2017 California floods

File:Winter Storm Iras on 1-8-2017.jpgs responsible for the flooding (unofficially named "Winter Storm Iras" by The Weather Channel).]]

The high-amplitude ridge off the West Coast that characterized the 2011–17 California drought, dubbed the "Ridiculously Resilient Ridge", was replaced by a persistent presence of anomalous troughs affected California. Another feature in the 2013–2015 winters was the extreme temperature contrast between a warm western U.S. and a cold eastern continent. These anomalous temperature and circulation patterns were referred to as the North American winter “dipole”.{{Cite journal |doi = 10.1002/2014GL059748|bibcode = 2014GeoRL..41.3220W|title = Probable causes of the abnormal ridge accompanying the 2013-2014 California drought: ENSO precursor and anthropogenic warming footprint|year = 2014|last1 = Wang|first1 = S.-Y.|last2 = Hipps|first2 = Lawrence|last3 = Gillies|first3 = Robert R.|last4 = Yoon|first4 = Jin-Ho|journal = Geophysical Research Letters|volume = 41|issue = 9|pages = 3220–3226|url = https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1744&context=psc_facpub|doi-access = free}}{{Cite journal | doi=10.1002/2016JD025116| pmid=27840780| pmc=5095811| bibcode=2016JGRD..121.9911S| title=Recent amplification of the North American winter temperature dipole| year=2016| last1=Singh| first1=Deepti| last2=Swain| first2=Daniel L.| last3=Mankin| first3=Justin S.| last4=Horton| first4=Daniel E.| last5=Thomas| first5=Leif N.| last6=Rajaratnam| first6=Bala| last7=Diffenbaugh| first7=Noah S.| journal=Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres| volume=121| issue=17| pages=9911–9928}}{{Cite journal | doi=10.1002/asl2.565| title=The North American winter 'dipole' and extremes activity: A CMIP5 assessment| year=2015| last1=Wang| first1=Shih-Yu Simon| last2=Huang| first2=Wan-Ru| last3=Yoon| first3=Jin-Ho| journal=Atmospheric Science Letters| volume=16| issue=3| pages=338–345| bibcode=2015AtScL..16..338W| s2cid=129026558| url=https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/psc_facpub/742| doi-access=free}} The dipole basically describes the wintertime stationary waves over North America, which contribute to the mean temperature difference between the climatologically warmer western U.S. and colder eastern half. Therefore, an amplification of the stationary wave would enhance such a temperature difference, like in the 2013-2015 winters, while a weakening of the stationary wave would reverse the situation, like in the 2016–2017 winter.{{cite web |url=https://sites.google.com/view/usu-climate-simon-wang/research/ca-drought-dipole?authuser=0 |title=usu climate lab - CA Drought & Dipole |website=sites.google.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223131232/https://sites.google.com/view/usu-climate-simon-wang/research/ca-drought-dipole?authuser=0 |archive-date=2017-02-23}} Indeed, in winter 2016–2017 this dipole was apparently reversed.{{cite web |title=Three-month mean |url=http://www.data.jma.go.jp/gmd/cpd/db/diag/2017/extr/psnh/3mon/hist/z500/psnh_3mon_hist_z500_201701.gif|website=data.jma.go.jp|access-date=February 9, 2023}}[http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/tanal/90day/mean/20170130.90day.mean.F.gif Mean temperature January 30, 2017]

Image:Flooding_in_Outside_Colusa,_California_by_Planet_Labs.jpg, on February 11]]

In early January 2017, the Russian River in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties rose {{convert|3|ft|m}} above flood stage, inundating about 500 houses. More than 570,000 customers of the Pacific Gas and Electric Company lost power in Northern and Central California during the event. More than 3,000 people in the Guerneville area were evacuated.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-weather-idUSKBN14S0WJ|title=Thousands in California and Nevada told to evacuate due to flooding|last=Dobuzinskis|first=Alex|date=January 9, 2017|work=Reuters|access-date=January 10, 2017}} The community of Forestville and the nearby Laguna de Santa Rosa flooded, blocking roads and agricultural lands. Flooding in the Russian River valley inundated vineyards, causing millions of dollars in crop damage.{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-napa-storms-20170110-story.html|title=California wine country is hit hard by storms|agency=Associated Press|work=Los Angeles Times|date=2017-01-10|access-date=2017-06-13}}

