West Coast Flooding

Losses, 2024 dollars

$6.0 billion

Losses at the time

$3.0 billion

Deaths

36

The losses and deaths are NCEI’s, counting everything the disaster did. The episodes below are only what the Weather Service filed in its Storm Events record, which counts damage differently and often not at all, so the two never add up and are shown apart.

• Flood in California, December 30 to 31, 19961 death · 1 eventFlooding reported along Canyon Creek and the Trinity River near Junction City. Flooded also near Carrville and Weaverville. The driver of a car swept into Swift Creek at Trinity Center was washed away and drowned when he tried to exit the vehicle.
• Flood in California, December 30 to 31, 19961 eventWidespread flooding of streams and rivers. Most rivers were still rising as the year ended. Some of the streams and rivers that flooded were: Janes Creek, Deans Creek, Klamath River at Turwar, Van Duzen River at Grizzly Creek, Eel River at Fernbridge and Eel River near Scotia.
• Flood in California, December 30 to 31, 19961 eventThe Garcia River flooded Highway 1 near Point Arena, the Navarro River flooded 12 miles of Highway 128 near the junction with Highway 1 and 10 Mile River flooded homes 8 miles north of Fort Bragg.
• Flood in California, December 30 to 31, 19961 eventNumerous small streams, creeks and low-lying areas flooded, especially in the Willits area. Highway 101 near Laytonville was inundated.
• Flash Flood in Texas, December 31, 1996$5,000 · 1 eventSTREET FLOODING IN GANADO.
• Flash Flood in California, December 31, 19961 death · 1 eventA 45year old female was intoxicated and was seeking shelter under the Brickwood Ave. Bridge on the Santa Rosa Creek in Santa Rosa. The highwater had swept her away and she was not found till a few days later.
• Flood in California, December 31, 19961 eventRussian River at Guernville in Sonoma Co. exceeded Flood level of 32 feet. The Napa river at Napa began flooding at 03:45 AM. Napa county is in our realigned zones. 4 to 6 inches of rain fell over this area in 24 hours.
• Heavy Rain in New Jersey, December 31, 199620 eventsDecember 1996 was the wettest December on record (1895-present) for New Jersey. The statewide average of 7.9 inches surpassed the previous record of 7.29 inches set in 1973.
• Heavy Rain in Pennsylvania, December 31, 199610 eventsDecember 1996 was one of the wettest Decembers on record for Eastern Pennsylvania. Precipitation amounts ranged from about 4 inches above normal in Berks County to around 6.5 inches above normal in both Delaware and Monroe Counties.
• Heavy Rain in Maryland, December 31, 19965 eventsDecember 1996 was one of the wettest Decembers on record for the Maryland Eastern Shore. Rainfall amounts were three to five inches above normal. County average monthly totals ranged from 6.5 inches in Talbot to 8.5 inches in Cecil County.
• Heavy Rain in Delaware, December 31, 19964 eventsDecember 1996 was one of the wettest Decembers on record for Delaware. Rainfall amounts were about four to five inches above normal. County average monthly totals ranged from 7.4 inches in Sussex County to 8.8 inches in New Castle County.
• Heavy Rain in New Jersey, December 31, 199620 eventsAccording to state climatological records, the year 1996 was the wettest on record (1895-present) for New Jersey. The state-wide average was 59.97 inches, about 14.5 inches above normal. The previous record was 58.85 inches set in 1975.
• Heavy Rain in Pennsylvania, December 31, 199610 eventsThe year 1996 was one of the wettest ones on record for Eastern Pennsylvania. Precipitation amounts on a county average ranged from 59.5 inches in Lehigh County to a whopping 72.9 inches in Monroe County. This was about 14 to 26 inches above normal.
• Heavy Rain in Maryland, December 31, 19965 eventsThe year 1996 was one of the wettest years on record for the Maryland Eastern Shore. Precipitation amounts averaged from 57.6 inches in Talbot County to 62 inches in Queen Anne's County. On a county average basis this was about 14 to 19 inches above normal.
• Heavy Rain in Delaware, December 31, 19964 eventsThe year 1996 was one of the wettest ones on record for Delaware. Precipitation amounts by county average ranged from 57.5 inches in Sussex County to 61.1 inches in Kent County. This was about 14 to 18 inches above normal.
