Power Outage in Forest Falls, CA

A major flash flood debris flow occurred in Birch Creek through Potato Canyon. This area was affected by lesser debris flows October and December 2021 and August 2022 but this flood filled the entire channel in layers, overtopped and damage the Steakhouse restaurant in Oak Glen, took out power poles, pushed large boulder and layers of mud downstream onto Oak Glen Road and pushed up to windows on a couple homes. WCM Alex Tardy did a storm survey. Estimated 100,000 cubic yards of debris removed by San Bernardino Public Works. Video of the debris flow between 3 and 4 pm was recorded.

Heavy thunderstorms associated with remnant moisture from post-tropical cyclone Kay produced torrential rain over the Apple and El Dorado burn scars on the afternoon of September 12. Multiple debris flows occurred following torrential one-hour rainfall rates exceeding debris flow guidance from the USGS and CAGS. Two of the debris flows traveled several miles including the Banning Canyon wash showing debris logs and ash water. The most impactful debris flow occurred in Forest Falls and Oak Glen, where the flow traveled at least 3 miles down Oakland Road with 4 foot boulders, logs over-topping the road with several feet of mud, with several power poles destroyed. Another highly impactful debris flow formed in Forest Falls on Prospect Road, where large boulders, black water and logs took out trees and damaged several homes. Another debris flow occurred 0.5 mile away on Valley of the Falls Road, producing a 12-foot wall of dirt and rocks. An additional debris flow occurred on State Highway Route 38 just before Angeles Oaks. These flows are the most significant that have occurred since the fires in 2020. An estimated 30 homes were damaged and three vehicles were moved and damaged.||The following are recorded rain amounts from the same region:|Raywood Flats, 6 NNW Forest Falls: 2.44 inch in 1 hour and 2.75 inch for the day, resulting in the full closure of Highway 38.||Mesonet Station Yucc1 Little San Gorgonio Peak Yucaipa Ridge, 2 SE Forest Falls: 1.06 inch in 60 minutes.||Mesonet Station FFPC1, 1.5 W Forest Falls: 1.93 inch.