The American River east of Sacramento reached record flows, although property damage was limited by the protection provided by Folsom Dam. The maximum flood release of {{convert|70000|cuft/s|m3/s}} was the highest since 1997.{{cite news|url=http://www.sacbee.com/news/weather/article126278879.html|title=USGS keeps watchful eye on Sacramento waterways after series of storms|work=Sacramento Bee|author=Chavez, Naschelly|date=2017-01-12|access-date=2017-06-13}}{{cite news|url=http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article131652189.html|title=High water levels prompt closure of American River Parkway access points|work=Sacramento Bee |author=Lindelof, Bill |author2=Reese, Phillip|date=2017-02-09|access-date=2017-06-13}} The popular recreation areas at the American River Parkway and Discovery Park were flooded for four months.{{cite news|url=http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article133371674.html|title=As American River Parkway remains flooded, residents seek higher ground for exercise|author=Garrison, Ellen|work=Sacramento Bee|date=2017-02-17|access-date=2017-06-13}}{{cite news|url=http://www.sacbee.com/sports/outdoors/article152382597.html|title=Discovery Park will open this weekend after four months of being underwater|author=Garrison, Ellen|work=Sacramento Bee|date=2017-05-24|access-date=2017-06-13}}

On the early morning of February 18, flash flooding on Stone Corral Creek flooded the town of Maxwell in Colusa County.{{cite news|url=http://fox40.com/2017/02/20/maxwell-residents-suffer-flood-damage-as-more-rain-hits-the-region/|title=Maxwell Residents Suffer Flood Damage as More Rain Hits the Region|work=Fox 40 News|author=Wolf, Ali|date=2017-02-20|access-date=2017-06-10}} More than 100 residents had to be evacuated by boat after water filled the streets.{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-maxwell-flood-scene-20170218-story.html|title='It's flooding! Get out! Get out!': Residents have little warning as floodwaters inundate town|work=Los Angeles Times|author=Sahagun, Louis|date=2017-02-18|access-date=2017-06-10}}

Floods and mudslides closed roads in numerous areas in Northern California. Both directions of U.S. Route 395 was temporarily closed in Mono County.{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/atmospheric-river-from-hawaii-pounding-northern-california-threatening-nevada-flooding-snow-rain-storms/|title="Atmospheric river" from Hawaii pounding Northern California, threatening Nevada|date=January 9, 2017|work=CBS News|access-date=January 10, 2017}}

Anderson Dam in Morgan Hill overflowed in February for the first time in 11 years. The resulting flooding along Coyote Creek forced the evacuation of 14,000 people in San Jose{{cite web|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/02/18/santa-clara-county-anderson-reservoir-set-to-overflow/|title=Anderson Reservoir spills over for first time in 11 years|last=Wong|first=Queenie|date=2017-02-21|website=The Mercury News|access-date=2017-03-03}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/21/us/san-jose-flood/index.html|title=Flood evacuations underway in San Jose|last1=Almasy|first1=Steve|last2=Allen|first2=Keith|date=2017-02-22|website=CNN|access-date=2017-03-03}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/02/26/san-jose-floods-citys-failure-to-raise-alarm-contrasts-response-to-crisis-at-oroville-dam/|title=San Jose's failure to raise alarm before flood contrasts response to Oroville Dam|last=Sulek|first=Julia Prodis|date=2017-02-26|website=The Mercury News|access-date=2017-03-03}} and caused $73 million in damage.{{cite news|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/california/articles/2017-02-27/official-san-jose-flooding-caused-73-million-in-damages|title=Official: San Jose Flooding Caused $73 Million in Damages|work=US News|date=2017-02-27|agency=Associated Press|access-date=2017-06-10}} City workers reportedly tried to warn authorities of the flooding risk as much as a day before the river burst its banks, but it remains unclear why evacuations were not ordered until the flooding actually began.{{cite news|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/06/12/san-jose-flood-victims-file-claims-as-new-records-show-city-staff-tried-to-sound-alarm-before-flooding/|title=San Jose flood: New records show city staff tried to sound alarm before flooding|author=Giwargis, Ramona|date=2017-06-12|access-date=2017-06-13}}

The Puerto Suello Hill Tunnel along the Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit line was partially damaged by mudslides; this delayed pre-revenue testing of the system for three weeks.{{cite news|last1=Prado|first1=Mark|title=Landslide risk in San Rafael halts SMART testing|url=http://www.marinij.com/article/NO/20170403/NEWS/170409933|access-date=6 June 2017|agency=Marin Independent Journal|date=3 April 2017}}

{{Main|Oroville Dam crisis}}

File:Oroville dam spillway 2017-02-11.jpg

On February 7, heavy flows damaged the spillway of Oroville Dam in Butte County. However, due to heavy storm runoff into Lake Oroville, dam operators were forced to continue using the concrete spillway, eventually destroying the lower half of the chute. The reservoir rose so quickly that it overtopped the emergency spillway, which had never been tested for safety, and threatened to undermine it. More than 188,000 people in the Feather River valley were evacuated as officials feared the collapse of the emergency spillway, which could have sent a 30-foot (9 m) wall of water into the Feather River below and flooded communities downstream.

