Alert archive / California / Tornado Warnings in 2024

Tornado Warning 1, NWS Hanford, CA

March 1, 2024Madera County, Mariposa County, Merced County, California

NWS Hanford, CA issued this tornado warning at Mar 1, 2024, 3:47 PM PST for Madera County, Mariposa County, Merced County, California. It was in force for 28 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued: Mar 1, 2024, 3:47 PM PST (23:47 UTC)
Expired: Mar 1, 2024, 4:15 PM PST
In force: 28 min
Issued by: NWS Hanford, CA
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 0.75 in

Counties Madera County, CA, Mariposa County, CA, Merced County, CA

The radar

The San Joaquin Valley radar (KHNX), 121 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:49 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Hanford, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Mar 1, 3:08 PM PST, 39 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 1, 3:08 PM PST, 39 minutes before

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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 1, 2:29 PM PST, 1 hour 18 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley CA
229 PM PST Fri Mar 1 2024

CAZ317-318-012245-
Mariposa-Madera Lower Sierra CA-Mariposa Madera Foothills CA-
229 PM PST Fri Mar 1 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN MARIPOSA AND
SOUTHWESTERN TUOLUMNE COUNTIES THROUGH 245 PM PST...

At 228 PM PST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Moccasin, or 13 miles southeast of Sonora, moving northeast at 50
mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of northwestern
Mariposa and southwestern Tuolumne Counties.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3766 12023 3769 12033 3772 12035 3773 12029
      3774 12028 3773 12026 3776 12024 3776 12020
      3780 12018 3778 12013 3782 12009 3782 12008
TIME...MOT...LOC 2228Z 202DEG 43KT 3783 12022

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

JPK

Special weather statement, Mar 1, 3:04 PM PST, 43 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley CA
304 PM PST Fri Mar 1 2024

CAZ302-303-012330-
Merced - Madera - Mendota CA-Planada - Le Grand - Snelling CA-
304 PM PST Fri Mar 1 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN MARIPOSA...WEST
CENTRAL MADERA AND EAST CENTRAL MERCED COUNTIES THROUGH 330 PM PST...

At 304 PM PST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles northwest of Chowchilla, or 10 miles southeast of Merced,
moving east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Chowchilla, Planada, and Le Grand.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Conditions are favorable for the development of weak, brief funnel
clouds. This type of funnel cloud is harmless, but on rare occasions
they can briefly touch down, producing wind gusts over 50 mph. If a
funnel cloud is spotted move indoors and report your sighting to the
National Weather Service.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 3707 12041 3725 12047 3736 12021 3710 12011
TIME...MOT...LOC 2304Z 254DEG 19KT 3719 12035

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

JPK

Special weather statement, Mar 1, 3:27 PM PST, 20 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley CA
327 PM PST Fri Mar 1 2024

CAZ302-303-317-020000-
Merced - Madera - Mendota CA-Mariposa Madera Foothills CA-Planada -
Le Grand - Snelling CA-
327 PM PST Fri Mar 1 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN MARIPOSA AND EAST
CENTRAL MERCED COUNTIES THROUGH 400 PM PST...

At 327 PM PST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 13
miles east of Merced, moving northeast at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Planada and Le Grand.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Conditions are favorable for the development of weak, brief funnel
clouds. This type of funnel cloud is harmless, but on rare occasions
they can briefly touch down, producing wind gusts over 50 mph. If a
funnel cloud is spotted move indoors and report your sighting to the
National Weather Service.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 3720 12030 3726 12038 3756 12021 3733 11997
TIME...MOT...LOC 2327Z 226DEG 22KT 3731 12024

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

JPK

Special weather statement, Mar 1, 3:32 PM PST, 15 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley CA
332 PM PST Fri Mar 1 2024

CAZ303-317-318-020000-
Mariposa-Madera Lower Sierra CA-Mariposa Madera Foothills CA-
Planada - Le Grand - Snelling CA-
332 PM PST Fri Mar 1 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL MARIPOSA COUNTY
THROUGH 400 PM PST...

At 331 PM PST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 15
miles west of Bootjack, or 19 miles northeast of Merced, moving
northeast at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Mariposa and Catheys Valley.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Conditions are favorable for the development of weak, brief funnel
clouds. This type of funnel cloud is harmless, but on rare occasions
they can briefly touch down, producing wind gusts over 50 mph. If a
funnel cloud is spotted move indoors and report your sighting to the
National Weather Service.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3736 12021 3741 12027 3761 12016 3746 11994
TIME...MOT...LOC 2331Z 228DEG 14KT 3745 12017

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

JPK

Special weather statement, Mar 1, 3:41 PM PST, 6 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley CA
341 PM PST Fri Mar 1 2024

CAZ302-303-317-020015-
Merced - Madera - Mendota CA-Mariposa Madera Foothills CA-Planada -
Le Grand - Snelling CA-
341 PM PST Fri Mar 1 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN MARIPOSA...SOUTH
CENTRAL MADERA AND EAST CENTRAL MERCED COUNTIES THROUGH 415 PM PST...

At 340 PM PST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Madera Acres, or 8 miles north of Madera, moving north at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Madera, Chowchilla, and Madera Acres.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Conditions are favorable for the development of weak, brief funnel
clouds. This type of funnel cloud is harmless, but on rare occasions
they can briefly touch down, producing wind gusts over 50 mph. If a
funnel cloud is spotted move indoors and report your sighting to the
National Weather Service.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3696 12000 3699 12015 3736 12018 3731 11985
TIME...MOT...LOC 2340Z 191DEG 19KT 3709 12008

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

JPK

The office that day

Everything else NWS Hanford, CA issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 1, 1:46 AM PST	High Wind Warning	HNX	Fresno, Kern, Kings, Merced	42 hr
Mar 1, 2:29 PM PST	Special Weather Statement	HNX	Mariposa	16 min
Mar 1, 3:04 PM PST	Special Weather Statement	HNX	Merced	26 min
Mar 1, 3:27 PM PST	Special Weather Statement	HNX	Mariposa	33 min
Mar 1, 3:32 PM PST	Special Weather Statement	HNX	Mariposa	28 min
Mar 1, 3:41 PM PST	Special Weather Statement	HNX	Madera	34 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in California, 2024 Every tornado warning in 2024 Tornadoes in 2024

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.