Debris Flow — Siskiyou, California

2021-07-27 · near Cougar, Siskiyou, California

Event narrative

California Highway Patrol reported at 27/1249 PST that Whitney Creek was nearly to the level of the roadway. The creek surged intermittently with debris and snowmelt. At one point it rose 8 feet in 10 seconds. Highway 97 was closed intermittently through the afternoon and early evening. The last law enforcement units were cleared from the area at 21/1837 PST.

Wider weather episode

A debris flow from the flanks of Mount Shasta moved down Whitney Creek, which periodically overflowed Highway 97 in Siskiyou county, causing several closures of the highway in the afternoon and early evening.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (41.5600, -122.2400)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 963772. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.