California, 2026Heavy Rain in California, May 26, 2026
May 26, 2026 · NWS STO · 1 event in 1 county or zone
Showers and thunderstorms brought wet road conditions on May 26th to Highway 50 in El Dorado County. Just east of Ice House Road, a vehicle veered off the roadway and into the American River.
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- Deaths
- 2
- Injuries
- 2
- 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.
Showers and thunderstorms brought wet road conditions on May 26th to Highway 50 in El Dorado County. Just east of Ice House Road, a vehicle veered off the roadway and into the American River. Rainfall amounts of 0.15-0.25 were observed at the time of the incident. There were two fatalities and two injuries with this.
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 Sacramento, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 26, 11:46 AM PST, 3 hours 14 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Cooler, unsettled weather this week with scattered showers and thunderstorms
- Chance for light, high elevation mountain snow along Sierra tonight-Thursday morning
- Warmer weather by this weekend, with Moderate HeatRisk potentially by Monday
Area forecast discussion, May 26, 11:46 AM PST, 3 hours 14 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Sacramento CA
1246 PM PDT Tue May 26 2026
For additional details on weather and expected impacts over the
next 7 days, please visit weather.gov/sto/briefing.
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Cooler, unsettled weather this week with scattered showers and
thunderstorms
- Chance for light, high elevation mountain snow along Sierra
tonight-Thursday morning
- Warmer weather by this weekend, with Moderate HeatRisk
potentially by Monday
&&
.DISCUSSION...
...Today through Saturday...
An upper low pressure system has already begun to descend upon
Northern California, bringing much cooler temperatures, showers, and
scattered cloud cover to the area. A few thunderstorms are
beginning to develop along the northern Sierra as well. This
system is tracking further south, faster than previous model runs,
resulting in increased scattered shower potential today through
Thursday. NBM and HIRES models continue to favor Shasta County and
the Sierra north of I-80 as the highest likelihood for
thunderstorm development today, with a nonzero chance in the
Valley/foothills. Thunderstorm chances expand to include the
entire Sierra Wednesdsay-Thursday. Snow levels will be at 7000
feet and above, but will slowly drop toward 6000-7000 feet late
tonight and into Wednesday. Areas south of Highway 50 in the
Sierra at the higher elevations have the best chances to see snow.
Accumulations are expected to be minor, but may result in slick
roads.
As the low meanders along the CA-NV border, wrap around moisture
will bring chances for lingering rain showers Friday morning
along with isolated thunderstorm potential on Saturday. Be sure to
stay weather aware this week, especially if traveling up in to
the mountains for recreation.
...Sunday and onward...
Drier weather with gradually warming temperatures as heights
begin to increase. We'll still be underneath broad, weak
troughing pattern which will keep temperatures closer to seasonal
averages with breezy onshore flow on Sunday. Moderate HeatRisk
begins to creep into the area on Monday and Tuesday, remaining
mainly in the foothills and northern Sacramento Valley. There is
still uncertainty regarding how quickly ridging builds. If it
trends later in the week, this may lead to continued cooler
temperatures into next week.
&&
.AVIATION...
VFR conditions and scattered MVFR conditions are expected today as
a low pressure system moves through the area. Isolated MVFR due to
light rain and mist at times through 18Z, with a 15 to 20% chance
of isolated -TSRA in the foothills/Valley between 22Z today and
02Z Wednesday. Higher likelihood (25 to 35% chance) of showers
and thunderstorms over the mountains 20Z to 04Z. North winds will
be breezy at RBL and RDD with gusts 15-20kts until 23Z today.
Surface winds will generally be 12kts or less, but gusty and
erratic winds will be possible around any thunderstorms that
develop.
&&
.STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&
Heavy Rain, El Dorado
- When
- May 26, 3:00 PM PST to 3:30 PM PST
- Where
- El Dorado County, 0.42 mi WNW of Riverton to 0.41 mi WNW of Riverton
- Deaths
- 0 direct, 2 indirect
- Injuries
- 0 direct, 2 indirect
- Reported by
- Broadcast Media
- Coordinates
- 38.772, -120.457
Broadcast Media relayed information from California Highway Patrol regarding an accident that occurred on May 26th around 4 PM PDT. Showers and thunderstorms brought wet road conditions on May 26th to Highway 50 in El Dorado County. Just east of Ice House Road, a vehicle veered off the roadway and into the American River. Rainfall amounts of 0.15-0.25 were observed at the time of the incident. A 35 year old woman died at the scene, and a 5 year old boy died in the hospital as a result of the accident. An 11 year old boy and a 41 year old man were injured from this accident.
- Heavy Rain
- Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, May 26 to 27, 2026$70,000 · EF1 · 35 events
- Flash Flooding in Virginia, May 26, 2026$100,000 · 9 events
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Texas, May 26, 2026$51,000 · 1 in hail · 11 events
- Flash Flooding and Flood in Texas, May 26 to 27, 202661 kt wind · 16 events
- Damaging Wind in Oklahoma, May 26, 2026$20,000 · 65 kt wind · 1 event
- Flash Flood in Virginia, May 26, 2026$20,000 · 1 event
- Damaging Winds and Heavy Rain in Montana, May 26, 202655 kt wind · 4 events
- Flash Flooding and Flood in South Carolina, May 26, 202652 kt wind · 4 events
- Hail in Wisconsin, May 26, 20261.25 in hail · 4 events
- Damaging Winds in Montana, May 26, 202663 kt wind · 4 events
- High Wind in Nevada, May 26, 202668 kt wind · 3 events
- High Wind in California, May 26, 202657 kt wind · 2 events
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: 1331085.