California, 2000

Hail in California, October 29, 2000

October 29, 2000 · NWS HNX · 5 events in 4 counties and zones

A major weather system, especially considering the time of year, moved over interior Central California late on the 28th providing major snow accumulations for the higher terrain. Subsequent atmospheric instability on the 29th lead to several reports of large hail and numerous reports of funnel clouds.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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.

A major weather system, especially considering the time of year, moved over interior Central California late on the 28th providing major snow accumulations for the higher terrain. Subsequent atmospheric instability on the 29th lead to several reports of large hail and numerous reports of funnel clouds. A north-south line of convection formed over the San Joaquin Valley upon passing Kings County by 1330 PST on the 29th. Two large cells threatened Visalia/Tulare and Corcoran, respectively, and a Severe Thunderstorm Warning and a Tornado Warning were issued due to the threat. HNX 88D reported TVS east of Corcoran. However no verification in the rural area could be obtained. Large hail occurred in Visalia with several reports of funnel clouds through the early to mid afternoon hours.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 funnel cloud, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Funnel Cloud, Kings

When
October 29, 1:30 PM PST to 1:45 PM PST
Where
Kings County, 5 mi S of Hanford
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
36.075, -119.815 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Funnel Cloud, Tulare

When
October 29, 1:38 PM PST to 1:40 PM PST
Where
Tulare County, 2 mi W of Visalia Arpt
Reported by
AIRPLANE PILOT
Coordinates
36.220, -118.800 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Funnel Cloud, Tulare

When
October 29, 2:40 PM PST to 2:42 PM PST
Where
Tulare County, 5 mi NE of Pixley
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
36.220, -118.800 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Merced

When
October 29, 6:50 PM PST to 7:10 PM PST
Where
Merced County, 9 mi SE of Merced Arpt
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.183, -120.400

Hail, Madera

When
October 29, 7:10 PM PST to 7:15 PM PST
Where
Madera County, 7 mi W of Chowchilla
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.117, -120.400

What these are

Funnel Cloud
A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in California in 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyWarnings in California, October 2000

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5161831, 5161829, 5161830, 5161827, 5161828.