• Flooding in Nevada, January 1 to 17, 19972 deaths · 50 injured · $640 million · 5 eventsThe floods of January l997 were caused by several factors. First, the Sierra and western Nevada had experienced two above normal precipitation years (1995, 1996). Second, a major winter storm December 21st and 22nd 1996 deposited heavy snow in the Sierra and western Nevada.
• Flooding in California, January 1 to 17, 19972 injured · $330 million · 4 eventsPlease see flood summary under Nevada zones from 1/01/97 to 1/17/97.
• Flooding and High Wind in Oregon, January 1 to 5, 1997$90 million · 86 kt wind · 8 eventsA warm southwest flow pushed temperatures into the 60s New Years Eve Day with the freezing lifting to above 10,000 ft.
• Flood in California, January 1 to 3, 1997$30 million · 1 eventWidespread flooding of streams, creeks and rivers caused extensive damage. The hardest hit towns were Klamath and Stafford. Klamath was flooded by the Klamath River which crested 11.22 feet above flood stage. Stafford was virtually wiped out by a mudslide.
• Flood in Oregon, January 1 to 5, 1997$9.9 million · 1 event$4.5 million damage to public and private land in Wallowa County. Over $5 million in road damage.
• Flood in California, January 1 to 2, 1997$5.0 million · 1 eventMany streams and rivers in Trinity County flooded, especially in the north half of the county. These streams included Coffee Creek, Canyon Creek, Trinity River, Mumbo Creek, East Weaver Creek and Stuart's Fork. Many roads were washed out or closed by mudslides.
• Flood in Oregon, January 1 to 4, 1997$2.7 million · 1 eventRoad damage in the Imnaha area estimated at $ 2.7 million dollars.
• Flooding in Oregon, January 1 to 9, 1997$200,000 · 5 eventsHeavy rainfall over Northwest Oregon during the last week of December caused 16 rivers in Northwestern Oregon to flood. Dozens of homes were flooded on various rivers and numerous highways were inundated throughout the region.
• Debris Flows in Washington, January 1 to 31, 19976 eventsHeavy rains from a series of strong Pacific storms during the last week of December loosened hillsides throughout Southwest Washington. Numerous mudslides cut roads and threatened homes during the first week of January.
• Debris Flows in Oregon, January 1 to 7, 19975 eventsHeavy rains during the last week of December continued into January and caused numerous mudslides throughout Northwestern Oregon. A few homes and businesses were damaged with many roads and highways temporarily cut by mudslides.
• Flood in Oregon, January 1 to 2, 19971 eventMinor flooding in Maupin and Dufur.
• Flood in Washington, January 1 to 3, 19971 eventMinor flooding in the flood plain, high school parking lot partially flood.
• Flood in Washington, January 1 to 9, 19971 eventSeveral roads and levees damaged by mud slids and washouts.
• Flood in California, January 1 to 3, 19971 eventWidespread flooding including the Klamath River at Orleans which crested approximately 0.23 feet above flood stage. This crest is estimated due to a gage outage. Many roads were close in the area due to flooding and mudslides.
• Flooding in California, January 1 to 27, 199713 eventsSeveral periods of rain (with snow to unusually low elevations in the mountains) beginning December 20, 1996, set up saturated conditions that finally gave way on the 1st as subtropical air moved in and melted snow up to the 8000-foot level.
• Flash Flooding in California, January 1, 19976 eventsRain was falling at 1/2 inch per hour for two hours over the warning area. Rainfall rates were increasing and the rainy pattern was becoming more widespread as 88D radar was showing a band of heavy rain moving into central California.
• Flash Flood in California, January 1, 19971 eventRainfall rates were 1/2 inch per hour the last two hours and 88D radar was showing a series of banded rain that was intensifying as it moved onshore. The ground is saturated and smaller rivers, streams, and creeks are very near bankfull.
• Flooding in Idaho, January 1 to 3, 199710 eventsIn Northern Idaho, November and December brought above normal snowfall. From 11/16/96 through the end of December most locations had over 2 to 3 feet of snow with higher amounts at higher elevations.
• Flash Flood in California, January 1, 19971 death · 1 eventFlooding due to snow melt and heavy rain on Burney Creek swept a vehicle off the road, drowning the driver.
