It was a similar snowpack in the winter of 1861 – 1862 that as melted by an atmospheric river of warm rain that pelted the state for a month melting the snow, which flooded the valley, with the flood water rising to the second floor of the homes and building in Sacramento.
One description of the impact of the flood;
The event was climaxed by a warmer, more intense storm with much more rain that was much more serious, due to the earlier large accumulation of snow, now melted by the large turbulent heat fluxes into the snow over the lower elevations of the mountains. Throughout the affected area, all the streams and rivers rose to great heights, flooded the valleys, inundated or swept away towns, mills, dams, flumes, houses, fences, and domestic animals, and ruined fields. An early estimate of property damage was $10,000,000. However, later it was estimated…
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