Alert archive / California / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 4, NWS Hanford, CA
NWS Hanford, CA issued this tornado warning at Apr 21, 2026, 5:16 PM PDT for Fresno County, California. It was in force for 29 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- Apr 21, 2026, 5:16 PM PDT (00:16 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 21, 2026, 5:45 PM PDT
- In force
- 29 min
- Issued by
- NWS Hanford, CA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Observed
- Hail
- 1.0 in
County Fresno County, CA
The radar
The San Joaquin Valley radar (KHNX), 69 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:18 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.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
The nearest sounding before it
Oakland, CA (KOAK), launched 00:00Z, 0.3 hours before the alert went out and 253 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 82 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -2 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 918 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 21 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 5 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 29 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
780
WFUS56 KHNX 220016
TORHNX
CAC019-220045-
/O.NEW.KHNX.TO.W.0004.260422T0016Z-260422T0045Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley CA
516 PM PDT Tue Apr 21 2026
The National Weather Service in Hanford CA has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Northeastern Fresno County in central California...
* Until 545 PM PDT.
* At 516 PM PDT, a confirmed tornado was located 9 miles northeast of
Clovis, moving northeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Damaging tornado and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Public confirmed tornado.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed.
Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree
damage is likely.
* This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
northeastern Fresno County, including the following locations...
Fancher Creek and Auberry.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a
basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy
building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in
a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect
yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 3683 11956 3690 11965 3710 11949 3700 11933
TIME...MOT...LOC 0016Z 216DEG 16KT 3689 11956
TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$
SM1 follow-up statement
129 WWUS56 KHNX 220040 SVSHNX Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley CA 540 PM PDT Tue Apr 21 2026 CAC019-220049- /O.EXP.KHNX.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-260422T0045Z/ Fresno CA- 540 PM PDT Tue Apr 21 2026 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN FRESNO COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 545 PM PDT... The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado. Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire. However, small hail, gusty winds and heavy rain are still possible with this thunderstorm. && LAT...LON 3683 11956 3690 11965 3710 11949 3700 11933 TIME...MOT...LOC 0039Z 216DEG 16KT 3697 11949 $$ SM
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 Apr 21, 5:04 PM PDT, 12 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1. Winter Storm Warning in effect for the Sierra Nevada above 7,000 ft until 5 PM Wednesday. 2. Wind Advisory for the Kern County desert this afternoon into Wednesday morning and the Mojave Desert slopes from this afternoon until Wednesday evening. 3. An approaching cut-off low brings periods of heavy rainfall and mountain snow through this evening, with favorable conditions for convective weather this afternoon and evening.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 21, 5:04 PM PDT, 12 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion...CORRECTED National Weather Service Hanford CA 504 PM PDT Tue Apr 21 2026 .UPDATE... Updated Aviation Section. && .KEY MESSAGES... 1. Winter Storm Warning in effect for the Sierra Nevada above 7,000 ft until 5 PM Wednesday. 2. Wind Advisory for the Kern County desert this afternoon into Wednesday morning and the Mojave Desert slopes from this afternoon until Wednesday evening. 3. An approaching cut-off low brings periods of heavy rainfall and mountain snow through this evening, with favorable conditions for convective weather this afternoon and evening. && .DISCUSSION... Currently, a band of precipitation is gradually moving inland, based on latest radar and satellite data. Deeper convection is offshore and moving inland over Northern California. Additional showers and thunderstorms will develop by this afternoon in our forecast area. As much as a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms exists for our region for today. Northern portions, including Fresno County northward, are now under a marginal risk for severe thunderstorms, per the Storm Prediction Center. Otherwise, additional snow will fall in the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada until Wednesday with current snow levels around 7,000 feet lowering to 4,500 feet by late tonight. Strong, gusty winds will also develop over the higher elevations and into the Kern County desert by this afternoon. Active weather continues through Wednesday afternoon with additional chances for afternoon/evening thunderstorms, as well as gusty winds and precipitation. We get a break from active weather late this week with near to above average temperatures for Thursday into Friday, but another low pressure system brings a slight chance for precipitation this weekend, mainly over the Sierra Nevada and adjacent foothills. Precipitation chances will also occur into early next week in these particular areas. Overall, we're not looking at significant warming through next week, or similar to what took place last weekend into yesterday. && .AVIATION... TSRA is anticipated, especially at KFAT and INVOF KVIS over the next 1-2 hours. Gusty/erratic outflow winds of 20-25 knots and reduced visibility (IFR) should be anticipated. Otherwise, SHRA is advertised at other terminals. Confidence is medium that precipitation chances fall below 10% by 04Z, however, trends will be monitored. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES... None. && .CERTAINTY... The level of certainty for days 1 and 2 is high. The level of certainty for days 3 through 7 is medium. Certainty levels include low...medium...and high. Please visit www.weather.gov/hnx/certainty.html for additional information and/or to provide feedback. && .HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 8 PM PDT Wednesday for CAZ338. Winter Storm Warning until 5 PM PDT Wednesday for CAZ323- 326>328-330. Wind Advisory until 7 AM PDT Wednesday for CAZ337-339. && BSO/MTR weather.gov/hanford
In the hours before
Local storm report, Apr 21, 4:19 PM PDT, 57 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hanford CA
419 PM PDT Tue Apr 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0400 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 WSW Atwater 37.34N 120.65W
04/21/2026 Merced CA Emergency Mngr
Merced County OES reported property damage
to a farm and house.
