Hail and Damaging Wind in California, December 13, 1995

In an unstable airmass numerous thunderstorms were noted through the NWSO San Joaquin Valley county warning area the afternoon of December 13. With a Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued at 1423 PST and a valid time of one hour, one-inch hail was observed in north Hanford at 1500 PST by an National Weather Service Employee. Additional damage included some small trees uprooted from wind associated with the storm's passage. The reflectivity associated with this storm was 67dBz which spiked to 69dBz; VIL of 37; and, storm top of 29,000 feet.

Two separate but merging storms southwest of Bakersfield were observed with VILs of 30 and 25, storm tops of 20,000 feet, and maximum reflectivities of 55-60dBz. The warning decision was made by WSR-88D radar interpretation only. After merging these storms had a maximum VIL of 37, a reflectivity maximum of 61dBz, storm top was 31,000 feet, and a storm top divergence of 60 at its peak. A subsequent report of one-inch hail occurring at 1515 PST was received from Weedpatch, 10 miles southeast of Bakersfield. Additional hail of five-eighths inch was reported at Lamont, 12 miles ESE of Bakersfield at 1600 PST.

Strong reflectivity on the San Joaquin Valley WSR-88D prompted the issuance of a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for South-Central Fresno County and Northwestern Tulare County at 1446PST with a valid time of 45 minutes. Hail size of one-half to three-quarters inch hail was observed in Sanger (12 miles ESE of Fresno) from this storm. While the Severe was likely needed for both Fresno and Tulare Counties, no verification could be obtained from the Tulare County side of the line. The reflectivity associated with this storm was 65dBz and VIL of 37.

The SVR issued based on radar information, as previously described, for the period from 1519 PST until 1600 PST did provide some lead time. Additional one-inch hail was reported at 1530 PST in East Bakersfield by Kern County Emergency Management to NWSO San Joaquin Valley.