On this day in…
1971: It was 90° in Borrego Springs, the highest temperature on record for January.
1969: Heavy rains of tropical origin began on 1.18 ended on 1.28. As much as 50 inches of rain fell at 7,700 feet. 31 inches of rain fell on the south slopes of Mt. San Gorgonio, 15.5 inches at San Jacinto Peak, around ten inches at Banning, less than 1 inch from Indio southeast.
1916: Widespread heavy rains hit Southern California starting on 1.14 and ending on 1.21. 16.71 inches fell in 24 hours at Squirrel Inn (near Lake Arrowhead) on 1.16 and on 1.17, a record 24 hour rainfall for California until 1943. More than nine inches fell in two storms in the Coachella Valley. Previous storms had deposited deep snow in the mountains, adding to the runoff. Widespread flooding resulted and at least 22 died. Roofs in Chula Vista, poultry farm in Vista, boats in Coronado and Newport were damaged. Most cities were completely inundated. Pine trees from Palomar Mountain floated down the San Luis Rey River through Oceanside. The cities of Indio, Coachella and Mecca were underwater.