Flood — Southern San Joaquin Valley, California

1998-02-23 to 1998-02-25 · Southern San Joaquin Valley, California

Event narrative

Caliente Creek progressed from nuisance flow to flooding by the wee hours of the morning of 2/24/98. The flow climbed to a peak estimated at 6000CFS at Bena (in the foothills of the Tehachapi Mountains and upstream of Lamont) by 0230 PST on 2/24/98. Evacuation of Lamont was begun at 2000 PST on 2/23/98 in anticipation of flooding due to the steady accumulation of rain. Bakersfield Spotter Bob Niebel reported 0.88" of rain by 1822 PST on 2/23/98 and a seasonal total of 10.27" (normal yearly rain for Bakersfield is only near 5.72")...Meadows Field reported a rain total of 1.26" on 2/22 and 2/23. Further downstream of Lamont, water from Caliente Creek flooded and closed State Highway 99 northbound lanes at Herring Road 8 miles south of Bakersfield by 0800 PST on the 24th. The White River in Southwest Tulare County had 700 CFS flow in its shallow channel by midnight on the 23rd. By 0130 PST on Tuesday 2/24/98, the White had breached its banks and flooded the town of Earlimart at an estimated loss of $13.7M, in addition to closing State Highway 99 through the town. Up to 250 homes were impacted by the flooding, with 50 homes having 3' or more of water in them...220 people were forced to evacuate. All the tributaires of the White River (Speas, Chalaney, Coho, and Tyler Gulch Creeks) were all flowing heavy to raise the White River to flooding by late on the 23rd. Lewis Creek near Tonyville and Frazier Creek near Strathmore overflowed early on Tuesday the 24th causing an estimated $1.5M in damage to area homes and businesses. Rainfall in the 24 hours prior to flooding early on the 24th was estimated at 1-1.5" in the lower Tulare County Mountain foothills. Seasonal rainfall 10 miles NE of Springville in Tulare County was 28.86" by 0740 PST on the 23rd! Yokohl Creek east of Exeter in Tulare County had minor flooding reported in CA Zone 21 by 0825 PST on the 24th. Poso Creek in northwest Kern County breached its banks late the night of the 23rd with a flow estimate of 7000CFS by 0100 PST on 2/24/98 and flooded the Kern County town of McFarland (112 homes) at a cost of $2.5M by 1300 PST on the 24th. The Poso Creek high water also threatened some rural homes downstream near Wasco later on the 24th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5639466. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.