&&Local storm report, Apr 21, 4:52 PM PDT, 24 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hanford CA
452 PM PDT Tue Apr 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0430 PM Hail 4 ESE Madera 36.94N 120.02W
04/21/2026 E0.25 Inch Madera CA Public
Public X post showing approximately
pea-sized hail accumulating on road.
&&Local storm report, Apr 21, 5:00 PM PDT, 16 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hanford CA
500 PM PDT Tue Apr 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0458 PM Hail 1 SW Clovis 36.81N 119.71W
04/21/2026 E0.25 Inch Fresno CA Public
Sequoia Homes resident phone report of
pea-sized hail alongside lightning and 0.4
inch daily rainfall.
&&Local storm report, Apr 21, 5:01 PM PDT, 15 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hanford CA
501 PM PDT Tue Apr 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0458 PM Hail 1 SW Clovis 36.81N 119.71W
04/21/2026 E0.25 Inch Fresno CA Public
Corrects previous hail report from 1 SW
Clovis. Sequoia Homes resident phone report
of pea-sized hail alongside lightning and
0.4 inch daily rainfall.
&&Local storm report, Apr 21, 5:11 PM PDT, 5 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hanford CA
511 PM PDT Tue Apr 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0458 PM Hail Clovis 36.82N 119.70W
04/21/2026 M0.75 Inch Fresno CA Public
Public X post from NE Clovis showing penny
sized hail next to pennies for reference.
&&Special weather statement, Apr 21, 5:12 PM PDT, 4 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley CA
512 PM PDT Tue Apr 21 2026
CAZ303-307-317>320-325>327-220045-
Fresno-Clovis CA-Kaiser to Rodgers Ridge CA-
San Joaquin River Canyon CA-Fresno-Tulare Foothills CA-Mariposa-
Madera Lower Sierra CA-Upper San Joaquin River CA-
Mariposa Madera Foothills CA-Planada - Le Grand - Snelling CA-Fresno-
Tulare Lower Sierra CA-
512 PM PDT Tue Apr 21 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL MADERA AND NORTH CENTRAL
FRESNO COUNTIES THROUGH 545 PM PDT...
At 512 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles southeast of Yosemite Lakes, or 19 miles north of Clovis,
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...
Yosemite Lakes, Peckinpah, Bass Lake, Crane Valley Reservoir, North
Fork, Millerton Lake, Auberry, Friant, and Shaver Lake.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3699 11970 3713 11983 3741 11945 3719 11925
TIME...MOT...LOC 0012Z 233DEG 20KT 3711 11970
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
EWThe office that day
Everything else NWS Hanford, CA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 21, 5:11 PM PDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HNX | Fresno, Tulare | 34 min |
| Apr 21, 5:12 PM PDT | Special Weather Statement | HNX | Madera | 33 min |
| Apr 21, 5:39 PM PDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HNX | Fresno, Tulare | 36 min |
| Apr 21, 5:42 PM PDT | Special Weather Statement | HNX | Madera | 33 min |
| Apr 21, 6:12 PM PDT | Special Weather Statement | HNX | 33 min | |
| Apr 21, 6:43 PM PDT | Special Weather Statement | HNX | 32 min | |
| Apr 21, 7:14 PM PDT | Special Weather Statement | HNX | Fresno | 31 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in California, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes in 2026
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.