Flooding and Hail in California, October 10, 2000

An early season convective rain event did economic damage to the Central and Southern San Joaquin Valley. Frontal passage with embedded and post-frontal thunderstorms swept through the Central and South San Joaquin Valley beginning around 0900 PST on the 10th. Hanford received 1/3" rain in an hour from a heavy thundershower from 1150 to 1250 PST. Severe weather hail damage occurred on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley in the Fresno and Kings County areas. Additionally, a 1-mile long, small hail swath in Central Fresno County near Malaga did agricultural damage. Crops impacted by the hail were lettuce, alfalfa, beans, broccoli, persimmons, raisin, pomegranates, and cotton. Going back through at least 1922, no Fresno Fair closures had been noted due to adverse weather but the heavy rain on the 10th closed the fair leading to an estimated revenue loss of $200K. Over the 3-day period from the 9th through the 11th, Fresno received 1.22" of rain including a record breaking 0.76" on the 10th. Ponded water caused numerous flooding problems in and around the City of Fresno. In the Tulare area 0.67" was received during the afternoon of the 10th. The unusually significant, early rain caused damage in the form of ceiling collapses and water damage.