUDING ORANGE...
SAN DIEGO...WESTERN RIVERSIDE AND SOUTHWESTERN SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTIES...
Are you ready for some rain? A strong atmospheric river with
PWATS satellite estimate nearly 2" just SW of the San Diego area
attm. This atmospheric river plume will interact with an
approaching trough of low pressure late tonight through Thursday
afternoon, bringing periods of heavy rain to the entire region.
The heaviest rains will occur along the coast- facing slopes of
the Peninsular Ranges where amounts of 5-8 inches will be likely,
and isolated amounts could to 10" through Thursday evening.
Amounts along the coast- facing portions of the San Bernardino
Mountains may be nearly as high as those mountains further south
in the Peninsular Ranges. With snow levels likely 8000-10000 feet,
heavy rain combined with snow melt in the higher mountains will
contribute to large amounts of runoff and likely widespread
flooding problems.
In the coast and valley areas we are expecting widespread amounts
of 2 to 3 inches with isolated 4" amounts likely especially in
the eastern foothills. These amounts expected through Thursday
evening will likely cause widespread flooding of urbanized areas,
poor drainages, and low water crossings throughout the urbanized
areas. Rapid rises on local streams and rivers will also
contribute to additional flooding issues and river flood warnings
have already been issued for the San Diego and Santa Margarita
Rivers for expected exceedance of flood stages there. Flash flood
watches have been extended to the lower deserts as well, even
though rainfall will mainly be between 0.75-1.50 inches, due also
to expected flooding of the Whitewater and Coachella Drainages.
Winds will also be strong from the southwest to the west across
the mountains and deserts and wind alerts have been expanded and
extended through Friday night as continued strong winds will
likely occur, especially near the mountain peaks and along the
desert slopes.
The good news regarding this strong AR storm is an approaching
upper level trough of low pressure Thursday night will gradually
shut off the water hose from the tropics.
A colder airmass will gradually replace the tropical airmass
through this weekend with successive upper level trough features
moving into SoCal during this time frame. Snow levels will drop
with each system and by Friday night through the weekend, and we
could see some minor snow accumulations at the pass levels.
&&
.AVIATION...
132130Z...BKN-OVC at or abv 4000 feet MSL. Gradually increasing SHRA
this afternoon with bases lowering to 2500-3000 feet MSL around 01Z
Thu. Local cig 1500-2500 feet MSL and vis 3-5sm in SHRA obscuring
higher terrain through tonight.
Southerly winds 20-30 knots with gusts to 50 knots will will produce
strong up/downdrafts over and north/east through tonight.
&&
.MARINE...
A storm will bring southerly winds 15-20 kt with gusts to 25 kt this
afternoon, increasing to 20-25 kt with gusts to 30 kt tonight
through early Thursday afternoon, generating rough seas. A Small
Craft Advisory is in effect through 4 PM Thursday. Showers will turn
into widespread rain early Thursday morning. Northwest winds could
produce hazardous conditions intermittently over the weekend.
&&
.SKYWARN...
Skywarn activation is requested for Thursday for significant flooding
concerns.
&&
.SGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...High Wind Warning until 4 AM PST Saturday for Riverside County
Mountains-San Bernardino County Mountains-San Diego County
Mountains.
Flash Flood Watch from late tonight through Thursday evening for
Apple and Lucerne Valleys-Coachella Valley-Orange County
Coastal Areas-Orange County Inland Areas-Riverside County
Mountains-San Bernardino County Mountains-San Bernardino
and Riverside County Valleys-The Inland Empire-San Diego
County Coastal Areas-San Diego County Deserts-San Diego
County Mountains-San Diego County Valleys-San Gorgonio Pass
Near Banning-Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills.
Wind Advisory from 1 PM Thursday to 4 AM PST Saturday for Apple
and Lucerne Valleys-Coachella Valley-San Diego County
Deserts-San Gorgonio Pass Near Banning.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 4 PM PST Thursday for Coastal Waters
from San Mateo Point to the Mexican Border and out to 30 nm-
Waters from San Mateo point to the Mexican Border Extending
30 to 60 nm out including San Clemente Island.
&&
PUBLIC...Brotherton
AVIATION/MARINE...PGThe Santa Ana Mts radar (KSOX), 36 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:58 UTC.