• Flooding and High Wind in California, January 1 to 3, 1997$11 million · 61 kt wind · 3 eventsA warm southwest flow pushed temperatures into the mid 50s to lower 60s New Years Eve Day with the freezing level rising to above 10,000 ft. Melting snow and moderate rain drove streams and rivers to flood stage.
• Flash Flooding in California, January 1, 19972 eventsHeavy rain was falling across most of Alameda and Contra Costa counties with 88D radar and rain gages showing rates of about one inch per hour over the last hour. Flooding is expected across many of the highways and local streams and creeks are near bankfull.
• Flash Flooding in California, January 1, 19973 eventsLocally heavy rain has been falling the last several hours and continues over Sonoma, Napa, and Marin counties. 88D radar showing additional rain moving in from the Pacific.
• Heavy Rain in Nevada, January 1 to 2, 19971 eventA weather spotter in Galena Forest measured 7.7 inches of rain in a 36 hour period.
• Flash Flood in California, January 1, 1997$10 million · 1 eventHeavy rains and melting snow caused flooding and a massive mudslide near the town of Kyburz. US route 50, the main route from California to the south Lake Tahoe area, was closed for 17 days due to the mudslide and additional washouts.
• Flash Flooding in California, January 1, 19976 eventsRainfall rates have ranged from 1/2 to one inch per hour the last few hours. River and streams are high and the ground is saturated. Additional rain will cause urban flooding and flooding of creeks, small rivers, and streams.
• Flood in Montana, January 1, 19971 eventThe bridge on the Lower Sweet Grass Creek was completely washed out just south of Melville on the Sweet Grass River.
• Flash Flooding in California, January 1 to 2, 199721 eventsModerate to heavy rain continues over most of the San Francisco Bay region. 88D radar showing the heaviest rain over San Mateo, Santa Cruz, and Alameda counties with more rain coming over the next several hours.
• Flash Flood in Montana, January 1, 19971 eventAn ice jam break 2 miles southwest of Columbus on the Stillwater River flooded a ranch. The flood stranded two people who had to be rescued by emergency personel.
• Heavy Rain in California, January 1 to 2, 19971 eventA weather spotter in the town of Mammoth Lakes measured 7.39 inches of rain in a 36 hour period.
• Flooding in Washington, January 1 to 3, 19971 death · $20 million · 3 eventsMelting snow and rain caused mudslides and sinkholes in conjuction with the late December storms. Redmond got an inch of rain in 12 hrs. About 30 roads in King County were closed due to flooding or mudslides.
• Flooding in Washington, January 2, 19972 eventsThe towns of Rosalia, Rockford, Tekoa and Oaksdale all flooded as Hangman and Rock Creek overflowed. Buses and trucks were banned from all Whitman County roads. Most flooded homes and businesses had two feet or three feet of water in them.
• Flood in Hawaii, January 2, 19971 eventRoads ponded with water briefly closed one lane of the highway near Olowalu, West Maui.
• Flash Flooding in California, January 2, 19975 eventsOver the past hour 88D radar has shown another band of moderate to heavy rain moving over the warned areas. Rainfall rates of 1/3 to 1/2 inch per hour have been noted. Expect smaller rivers and streams to rise the next few hours.
• Flood in Montana, January 2, 19971 eventIce jam on the Yellowstone River near the city of Worden flooding two mobile homes there.
• Flood and Heavy Rain in Puerto Rico, January 2 to 3, 19974 eventsPolice department reported heavy rains in Villalba.
• Flash Flooding in California, January 2, 199712 events88D showing moderate to heavy rain moving over the warning areas with the heaviest rates of 1/2 to 11/2 inches per hour for the last three hours over Monterey County. The ground continues saturated.
• Flash Flood in California, January 2, 19971 death · $2.4 million · 1 eventThe heavy rains brought the Cosumnes River to record flows above designed limits for the protective levees. Twenty breaks occurred, with the largest near the town of Wilton in the southern end of the county.
• Flash Flood in California, January 2 to 3, 19973 deaths · 1 eventA large levee break on the Feather River occurred as river flows equaled or exceeded the design parameters for the levee system. The results were 900 flooded homes and many people stranded on the roofs of homes and other high areas.
