Flash Flood — Josephine, Oregon

2003-09-05 · near Takilma, Josephine, Oregon

Event narrative

See below.

Wider weather episode

A Flash Flood Warning, effective at the above listed times, was issued for extreme southern Josephine county in southwest Oregon. The warning was based on radar precipitation estimates over an area of favored thunderstorm development. However, it appears that the radar estimates were overdone. Surveys of the RAWS in the area indicated little rainfall accumulation. A few hours after the warning expired, an NWS employee was sent to survey the area. He reported no flood damage or evidence of high waterflow on the creeks, but a person on the edge of the area of heavy rainfall received 1.6 inches of rain overnight. Therefore it appears that 2-3 inches of rain may have fallen in the area that got the most rainfall. However, it appears that the rain rate was low enough to allow most of it to soak into the ground. The NWS employee reported many fire starts as well, indicating that most of the area around the favored area remained relatively dry.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5374873. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.