Flood and Dust Storm in California, October 24, 1998

The cool season's first significant rain pushed through Central California starting about 1100 PDT in Merced County and through Kern County by 2100 PDT. Merced received 0.75" of rain in embedded frontal thundershowers and locally heavy rain in about 2 hours beginning at 1115 PDT. Some local street flooding was reported just south of Hilmar and within Delhi. In Merced a tree was toppled by the storm. Several traffic accidents occurred on rain-slickened roads. Other rainfall amounts with the fast-moving front were 0.85" at Lemoore; only 0.16" at Fresno; and 0.21" at Bakersfield. While no warnings needed to have been formally issued, the storm's approach and timing were well advertised by NWS Special Weather Statements more than 18 hours in advance and Short Term Forecasts with the front's passage.

Pre-frontal gusty wind led to localized areas of very low visibility in blowing dust 3 miles east of Hanford in Kings County. A multi-vehicle accident involved 15 cars and 1 tractor-trailer rig with an estimated 8 injuries, but no fatalities. The blowing dust episode was very short-lived and localized as rain began around 1530 PDT. In the Kern County area late in the afternoon wind at Meadows Field was measured at 38 MPH with reports of downed powerlines and reports of crashes on rain-slickened roads. Over 20 weather-related reports were received by the Kern County Fire Department but no official damage assessment was noted.