Flash Flood — Tehama, California

2014-12-03 · near Red Bluff, Tehama, California

Event narrative

There was flooding and impacts along Highway 99 from numerous creeks overtopping their banks in addition to earthen berm or earthen levee failures. There were issues on the following creeks:

Salt Creek (Overtopped at Highway 99 and Highway 36 location)

Antelope Creek (Private earthen berm failure at Rancho Ave))

Craig Creek (Overtopped near Craig Road and Rancho Ave)

Dye Creek (Over topped and earthen berm failure between Shasta blvd and 62nd Ave)

Highway 99 was closed from highway 36 to Aramayo Way for many hours (Wednesday evening through early Thursday morning) until the water receded and things could be cleaned up. There were 213 homes impacted from the flooding, with significant damage from water and mud. Many homes had several feet of water. Fields and orchards were also flooded.

Damage to homes, bridges, fencing, crops, and beehives totaled $2.5 million. Repairs and remediation to the berms totaled $4.25 million.

Wider weather episode

Heavy rain showers and thunderstorms brought record rainfall and flooding issues to portions of the Central Valley and foothills. There were 2 berm levees which failed in Tehama County, flooding over 200 homes and damaging farms and orchards. Significant traffic delays were caused by road flooding across interior Northern California. Snow levels remained above 7500 feet, so snowfall was limited to higher Sierra peaks and Lassen Peak.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (40.1889, -122.1796)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 550055. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.