Flash Flood — San Bernardino, California

2015-09-08 · near Forest Falls, San Bernardino, California

Event narrative

A flash flood at Mill Creek crossing...40 feet wide and 8 to 12 inches deep. The head of the flash flood was 3 to 4 feet deep. From Victor Valley news group: flood waters overtook a couple hiking. An off-duty sheriff's deputy heard the couple calling for help and was able to save the young woman, but the man was swept away. The body of the victim, a Rancho Cucamonga man in his 20s, was found shortly after 1800 PST.

Wider weather episode

Subtropical moisture from the remnants of Hurricane Linda brought widespread showers to most of the area, deserts included. The first isolated thunderstorm developed on the 6th in San Diego County as a moisture surge in monsoon warm upper level flow arrived. Intense heavy rain from thunderstorms occurred on the 7th with flash flooding in several locations including Victorville and Forest Falls. A swift water rescue in Victorville was successful, but another incident in Forest Falls had one rescue but a drowning occurred when a 30-year-old couple crossed Mill Creek and were swept away. Most areas received between a few hundredths to one-third of an inch of rain, with a few upslope areas of the San Bernardino Mountains receiving up to around one inch. Additional thunderstorms developed on the 8th by noon over the mountains and quickly spread into the Inland Empire and Orange County, as well as near I-15 in San Diego County. Locally heavy rain and several trees and poles were downed in the Riverside area including a small dust storm. Several hail reports, mostly nickel-sized, but a few larger. Activity decreased on the 9th with only isolated thunderstorms formed.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (34.1053, -116.9639)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 602871. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.