California, 1996

Flood in California, April 16, 1996

April 16, 1996 · NWS HNX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

With severe thunderstorms occurring in Central California during the early to mid afternoon hours, locally heavy rain brought deep ponding of water in several locations of north Fresno. City intersections were flooded deep enough to strand cars.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$30,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS HNX wrote it up.

With severe thunderstorms occurring in Central California during the early to mid afternoon hours, locally heavy rain brought deep ponding of water in several locations of north Fresno. City intersections were flooded deep enough to strand cars. One spotter report indicated 0.73" rain fell in a 25 minute period... another indicated 1.50 inches within 2 hours.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Fresno

When
April 16, 1:45 PM PST to 2:30 PM PST
Where
Fresno County, 9 mi NW of Fresno
Property damage
$30,000
Coordinates
36.758, -119.649 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in California in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in California, April 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5580786.