Hurricane Doreen (1977)

Rainfall summary for Hurricane Doreen

Hurricane Doreen dropped heavy rainfall along the western portions of Mexico and the Southwestern Region of the United States. In Mexico, Doreen produced heaviest precipitation along the Baja California peninsula, where rainfall peaked at 14.80 in (376 mm) in the Los Cabos Area. The mainland of Mexico also received heavy rainfall, especially in the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains.[2] In the city of Mexicali, the storm left more than 2,000 people homeless, many of which were shanty-style homes.[3]

In anticipation of the storm, flash flood warnings were issued in the Colorado River Valley area, and were extended into southern California on August 16,[1] including places such as Santa Barbara County, the mountains of San Diego County, Riverside County, and portions of the Mohave Desert.[3][4] Heavy rainfall fell in southern California on August 16. An average of 2–4 in (51–102 mm) of rain fell over low-lying areas of southern California for a period of three days. Heavier precipitation was reported in the mountainous areas, where rainfall peaked at 7.45 in (189 mm) on San Jacinto Peak. Several other locations also reported heavy rainfall; 3.78 in (96 mm) was reported in Calexico and 6 in (150 mm) fell at Mitchell Caverns.[1][2] At Edwards Air Force Base, the launch of Space Shuttle Enterprise on August 31 was delayed to September 7 after rainfall from Doreen flooded the runway of the previous flight.[5]

In addition to heavy rain, high winds were reported. In Palm Springs, wind gusts were reported as high as 60 mph (95 km/h). As a result, several trees were felled and power outages occurred. Highway 86 and 111 were under water from Brawley, near the Mexican border to the Salton Sea. California State Route 98 was also flooded from Brawley to Blythe. Two of the four lanes on Interstate 15 were washed out from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, stranding thousands of gamblers in places like Barstow.[1][4] Ocotillo, a town that was devastated during Hurricane Kathleen in 1976, was flooded again. Buses were sent to evacuate the townspeople, but the residents declined to evacuate. Overall, damage totaled $25 million, mostly in agricultural losses in San Diego and Imperial Counties.[1] Eight deaths were reported. Six children were swept away in the Los Angeles River. Five of them were rescued, but the sixth was later presumed dead.[3]

Doreen also produced heavy rainfall in a small area of southwestern Arizona, limited to the Yuma area. Along the border of Arizona, California, and Mexico, rainfall was recorded between 2 and 7 in (51 and 178 mm).[6] Rainfall in the state of Arizona had peaked at 7.01 in (178 mm) in that area.[7] Light to moderate rainfall was also occurred in other areas of the state, such as Nogales, where 3.10 in (79 mm) of precipitation was recorded.[6] Damage to roads, levees, houses, dikes were reported throughout the state, especially in the Bullhead City area.[8]

While surveying damage in southwestern Arizona, a request was made to then-Governor Raul Hector Castro for $750,000 in emergency services funds. The American Red Cross had been in the area and spent $12,000 to assist families that were left homeless after the flood.[8]

Further west, larger swaths of rainfall occurred in Nevada, though precipitation was generally light with many areas experiencing less than 3 in (76 mm). Rainfall in Nevada had peaked at 4.14 in (105 mm) in Avaden,[2] making Doreen the wettest tropical cyclone for the state of Nevada as of 2011.[9] In Las Vegas, major intersections were flooded due to precipitation amounts of about 1.5 in (38 mm). In addition to street flooding, some roofs of houses and buildings collapsed.[3]

In New Mexico, lesser amounts of rainfall were reported, and precipitation was limited to the northeastern and southwestern portions of the state. Much it the rainfall was between 1 to 2 in (25 to 51 mm),[2] and precipitation with the state peaked at 2.05 in (52 mm) in the city of Florida.[7] Rainfall was also minimal in the state of Utah, with only a few isolated areas reporting light precipitation, and generally did not exceed 3 in (76 mm).[2] However, rainfall peaked at 4.31 in (109 mm) in Logan.[7]