• Flash Flood in Utah, January 3, 199711 injured · $5.0 million · 1 eventSubtropical moisture brought heavy rains to southwest Utah to kick-off the new year. Washington county had hundreds of reports of flood damage. Most Streets and basements were flooded in the towns of St. George and Bloomington.
• Flood in Hawaii, January 3, 19971 eventHeavy showers caused streams to rise over north and northeast parts of the island. The Hanalei Bridge was closed and road ponding occurred along the east side of the island to Lihue.
• Flood in Hawaii, January 3, 19971 eventHeavy showers produced ponding on roads in many locations.
• Flash Flood in Montana, January 3, 19971 eventIce jam on Yellowstone river broke causing rapid rise in River which flooded at least 4 mobile homes and several cars in Blains's Mobile Home Court in Billings.
• Flood in California, January 3, 19971 death · 1 eventA 33 year old male dove into the high water of the Sonoma Creek to avoid the police and drowned.
• Flood in Hawaii, January 4, 19971 eventKeapona and Hanalei Bridges closed. Roads ponded and the Waiole Stream overflowed causing minor flooding.
• Flood in Hawaii, January 4, 19971 event2.28 inches of rain in three hours at Kokee was representative of heavy showers over north central Kauai. Saturated soils increased runoff from the rainfall, flooding some roadways in the Hanalei area.
• Flash Flood in Hawaii, January 4, 19971 eventWidespread flooding of the Mokulele Highway from Kahului to Kihei and the Honoapiilani Highway from Lahaina to Kaanapali occurred. Landslides blocked parts of the Kahekili Highway near Kahakuloa.
• Flash Flood in Hawaii, January 4, 19971 eventA stalled cold front brought heavy showers to Lanai, Maui, and Molokai during the morning and afternoon hours. Flooding was widespread in Lanai City with many roads closed and the airport runway was inundated with up to 2 feet of water.
• Flash Flood in Hawaii, January 4, 19971 eventFlooding reported along the Kawela and Kaunakakai Streams and along the Maunaloa and Kamehameha Roads.
• Flash Flood in Alabama, January 5, 1997$7,000 · 1 eventSeveral roads were reported underwater in the town of Arab in the southwestern part of the county.
• Flood in Hawaii, January 5, 19971 eventA stationary band of heavy showers produced widespread flooding of streets and low lying areas from Captain Cook to Kailua-Kona and in the Waikoloa Village area of South Kohala.
• Flash Flood in Puerto Rico, January 7, 1997$10,000 · 1 eventThe remnants of a cold front produced heavy rains across the San Juan metropolitan area. Civil Defense reported flooding in Ocean Park and Punta Las Marias sectors in the San juan metropolitan area and over the municipalities of Dorado and Toa Baja.
• Flash Flood in Montana, January 8, 19971 eventAn ice jam broke loose causing waters to rise 3 to 4 feet quickly on the Yellowstone River 3 miles southeast of the city of Columbus. A house was damaged as well as some farm equipment.
• Coastal Flood in Connecticut, January 9, 19971 eventA low pressure system intensified as it moved north along the coast.High astronomical tides combined with brief easterly gales that developed across Long Island Sound during Thursday evening on January 9th and caused water to pile-up in the city of Milford at high tide.Tidal…
• Coastal Flood and Strong Wind in Rhode Island, January 10, 19975 eventsA combination of a new-moon high tide and southeast winds that became southwest and gusted to 40 to 50 mph resulted in a storm tidal surge which reached 2 to 4 feet on Narragansett and Mount Hope Bays.
• Coastal Flood and Strong Wind in Massachusetts, January 10, 19975 eventsA combination of a new-moon high tide and southeast winds that became southwest and gusting to 40 to 55 mph resulted in a storm tidal surge which reached 2 to 4 feet in Buzzards Bay and Mount Hope Bay.
• Coastal Flood in New York, January 10, 19973 eventsA low pressure system intensified as it moved north along the coast.High astronomical tides combined with brief easterly gales that developed in advance of the approaching low and caused water to pile-up along sections of the coast during Friday morning's high tide.Tidal…
• Flash Flood in California, January 10, 19971 eventA levee on the Thom Paine Slough broke, forcing some residents of the city of Tracy to evacuate

Every billion-dollar disasterEvery storm of 1997Tornadoes in 1997

NOAA NCEI, U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (2025), https://doi.org/10.25921/stkw-7w73, and the Storm Events Database for the episodes.