Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in California, November 8 to 9, 2022

High winds impacted portions of the Inland Empire on the 8th and 9th of November. A peak wind gust of 59 mph occurred in Lake Elsinore. In Devore, winds were strong enough to blow a semi truck onto its side.

High winds impacted the San Gorgonio Pass on the 8th and 9th of November. Peak wind gusts of 60 mph occurred at the Snowcreek Canyon SoCal-Edison site, with a peak gust of 58 mph at the Whitewater SoCal-Edison site.

High winds impacted the Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills on the 8th and 9th of November. Peak wind gusts of 63 mph occurred at the Fremont Canyon RAWS site.

High winds impacted the Riverside County Mountains on the 8th and 9th of November. Peak wind gusts of 67 mph occurred at the Toro Peak HPWREN site.

High winds impacted the Apple and Lucerne Valleys on the 8th and 9th of November. Wind gusts of 50-60 mph were fairly common. Peak wind gusts of 72 mph occurred at the Oak Hills SoCal-Edison site, with gust to 71 mph occurring at the Burns Canyon Road SoCal-Edison site.

Strong wind gusts of 40-55 mph occurred across inland portions of Orange County on November 8th and 9th, strongest on the 8th. Multiple reports of tree limbs blown down and roof shingles blown off were received in both the Santa Ana and La Habra areas on the afternoon of November 8th.

Heavy rain fell across the San Bernardino County Mountains on November 8. The following are rain reports from the region:|Mesonet station FW6602 Running Springs reported 5.11 inches of heavy rain.|Mesonet station SSVC1 San Sevaine Lookout reported 3.66 inch of heavy rain.|Mesonet station LTLC1 Lytle Creek RAWS reported 3.12 inch of heavy rain.

High winds impacted the San Bernardino County Mountains on the 8th and 9th of November. Wind gusts of 60 to 80 mph were common. Peak gusts of 101 mph at Burns Canyon and 89 mph at the Silverwood Lake SoCal-Edison site were observed. Several reports of trees down and trees falling on power lines were received. In Wrightwood, winds were strong enough to break a double pane window on a house.

High-elevation heavy snow impacted the San Bernardino County Mountains November 8-9, with snow levels starting above 8000 feet on November 8, falling as low as 5700 feet on November 9 after the cold frontal passage. Amounts of 1 to 4 inches were common, with locally higher amounts up to 8 inches at Bear Mountain Snow Summit, and up to 5 inches in Snow Valley. The Mount Baldy Notch Ski area reported extensive rime as a result of the snow and very strong winds that occurred with this system.

Heavy rain fell across Orange County on November 8, leading to flooding. The Department of Highways reported flooding on the off ramp of I-5 at El Toro Rd near Lake Forest, and flooding on the onramp to I-5 from Oso Parkway.

Flooding was reported across the Inland Empire on November as widespread rain fell. The Department of Highways reported flooding at SR-60 West and the Phillips Ranch Road offramp in the morning, with an additional report of two vehicles stuck in flood waters after attempting to drive through a closed off ramp onto Euclid.

Ontario Fire department reported 6 person in the swiftwater channel in John Galvin park where the channel begins near I-10. Rainfall rates of 0.50 to 0.75 inches per hour had occurred from 7 am to 9 am in Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga. 3 persons were rescued. 3 more person were later found drowned in a retaining pond which was filled 15 to 20 feet high with storm runoff water. The bodies were not found until several days later due the water being too deep and low visibility. Multiple agencies were involved in the week long recovery efforts. The channel runs south past Ontario airport to where it reached the storage collection ponds on East Philadelphia Street. Search and rescue in Cucamonga Channel reported by CalOES and Ontario Fire Department. As many as 10 people experiencing homelessness were swept away as a surge of water occurred following 2 hours of heavy rain. Five people were immediately rescued, one person immediately reported deceased, with two additional bodies recovered (one of November 14, the other on November 16).

