Hail in California, June 2, 1999

Short-lived funnel spotted within line of convective activity by trained spotter.

While not meeting severe thunderstorm criteria, a line of late spring thunderstorms ran across north-central Fresno and to the east of Fresno. Hail just less than 3/4-inch in diameter was deposited to the depth of 2 inches accompanied by gusty wind to at least 30 MPH and locally heavy rain bringing widespread street flooding. Some power outages were reported throughout the Fresno City north and east sides from a line of thunderstorms that passed through the area from just before 7 PM PDT to half-past the hour. Spotters reported rainfall rates of 0.60 inches in 15 minutes in north-central Fresno...overall precipitation varied from 3/4-1 inch of rain over a 2-hour period along the storms' paths. Agriculture sustained damage from the hail with foilage and blossoms stripped on vines, and fruit and nut crops damaged from 10 to 100 percent in locations north, east, and southwest to southeast of Fresno. The damage figure is estimated for all of Fresno County, including the hail from the southwest-to-southeast of Fresno.

While not meeting severe thunderstorm criteria in hail size, the intolerance of local agriculture to any hail during the growing season led to damage among nut crops, stone fruit, and vineyards. The hail was reported just less than 3/4-inch.