Heavy Rain in California, February 15 to 18, 2005

The period from the 15th into the 22nd of the month marked a period of unsettled weather for Interior Central California. Rain occurred during this time period with some locally heavy rain showers or thundershowers. On the 15th Central California was particularly hard hit with much above normal daily rain amounts as Merced received 1.24" during the 24-hour period, Madera 1.16", and Fresno 0.92". In the South San Joaquin Valley Bakersfield received 0.82" on the 18th (a daily record), a contribution by an early evening thundershower. Resultant ponded and flowing water in the South San Joaquin Valley from the 15th to the 22nd caused major damage to area roads...including Wheeler Ridge Road 2.5 miles northeast of Mettler in the South Valley. Numerous reports of small stream and urban flooding occurred throughout Interior Central California during the wet period and specifically included localized flooding on the 15th in West Fresno City and Dos Palos in Fresno County and on Highway 41 north of Fresno in Madera County, and local road flooding around Bakersfield on the 18th.