Flood — Central San Joaquin Valley, California

1998-02-03 · Central San Joaquin Valley, California

Wider weather episode

From Garzas Creek, flooding damaged 2 structures and 2 chicken farms by 0630 PST. Over 100K head of poultry died at this location 4 miles west of Gustine in West Merced County. By 1015 PST, 5 structures were flooded in Gustine from Garzas Creek. At a location 5 miles WNW of Los Banos 3 structures were flooded at 1000 PST with another 3 on the west side of Los Banos at 1100 PST from San Luis Creek. Los Banos area received 3.16 inches of rain in the previous 24 hours by 1000 PST on 2/3/98. In northeast Merced County numerous instances of stream flooding were occurring by 1116 PST. Los Banos Creek by midnight of 2/2/98 reached a flow of 14,480CFS into the Los Banos Creek Reservoir exceeding the 11,500CFS record flow set in 1955.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5638682. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.