california tropical storm california tropical storm called tropical storm francis tropical cyclone hit southern_california september hurricane tropical storm landfall california twentieth century known tropical cyclone directly affect california eastern pacific tropical cyclones caused gale force winds continental united_states tropical storm caused heavy flooding leaving dead sea meteorological history september tropical depression formed coast central_america moved west northwest passing southwest turned north north eastward time hurricane lost intensity september tropical storm landfall near california early september winds severe gale strength dissipated later day strongest reported wind force reported ship making system minimal hurricane lowest pressure reported ship inhg rotation earth tropical cyclones tend east west causes tropical cyclones approach west_coast united_states factor california landfall water temperatures water currents waters california rarely cold hurricanes sustain tropical cyclone rare eastern pacific tropical cyclones brought tropical storm force winds twentieth century landfall hit mexico moving north impact storm dropped heavy rain california inches falling los_angeles inches hours inches recorded mount wilson september records hours thunderstorm dropped nearly inches rain inches fell inches inches fell september record time near anaheim inches rain fell inches mount wilson california highest rainfall amounts tropical cyclone system higher point maximum rains caused flood feet deep dropping inches day storm hit usually low september raging flooding killed southern_california rain immediately tropical storm sea killed national_hurricane_center attributes deaths system people caught beaches drowned storm deaths sea died aboard vessel called spray attempted dock point survivors man woman swam ashore walked miles people drowned aboard fishing boat called vessels sunk capsized blown ashore low lying areas flooded overflowed flooding area shore houses flooded area thousands people stranded homes streets los_angeles proper covered water flooding buildings cars flooding los_angeles reached depth feet construction flood control project channel stopped flooding windows city smashed wind waves undermined homes washing away debris scattered coast agriculture disrupted crop damage reached rains washed away foot section near stretch main line near waters backing storm drain construction blocked route california pier point washed away people left electricity lost service communications affected area disrupted rendered impossible total damage million usd million usd tropical storm credited beneficial effect ended vicious heat wave lasted week killed people people caught unprepared storm described sudden people beach wind reached miles hour time closed beach schools closed sea navy conducted rescue operations saving dozens people response weather_bureau established forecast office southern california began operations february
1939 California tropical storm