An atmospheric river sank south and stalled over Humboldt, Del Norte, and western Trinity counties, bringing widespread rains between 3 and 7 inches to the region. Rain fell over a short period of time, 8-10 hours, resulting in the highest flows on the Mad River and Redwood Creek since the 1970s.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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 EKA wrote it up.
An atmospheric river sank south and stalled over Humboldt, Del Norte, and western Trinity counties, bringing widespread rains between 3 and 7 inches to the region. Rain fell over a short period of time, 8-10 hours, resulting in the highest flows on the Mad River and Redwood Creek since the 1970s. Widespread creek flooding occurred in Del Norte and Humboldt counties with multiple homes damages or destroyed.
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 Eureka, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 13, 6:14 AM PST, 3 hours 8 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Eureka CA
614 AM PST Sat Jan 13 2024
.SYNOPSIS...Moderate to heavy rainfall as well as strong gusty
winds will occur across Northwest California today. Flooding
impacts can be expected with this system. Snow impacts will be
restricted to far northeastern Trinity. Calmer weather is expected
Sunday through early next week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...Doppler radar imagery shows steadier and more
widespread precipitation across Northwest California this morning
as strengthening warm air advection and moisture transport
approaches. A shortwave trough located over the NEPAC along with
its surface cyclone will continue to gradually move southeast
approaching southwest Oregon and northwest California this
afternoon. This feature is strengthening the warm air advection
and moisture transport moving into the region. Latest IR satellite
imagery shows cooling cloud tops spreading across the area and
suggesting a strong dynamic forcing. This along with the
strengthening moisture flux will promote moderate to heavy rain
is expected from this morning through late afternoon. The 00Z HREF
the peak rainfall rates increasing to around 0.50"/hr to 0.75"/hr
in Del Norte and Humboldt counties, while the 10Z HRRR model
suggest peak rates from 0.50"/hr to 0.90"/hr. Storm total rainfall
into late this afternoon will vary from 2 to 4 inches at lower
elevations from as far south as Ukiah all the way to Crescent
City, while 3.5" to 6" in the coastal mountains due to a strong
orographic lifting...The King Ranges could even see isolated 7.5".
However, downsloping winds will limit rainfall potential to areas
like Humboldt Bay and Hayfork with total rainfall from 1.0" to
2.0". Lake County will likely see the least rain with amounts in
the southeast from Clearlake to Cache Creek with amounts up to
0.5". Concentrated rainfall will bring a risk of widespread
flooding in small streams and even some mainstem rives (see
hydrology section below).
In addition, snow impact will likely over northeast Trinity
county through this afternoon. Trapped cold air and upsloping
will keep the snow levels lower, above 3,000 feet, for the Trinity
Horn today. This is evident in the observed low temperatures
running from upper 20s to mid 30s. Moderate to locally heavy
snowfall is expected for elevations above 3,000 feet. There is no
significant changes in the most recent storm total snow amounts.
Still expecting snow fall of 8 to 13 inches at Scott Mountain
Summit. 2 to 5 inches of wet snow along lower elevations of
Highway 3. 1 to 3 inches of wet snow on Highway 299 near Buckhorn
Summit. Blustery snow is possible with gusty winds up to 40 mph.
A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect through 9PM this evening.
Gusty southerly winds around 25 to 40 mph are already observed
across the northern coastal headland and exposed ridges. The low
level jet associated with the cyclone combined with 40-60 kt west-
southwesterlies in the 925-825 mb layer will promote gusty winds
up to 50 mph for the more prominent ridges and coastal headlands
like the King Range. Crescent City even should see wind gust up
to around 45 mph. Only on localized peaks of Del Norte does the
NBM place a 60-80% chance of peak wind gusts near 50 mph.
The storm is expected to exit the area this evening, with
precipitation gradually winding down tonight into Sunday morning
with cold air advection. Dry weather is generally expected Sunday
and Monday. The next chance for rain is expected later on Tuesday.
There is still a lot of uncertainty on the strength and timing of
this system with subtropical moisture moving toward the region,
but most of the ensembles are showing it to be much weaker than
the current system.
&&
.AVIATION...Atmospheric river currently making landfall as higher
rain rates are being observed as well as gusty southerly winds. Low
Level Wind Shear is to be expected at all terminals with up to 50
kts as low as 1000 feet at KCEC this afternoon. MVFR conditions with
occasional periods of IFR are being observed as heavier rain rates
reduce visibility. Low and Mid level ceilings persist as integrated
water vapor transport sources moisture to the area. A low level jet
will keep southerly winds elevated through the afternoon. Winds
will turn more westerly and strengthen again in the late afternoon
as a cold front approaches from the west. Post frontal conditions
will have diminished winds and improved fight conditions by Sunday
afternoon. /EYS
&&
.MARINE...An upper level low pressure system moves towards the
Southern Oregon Coast and Northwest California. Southerly winds have
increased overnight spreading from the northern waters to the
southern waters. Small craft wind conditions persist with Gale force
gusts through early Sunday morning. As the pressure gradient
tightens this morning, gale gusts will occur in the outer waters
with more widespread gale gusts in the northern outer waters. NBM
indicates up to a 95 percent chance of gusts equal to 34 knots or
higher with about a 60 to 80 percent chance of gusts equal to 41
knots or higher in the northern outer waters. Gale gusts are
definitely expected, but will be short lived, most likely occurring
this morning and mid afternoon.