High water flows in the Feather River caused considerable damage, collapsing the river banks and destroying large areas of farmland. The Feather River Fish Hatchery was flooded with turbid water, and several million juvenile salmon had to be evacuated from the facility.

The estimated cost to repair Oroville Dam is $400 million.{{cite news|url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/infrastructure/a26787/final-cost-oroville-dam-400-million/|title=The Oroville Dam Disaster Will End Up Costing About $400 Million|work=Popular Mechanics|author=Grossman, David|date=2017-06-06|access-date=2017-06-10}}

As of September 2018, the actual cost of repairs had risen to $1.1 billion.{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-oroville-cost-20180905-story.html |title=Oroville Dam Repair Costs Soar Past $1 Billion |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |author=Vartabedian, Ralph |date=2018-09-05}}

{{multiple image

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| width =

| image1 = Fresno River Viaduct construction 2016.jpg

| alt1 = Several partially constructed vertical concrete supports rise from a dry riverbed on a sunny day

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| image2 = Fresno River Viaduct construction 2017.jpg

| alt2 = A nearly completed concrete bridge crosses a river filled with water on a cloudy day

| caption2 =

| footer = The Fresno River is normally dry at the site of the Fresno River Viaduct, shown under construction in January 2016 (top). In February 2017, the floods caused the river to fill with water (bottom).

}}The San Joaquin River reached its highest levels since 1997, due to the opening of upstream dams to manage flooding, and flood stage was exceeded along portions of the river.{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Tense-flood-watch-in-San-Joaquin-River-community-10946493.php|title=Tense flood watch in San Joaquin River community|author=Veklerov, Kimberley|work=SFGate|date=2017-02-20|access-date=2017-06-10}} On February 20, a levee breached near Manteca, and 500 people were evacuated, though the damage was quickly repaired.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc10.com/weather/flooding/san-joaquin-river-levee-breach-plugged/410860224|title=San Joaquin River levee breach plugged|agency=Associated Press|work=ABC10|date=2017-02-21|access-date=2017-06-10}} Increased flow to the Fresno River, which is normally dry, and the San Joaquin River delayed construction on parts of California High-Speed Rail's Fresno River Viaduct and San Joaquin River Viaduct.{{cite web|url=http://www.hsr.ca.gov/docs/programs/construction/road_closure/2017_February_Construction_Update.pdf|title=February 2017 Construction Update|date=February 2017|website=California High-Speed Rail Authority|access-date=2017-03-03}}

Multiple landslides and bridge collapses in the Big Sur area closed a long stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway, isolating coastal communities. The road is expected to reopen north of Big Sur by September, but a massive landslide about {{convert|30|mi|km}} south of Big Sur may take over a year to clear.{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2017/06/07/531806568/commuting-by-foot-big-sur-residents-struggle-with-life-after-mudslide|title=Commuting By Foot: Big Sur Residents Struggle With Life After Mudslide|author=Siegler, Kirk|date=2017-06-07|access-date=2017-06-10}}

The Pioneer Cabin Tree, a giant sequoia in Calaveras Big Trees State Park, known since 1880 for its human-made "tunnel" that hikers could pass through, was toppled by one of the storms on January 9.{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/pioneer-cabin-tree-famous-tunnel-toppled-storm-n704616|title=Pioneer Cabin Tree, Famous for Tunnel, Is Toppled by Storm|work=NBC News|author=Melvin, Don |author2=Chirbas, Kurt|date=2017-01-09|access-date=2017-06-13}}

Southern California was not as heavily hit as the north; however, storms during February 16–19 were the strongest in seven years. Five people drowned in the Greater Los Angeles urban area as heavy rainfall flooded highways, created sinkholes and cut power to 110,000 households.{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/two-die-storm-socks-southern-california-flooding-freeways-n722751|title=Storm Socks Southern California, Flooding Freeways and Killing at Least 5 |author=Helsel, Phil |author2=Bailey, Chelsea |work=NBC News|date=2017-02-18|access-date=2017-06-10}} In Sun Valley water across Interstate 5 was more than {{frac|2|1|2}} feet deep, trapping motorists in their cars. In Orange County, three people were safely rescued from the Santa Ana River, while in Thousand Oaks one man drowned and three others were injured in a flash flood in Arroyo Conejo Creek.{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-live-powerful-storms-moving-l-area-flooding-shuts-down-5-freeway-in-valley-1487383856-htmlstory.html|title=Live updates: Strongest storm in years moves through L.A. area|work=Los Angeles Times|date=2017-02-18|access-date=2017-06-13}}

