PROJECT ALERT NOTICE (CA) Local urban flooding

Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2025 12:37:25 EST

Summary: AR impact on California North Coast, etc

The AR that has been plaguing Washington and Oregon moved south overnight into NW California creating elevated flows and local urban flooding in Eureka and eastward into Redding. NWS 72 hr precip amounts are reported in Eureka at 5-6 inches and in Redding at appx 3.5 inches. However, precip amounts at surrounding higher elevation gages are significantly different. Foothills surrounding Redding reported between 11-15 inches in the same 72 hour period, and outside of Eureka as high a 7-8 inches. Runoff has been moderate with most gages reporting max flows in Monitoring or Action stage with the exception being Eel River at Fernbridge peaking in Moderate stage.
One crew is out today picking up HWMs at Fernbridge and measuring at Scotia and Miranda (both further upstream) where flows went over the 101 Highway. There was some intense local flooding in both Eureka and Redding where one death was reported. That has all attenuated now and things are back to normal.
This storm continues to move south and moderate amounts of precip are forecast for the Inland (LAX) Empire and San Diego County Wednesday and Thursday. Teams may need to be mobilized from our Redlands and Poway FOs on Friday and possibly Saturday depending.