A confused and varying sea state will build later this afternoon as
the southwesterly winds and locally derived wind waves meet long
period NW and mid-period W swell. The combined sea state today and
into Sunday will be about 10 to 11 feet in the inner waters and
potentially up to 15 feet in the northern outer waters. General sea
state will decline to below 10 feet going into Monday as the winds
rapidly calm. /JLW /EYS
&&
.HYDROLOGY...Moderate to heavy rainfall this morning through late
this afternoon will bring the risk of flooding in small creeks,
streams and urban areas. The areal Flood Watch remain in effect
through late tonight. Main stream river will rise rapidly this
evening. CNRF is forecasting the Mad River in Arcata and the
Russian River near Hopland reaching flood stage later this
afternoon and evening. The Russian River in Hopland is forecast
to reach flood stage (15 ft) at 4PM and peak around 18 feet at
11PM local time. The mad River in Arcata is expected to reach
flood stage (22 ft) around 8PM and peak around 23 feet at 10PM
local time. A localized River Flood Watch remains in effect for
both rivers. The Van Duzen, Eel, and Smith rivers are all expected
to reach monitor stage; all show a less than 15 percent chance in
ensemble guidance of reaching flood stage. Elsewhere, the Garcia
river near Point Arena, Navarro River near Navarro, and Scott
Creek near Lakeport are all additional areas of concern for more
long lived flooding. Other common areas to flood, such as Jacoby
and Elk creeks near Humboldt Bay, could see impacts but will most
likely be short lived with water receding by late tonight.
&&
.EKA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...
Flood Watch through late tonight for CAZ101>106-108>115.
Winter Storm Warning until 9 PM PST this evening for CAZ107.
NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA COASTAL WATERS...
Small Craft Advisory until 9 AM PST this morning for PZZ450-
470-475.
Gale Warning from 9 AM this morning to 3 PM PST this
afternoon for PZZ450-470-475.
Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PST Sunday for PZZ455.
&&
Visit us at https://www.weather.gov/eureka
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter at:
https://www.facebook.com/NWSEureka
https://www.twitter.com/NWSEureka
For forecast zone information
see the forecast zone map online:
https://www.weather.gov/images/eka/zonemap.png<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Service Notice</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
<main class="wrap">
<section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
<div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
<h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
<p id="message1">
The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
</p>
<p id="message2">
Please try again in a few minutes.
</p>
<p class="small" id="detail">
If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
</p>
</section>
</main>
<script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html><!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Service Notice</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
<main class="wrap">
<section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
<div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
<h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
<p id="message1">
The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
</p>
<p id="message2">
Please try again in a few minutes.
</p>
<p class="small" id="detail">
If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
</p>
</section>
</main>
<script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html><!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Service Notice</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
<main class="wrap">
<section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
<div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
<h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
<p id="message1">
The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
</p>
<p id="message2">
Please try again in a few minutes.
</p>
<p class="small" id="detail">
If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
</p>
</section>
</main>
<script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Eureka CA
805 AM PST Sat Jan 13 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0805 AM Landslide 7 W Willits 39.38N 123.48W
01/13/2024 Mendocino CA Public
Mudslide along highway 20.
&&
JHWPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Eureka CA
910 AM PST Sat Jan 13 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0909 AM Landslide 3 SE Salyer 40.87N 123.53W
01/13/2024 Trinity CA Law Enforcement
Mudslide impacting highway 299.
&&
JHWPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Eureka CA
920 AM PST Sat Jan 13 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0920 AM Flood 8 SSE Laytonville 39.57N 123.44W
01/13/2024 Mendocino CA Law Enforcement
Minor flooding along roads off of the
highway.
&&
JHWThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 flood, 1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Tree down on Highway 101 near Smith River.
Jacoby Creek flooded Old Arcata Road and other secondary roads.
Smith River exceeded flood stage at the Crescent City gauge in Hiouchi.
The Mad River stream gauge at Arcata exceeded flood stage and reached the 2nd highest stage ever recorded. Extensive flooding occurred of the Mad River Bottoms on both sides of the river. North Bank Road, Mad River Road, Silva Road, and Fischer Road all were flooded.
Smith River exceeded flood stage at the Dr. Fine Bridge gauge. Route 197 was flooded and closed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in California, January 2024
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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1151583, 1151584, 1151573, 1151575, 1151574.