On this day in…
1991: A series of storms that started on 2.27 and ended on this day produced three to six inches of rainfall at lower elevations, with 11 to 14 inches of precipitation in the mountains. 9.58 inches fell at Palomar Mountain on this day, the greatest daily rainfall on record. From 2.28 to 3.2, Palomar Mountain recorded a whopping three-day total of 17.48 inches! 6.09 inches fell in Idyllwild on this day, the greatest daily amount for March and the second greatest daily amount on record. This makes the two day total from 2.28 to this day an incredible 10.54 inches. 1.93 inches fell in Palm Springs on this day, the greatest daily amount for March on record. Two died and six were injured. Hazards included urban flooding, mudslides, and road washouts. Flood waters were five feet deep at Desert Hot Springs. Two to three feet of snow were dumped on the Big Bear area and up to two feet fell elsewhere in the mountains. Highways were closed.
1938: Storms of tropical origin that started on 2.27 ended on 3.4. One was killed by lightning in Corona. 11.06 inches of rain fell at LA. More than 30 inches fell at several mountain stations of the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains (32.2 inches at 8,300 feet elev.). More than 22 inches fell in the Santa Ana River headwaters. Considerable snow was melted, adding to the runoff. This led to unprecedented flood control efforts, including a network of dams and canals and concrete channels. For the storm 210 were reported dead or missing in flooding across Southern California. 45 died in Orange County, of which 43 perished in Mexican-American Atwood from an eight-foot wall of water. Hundreds were injured. The Santa Ana River flooded, inundating nearly all of northern Orange County. Catastrophic damage hit more than 1,500 residences. 400 cabins and buildings were washed away in and around San Antonio Canyon. The Whitewater River flooded, isolating Palm Springs.