Flooding was reported across the Inland Empire on November as widespread rain fell. The Department of Highways reported flooding at I-10 W/Euclid Ave, with three lanes experiencing water and debris. The offramp of Highway 91 to Adams street was also flooded.

Heavy rain fell across the San Bernardino County Mountains into the far northern portions of the Inland Empire on November 8. The Department of Highways reported that SR-18 was closed in both directions due to flooding from 48th street to SR-138/18 bridge, as well as water flowing over the roadway on Institution Road and Verdemont Ranch Road.

Heavy rain fell in and around the Apple/ El Dorado burn scar on November 8, resulting in debris flow and flash flooding. Roadway flooding was reported on Oak Glen Road and Potato Canyon Road, with the roadway washing out at 12099 Oak Glen Road.

Department of Highways reported washouts on Ice House Canyon Road and Mt Baldy Road, with vehicles stuck. Total rainfall of 3.7 inches at Mt Baldy.

The Department of Highways reported flooding and debris on Highway 138 and Waters Drive, with 3 inches of water covering the roadway. Total rainfall of 3 to 4.5 inches at Crestline to Lake Arrowhead. Mud and debris also covered Cajon Blvd and Kenwood Ave.

Periods of moderate rainfall fell across the San Diego metro area on the afternoon of November 8. Several reports of flooding were received:|The Department of Highways reported flooding on Highway 94 and Federal Blvd, where 0.50 inch fell in three hours.|The Department of Highways also reported flooding at SR 94 and College Ave.|A National Weather Service employee reported roadway flooding on University Ave where rainfall of 0.25-0.30 inch had been reported in one hour.

Heavy rain fell in and around the Apple/ El Dorado burn scar on November 8, resulting in debris flow flooding. Roadway flooding was reported on Oak Glen Road and Potato Canyon Road at 12099 Oak Glen Road. El Dorado burn scar and flood prone area has had many prior flash floods and debris flows.

Flooding was reported across the Inland Empire on November as widespread rain fell. The Department of Highways reported flooding in one lane on SR-79 at Garboni Road.

Gusty onshore winds occurred through the afternoon and evening hours of November 8 across the San Diego County Valleys. The following are reports of damage:|The Department of Highways reported a downed, 20-foot palm tree, which was blocking traffic lanes near Rainbow.|The Department of Highways reported a tree limb blocking northbound Gird Road southeast of Fallbrook.|The Department of Highways reported a downed tree blocking eastbound lanes of W Lilac Road at the Highway 395 intersection.|The Department of Highways reported a few large tree branches downed on Circle Road east of Bonsall.|Also, a National Weather Service employee a downed, large eucalyptus tree off of Rancho Bernardo Road, with many small downed limbs as well.

Swiftwater rescue along North Indain Canyon Drive in Whitewater Wash in Palm Springs around 12:30 PM. Multiple vehicles were trapped with three drivers and a dog rescued successfully. Multiple roads, including Gene Autry Trail, Indian Canyon Drive, Vista Chino Road and North Indian Canyon Drive remained closed through 6 AM the following day.

Periods of moderate rainfall fell across the San Diego metro area on the afternoon of November 8. The following are received reports of flooding:|The Department of Highways reported flooding along SR 67 and the off ramp towards Bradley Ave. Rainfall of 0.5 inch was reported in three hours.|The Department of Highways reported flooding across the on ramp to I-15 south at Rancho Bernardo Road, with one stalled vehicle.

Mesonet station HP029 Cuyamaca Peak reported a peak wind gust of 73 mph.

Department of Highways reported flooding at the intersection of Arrowhead Lake Road and Havenhurst Road.

Public report of a downed tree blocking lanes of the onramp of southbound I-5 at Carlsbad Village Drive. Reports of wind gusts between 40-45 mph were also observed at the San Clemente Buoy and the Scripps La Jolla Buoy.

A trained spotter reported 1.43 inch of storm total rainfall from November 8.