In the Santa Barbara area, flooding closed major roads including Highway 101 and led to debris flows in recently burned areas. Rural mountain communities near Goleta and Solvang were evacuated. The flooding also partially refilled Lake Cachuma, an important local water source which had essentially dried up in the preceding drought.{{cite news|url=https://www.noozhawk.com/article/powerful_winter_storm_dropping_heavy_rain_in_santa_barbara_county|title=Powerful Winter Storm Leaves Santa Barbara County Wet and Weary |author=Bolton, Tom |author2=Magnoli, Giana |work=Noozhawk|date=2017-02-17|access-date=2017-06-13}}

Dams were opened to relieve pressure from built-up floodwaters, with the Sacramento Weir on the Sacramento River being opened for the first time in eleven years.{{cite news|url= http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2017/01/10/Three-dead-in-California-Russian-River-floods-500-homes/9401484049632/ |title=Three dead in California; Russian River floods 500 homes|last=Adamczyk|first=Ed |date=January 10, 2017|work=United Press International|access-date=January 10, 2017}} The spillways at Shasta Dam on the Sacramento River and New Don Pedro Dam on the Tuolumne River were also opened for the first time since 1997.{{cite news|title=Don Pedro Dam gates open for first time since 1997|work=KCRA|date=2017-02-20|url= http://www.kcra.com/article/don-pedro-reservoirs-controlled-spillway-gates-to-open-at-3-pm/8956930 |access-date=2017-04-16}}{{cite news|url= http://www.redding.com/story/news/local/2017/02/22/officials-open-gates-atop-shasta-dam/98270214/ |title=Shasta Dam gates spill water for first time in 19 years|author=Arthur, Damon|work=Record Searchlight|date=2017-02-22 |access-date=2017-06-10}} Overflow from the Sacramento River inundated the huge floodplain of the Yolo Bypass;{{cite news|url= http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Flooded-Yolo-Bypass-Sacramento-River-weir-open-10847671.php |title=Flooded Yolo Bypass looks like an ocean for the first time in a decade|author=Graff, Amy|work=SFGate |date=2017-01-13|access-date=2017-06-10}} peak flow through the bypass reached more than {{convert|200000|cuft/s|m3/s}}.{{cite news|url= https://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/dv/?site_no=11453000&agency_cd=USGS&referred_module=sw |title=USGS Gage #11453000 Yolo Bypass near Woodland, CA: Daily Data|publisher=U.S. Geological Survey|work=National Water Information System|access-date=2017-06-10}}

The flooding filled multiple major reservoirs to capacity which had been previously at low levels from the drought. New Melones Lake, only about a quarter full in late 2016, reached almost 90 percent by early June 2017.{{cite news|url= http://www.calaverasenterprise.com/business/article_df6c872e-4c78-11e7-8c96-b30e0480cf76.html |title=Optimism surrounds 2017 tourism season|author=Cowan, Jason|work=Calaveras Enterprise|date=2017-06-08 |access-date=2017-06-10}} Lake Berryessa also filled for the first time since 2006, causing water to overflow into the "Glory Hole" spillway at Monticello Dam.{{cite news|url= http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/02/18/glory-glory-water-spills-into-glory-hole-at-lake-berryessa/ |title=Water spills into Lake Berryessa's iconic Glory Hole|work=Mercury News|author=Pruett, Dom|date=2017-02-18 |access-date=2017-06-10}} In Kern County, Lake Isabella hit its maximum allowed capacity for the first time in six years and putting stress on the structurally inadequate Isabella Dam.{{cite news|url= http://www.bakersfield.com/news/isabella-lake-brimming-with-water-highlighting-dam-risks/article_4ba79919-0298-5740-a7f0-1180ad369147.html |title=Isabella Lake brimming with water, highlighting dam risks|author=Burger, James|work=Bakersfield.com |date=2017-06-09 |access-date=2017-06-10}}

