On this day in…
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 (0.10 inch in Borrego Springs). 11.72 inches of precipitation fell at Forest Falls on this day. 9.40 inches fell in Big Bear Lake on this day, the greatest daily amount on record for January and the second greatest daily amount on record. 8.00 inches fell in Palomar Mountain on this day, the greatest daily amount on record for January and the third greatest daily amount on record. 5.22 inches fell on this day in Idyllwild, the greatest daily amount on record for January. 87 were reported dead from flooding and mud slides all over California. Scores died in traffic accidents. Hundreds of homes and buildings were destroyed in slides, including 14 destroyed and 11 damaged homes in Mt. Baldy Village. 50 homes near Forest Home (Forest Falls) were damaged by flooding. Highways and railroads washed out. Power outages occurred. Cucamonga Creek itself caused $10 million in damage. The Mojave River took out numerous bridges and flooded farmlands in the upper desert. Strong storm winds felled trees which killed four and caused power outages.
1949: It was -4° at Cuyamaca, probably the lowest temperature on record in San Diego County.
1916: Heavy rain that began on this day and ended on 1.30 exacerbated the flooding earlier in the month. Monthly rainfall totals for 1.1916 ranged from 7.56 inches at San Diego to 57.91 inches at Dorman’s Ranch (in the San Bernardino Mountains, 2,500 feet elev.). Five inches fell in less than 12 hours in San Diego. Extensive flooding occurred all over Southern California, the worst to date, and it resulted in 28 total deaths in the region, 22 in San Diego County. This is the most destructive and deadly weather event in San Diego County History. The Lower Otay Dam broke sending a 40-foot wall of water downstream, killing 15. A few others drowned in Mission Valley and in the San Luis Rey River. The Sweetwater Dam also broke. Every large bridge in San Diego County but one was seriously damaged or destroyed. Four drowned in Orange County, two in a cottage floating down the Santa Ana River. Two drowned in San Bernardino County. Total damage was nearly $8 million (1916 dollars).