13 flash flood, 2 flood, 2 high wind, 1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Storm channels were inundated by flash flooding with up to 2 inches of rain in 3 hours. Streets were closed and homes threatened by waters.
Flooding occurred in Ramona with up to 2 feet of standing water. Severe damage to portions of highway 78 and 79 along the shoulder of the road. Boulders and rocks fell on highways. 3 to 6 inches of rainfall in about 12 hours.
Extensive flooding on San Diego River in Mission Valley including Fashion Valley mall. Road closures due to flowing water and parking garage and golf course flooded. San Diego River reached 12.1 feet which is above flood stage.
A total of 5 to 10 inches of rain occurred on the Palomar mountain coastal slopes in 12 hours. This lead to flash flooding in Pala with road damage and swift water rescues.
Multiple swift water rescues on Santa Margarita river reported by lifeguards. 4 to 8 inches of rainfall occurred over the river drainage.
Heavy rainfall of 3 to 6 inches occurred in 12 hours and up to 1 inch per hour rates. This was the most significant flash flooding and debris flows since the December 6, 2018 event. The Holy fire scar flooded and sent debris flows through Temescal Canyon road and into homes and over roadways. Riverside County reported up to 70 million dollars in flood control structure damage in the 8 canyons affected.
Flash flooding in Big Bear City with up to 1 foot of moving water and 2 feet of standing water in the city streets. Water flows in to Lucerne Valley produced a large standing lake near Highway 18. Big Bear City received up 6 inches of rain in 24 hours.
Highway 18 received 5 to 10 inches of rain with snow levels at 10,000 feet. Runoff caused extensive damage to the state highway and it was closed to all traffic through March 2. This affected Snow Valley snow sports which was closed for 3 weeks. Emergency repairs were day and night to repair the road damage.
Flash flooding closed Mt. Baldy Road and caused debris flows. Rancho Cucamonga Creek recorded up to 8000 CFS. 4 to 8 inches of rain occurred in about 12 hours. Snow levels were as high as 10,000 feet resulting in excessive additional runoff.
Rainfall of 4 to 8 inches of occurred in less than 24 hours (heaviest during the morning and early afternoon hours on February 14). Debris flows and heavy runoff into the San Jacinto creek caused widespread damage to state highway 74 including complete wash outs at Strawberry Creek below the Cranston Burn Scar. Caltrans continues to complete repairs with only escorted vehicles allowed as of late April 2019.
Heavy rainfall of 3 to 5 inches occurred on the desert slope of Mt San Jacinto and the Coachella Valley floor. This resulted in massive flooding and water flow into the Whitewater river (up to 10,000 CFS). Flooding severely damaged highway 111 causing a week long closure.
Flash flood on Palm Springs Tram Road completely destroyed the road. The tram and the road were closed through April 2. 3 to 5 inches of rain occurred in the dry side of Mt. San Jacinto. Security video on YouTube capture the major debris flow and flood.
Widespread flooding and flash flooding in Coachella Valley reported in Indian Canyon|and tributaries to the Whitewater River. Palm Springs airport set a daily record for rainfall with 3.6 inches, most of the rainfall in less than 6 hours. The City of Indio alone reported 1 million in roadway damages from flooding.
Heavy Rainfall of 5 to 9 inches in 24 hours caused devastating flash floods on Highway 243 north of Idyllwild. The state highway remains closed as of late April 2019. This was north of the Cranston Burn Scar.
Coronado Cays reported a peak wind gust of 47 knots between 1000 and 1100 PST on February 14th. Damages were reported along the San Diego coast.
Swift water rescue near Barona Indian Reservation on Wildcat Canyon road. Heavy rainfall of 4 to 6 inches occurred in about 12 hours.
Peak wind gust at Wrightwood ASOS was 53 knots between 1200 and 1300 PST on February 14th. Extensive wind damage was reported at Mountain High Resort in Wrightwood.
Banning ASOS reported a peak wind gust of 52 knots between 1400 and 1500 on February 14th.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in California, February 2019
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: 811068, 811069, 811070, 810252, 810255, 810260, 810269, 810219, 810264, 810206, 810221, 810245, 810277, 810199, 810672, 810257, 810665, 810669.