On the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, Lake Tahoe received the most precipitation in 117 years of record-keeping, contributing to the fastest water level rise in the lake's history.{{cite web|url= http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Lake-Tahoe-full-capacity-snowmelt-runoff-fill-11159937.php |title=Nearly 72 billion gallons of water have poured into Lake Tahoe since April 1|author=Graff, Amy|work=SFGate|date=2017-05-19 |access-date=2017-06-10}} Increased outflow from Lake Tahoe contributed to flooding along the Truckee River through Truckee and Reno, Nevada. Lake Tahoe and most of the Truckee reservoirs were filled by mid-July, a level not seen since 1997.{{cite news|url=http://www.grindtv.com/nature/lake-tahoe-water-level-approaches-max-limit-after-heat-wave/|title=Lake Tahoe water level approaches max limit after heat wave|work=GrindTV|author=Pursell, Robert|date=2017-06-26|access-date=2017-07-02|archive-date=2017-07-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703095525/http://www.grindtv.com/nature/lake-tahoe-water-level-approaches-max-limit-after-heat-wave/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url= http://truckeeriver.org/truckee-flows-cut-while-tahoe-nearing-maximum-storage-behind-dam/ |title=Truckee flows cut while Tahoe nearing maximum storage behind dam|date= 2017-07-14|access-date= 2017-09-13}}

Heavy winter storms resulted in the largest Sierra Nevada snowpack since 2011 and the seventh largest since 1950, reaching 164 percent of the normal seasonal peak.{{cite news|url= http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-sierra-nevada-snowpack-measurement-20170330-story.html |title=California snowpack is one of the biggest ever recorded, and now poses a flooding risk|work=Los Angeles Times|date=2017-03-30|author=Serna, Joseph|access-date=2017-06-10}} The extremely high snowpack continued to create hazardous conditions into summer as it melted. At least 14 people drowned in California rivers in May and June 2017.{{cite news|url= http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article155664354.html |title=Drowning fears surge as snowmelt fuels raging rivers |author=Smith, Scott |author2=Golden, Hallie |work=Sacramento Bee|date=2017-06-12|access-date=2017-06-13}}

In Bakersfield, the Kern River reached its highest summer levels since 1983.{{cite news|url= http://bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/could-the-kern-river-close |title=With such dangerous conditions, could the Kern River close to the public? |author=Powers, Kristen|work=Bakersfield Now|access-date=2017-06-10}} Over Memorial Day weekend three people drowned in the swift waters and 24 were rescued.{{cite news|url= http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-ln-kern-river-dead-20170529-htmlstory.html |title=Deadly holiday weekend on roaring Kern River: 3 dead, 24 rescued|author=Lin, Rong-Gong|date=2017-05-29|access-date=2017-06-10}} In Yosemite National Park, the Merced River also hit dangerously high levels. On June 5, a man was swept away in the river; rangers were unable to recover his body.{{cite news|url= http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/06/08/when-the-water-rises-so-does-the-death-count/ |title=Yosemite: Death by drowning risk on Merced River extra high|author=Almond, Elliott|work=Mercury News|date=2017-06-08 |access-date=2017-06-10}}

At the beginning of the next winter season, many reservoirs still remained at above-average levels, due to the storm rain and prolonged snowmelt from 2017. Some of the water had been used to replenish strained groundwater levels.{{cite news|url= http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/10/03/will-this-winter-in-california-be-wet-or-dry/ |title=California's reservoirs are full, but will this winter be wet or dry?|first= Paul |last=Rogers |work=Mercury News|date=2017-10-04|access-date=2017-11-26}}[https://i1.wp.com/www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/sjm-drought-0110-90.jpg?w=620&crop=0%2C0px%2C100%2C9999px Reservoir overview][http://water.ca.gov/waterconditions/docs/2017/Water%20Year%202017.pdf Water Year 2017: What a Difference a Year Makes] California Department of Water Resources, September 2017

{{Portal|Weather|California}}

• 2016–17 North American winter
• January 2010 North American winter storms
• Floods in California
• Pineapple Express
• ARkStorm
• Water in California
• Droughts in California
• 2017 California wildfires
• October 2017 Northern California wildfires
• December 2017 Southern California wildfires
• 2018 Southern California mudflows
• 2022–2023 California floods

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite web|url=http://features.weather.com/us-climate-change/california/|title=California: The Flood That Could Change Everything|author=Eric Zerkel|publisher=The Weather Company|date=December 21, 2017|access-date=December 24, 2017}}
• [https://archive.org/details/csjvwd_000096 Flooding Report (Final): Coyote Creek, Uvas Creek, San Francisquito Creek, and West Little Llagas Creek, January and February 2017]

{{United States winter storms}}

{{Floods in California}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:California floods, 2017}}

2017

Floods

Cal

Category:Dam failures in the United States

Category:January 2017 in the United States

Category:February 2017 in the United States