Heavy Rain in California, January 7 to 11, 2005

Name: Heavy Rain in California, January 7 to 11, 2005
Start: 2005-01-07T06:00
End: 2005-01-11T16:00
Location: California

January 7 to 11, 2005 · NWS HNX · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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

Open the live radar over this ground

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.

Persistent closed low pressure off the Southern California Coast, beneath a blocking ridge, set a second period of rain and numerous problems for Interior Central California. The low resulted in gusty pre-frontal wind varying to high rainfall accumulations on the San Joaquin Valley Floor and Kern Deserts and snow in the higher elevations of the Southern Sierra Nevada, Tulare County Mountains, and the Kern County Mountains. On the Valley floor the 5-day rain total for Merced was 2.27", Fresno 1.33", Hanford 1.35", and Bakersfield 1.47". Heavy rainfall amounts in the foothills during the period included 8.57 inches at Mariposa leading to Bear Creek causing some damage due to overflowing near midpines in Mariposa County and running bankfull through the city of Merced by the 10th. Larger precipitation amounts in the mountain areas during the period included 6.15" at Wishon Dam, 5.68" in Coulterville, 5.65" at Jerseydale, 5.12" at Poison Ridge, and 5.01" at Yosemite-Wawona. In the 48 hour period ending on the 11th, Yosemite had 1.87" of rain and Shaver Lake 2.87". Kern Desert rainfall amounts included 3.89" at Edwards, 3.86" at Rosamond, 3.39" at Mojave, and 2.41" at Ridgecrest. In the 2-week period from late December through January 11th, Yosemite had 15.62" of rain which compared to the 15.69" of rain that occurred with the warmer rains around the January 1, 1997, time period which lead to flooding. Bootjack, in Mariposa County, received 31.5" of rain during the same 2-week period.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Hanford, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 7, 4:45 AM PST, 1 hour 15 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 7, 4:45 AM PST, 1 hour 15 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
445 AM PST FRI JAN 7 2005

.SHORT TERM...FOR THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INTERIOR...TIGHTLY WOUND
SFC AND UPPER LEVEL LOW CURRENTLY APPROACHING THE BAY AREA. THIS LOW
IS FCST TO MOVE QUICKLY NE THIS MORNING...AND MERGE WITH DEVELOPING
SYS OFF THE WA/OR COAST. STRONGEST SFC GRADS IN THE SJV FCST TO
OCCUR BETWEEN 12-18Z...THEN DECREASE DURING THE AFTERNOON. AFTER THE
TWO ABOVE MENTIONED SYSTEMS MERGE TODAY...THE DOMINANT LOW OFF THE
WA/OR COAST WILL BRING A VERY MOIST W-SW FLOW ALOFT TO CENTRAL CA
THRU THE WEEKEND. MODELS ARE FCSTG RATHER HIGH 3 DAY QPF TOTALS FOR
THE REGION...RANGING FROM AN INCH OR BETTER IN THE SJV TO 5 INCH
TOTALS IN THE SIERRA. SNOWFALL TOTALS COULD BE ON THE ORDER OF 5
FEET AT AND ABOVE 7K. IN THE KERN MTNS AND DESERTS...RUNOFF FROM
MELTING SNOW AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS POSE A FLOOD PROBLEM AT AND
BELOW ABOUT 5500 FEET OVER THE WEEKEND. NORMALLY DRY STREAM BEDS AND
WASHES WILL NEED TO BE WATCHED. FOR NOW...SMALL STREAM FLOOD
ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED BUT FLOOD WARNINGS MAY BE REQUIRED
DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH RAIN OCCURS AND HOW HIGH /OR LOW/ SNOW LEVELS
ACTUALLY GET.

LONG TERM...FOR SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY...EXTENDED RANGE PROGS
REMAIN IN FAIRLY GOOD AGREEMENT THIS MORNING AS THEY ALL ATTEMPT TO
SWING AN UPPER LOW INTO THE AREA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PERIOD. ALL
MODELS STILL TRY TO PLACE THE UPPER LOW NEAR 44N/128W AT THE START
OF THE PERIOD WHICH REMAINS CONSISTENT WITH PREVIOUS RUNS OF THE
LAST FEW DAYS. WHILE MODEL DO SHOW SOME SLIGHT DIFFERENCES IN THE
TIMING AND STRENGTH OF THE TROF...ALL SHOW IT MOVING INTO THE AREA
LATE SUNDAY NIGHT. THEREFORE...WILL MAINTAIN WORDING IN THE FORECAST
OF LIKELY RAIN AND SNOW OVER THE DISTRICT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE
LONG TERM AND TRENDING DOWN TO CHANCE CATEGORY BY MONDAY NIGHT INTO
TUESDAY. MODELS ATTEMPT TO MOVE THE TROF THROUGH THE DISTRICT
QUICKLY AND HAVE IT EXIT THE AREA LATER TUESDAY. IN
ADDITION...+120KT JET MAX NOW SHOWING A MORE SOCAL TRAJECTORY AND
NOT HITTING THE DISTRICT ON MONDAY. WITH A MORE SOCAL TRACK...THAT
AREA WILL GET THE BULK OF THE DYNAMICS WITH LESSER VALUES REACHING
INTO CENTRAL CALIFORNIA. THEREFORE...WILL SEE A QUICK STORM WHICH
WILL BEGIN DIMINISHING BY TUESDAY NIGHT AND STARTING A DRYING TREND
INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY. RIDGING WILL RETURN TO CENTRAL CALIFORNIA BY
WEDNESDAY WHICH WILL SUPPORT DRIER CONDITIONS OVER THE DISTRICT
DURING THE LATTER HALF OF THE LONG TERM. WITH THE END OF THE WET
PATTERN WILL SEE A RETURN OF FOG OVER THE CENTRAL VALLEY. ADJUSTED
WEATHER DURING THE LAST TWO DAYS OF THE EXTENDED PERIOD TO REFLEX
FOG DEVELOPMENT DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. FURTHERMORE...MODELS
BACKING OFF ON THE STRENGTH OF THE COLD AIRMASS FILTERING INTO THE
DISTRICT DURING THE LAST FEW DAYS OF THE EXTENDED. WILL STILL
MAINTAIN THE COOLING TREND...BUT REDUCE THE DEPTH OF HOW COLD IT
WILL GET DURING THE PERIOD.

&&

.HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE
      SOUTHERN SIERRA AND TEHACHAPI MOUNTAINS THRU SUNDAY.
  ...HIGH WIND WARNING FOR THE FAR SOUTH END OF THE SAN JOAQUIN
      VALLEY AND A WIND ADVISORY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE CENTRAL
      AND SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY TODAY.
  ...SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY FOR THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS
      AND DESERTS THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY.

&&

BINGHAM/MOLINA

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 7, 5:00 AM PST, 1 hour before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA
500 AM PST FRI JAN 7 2005

CAZ096-097-081300-
SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON-TULARE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
500 AM PST FRI JAN 7 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA
FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON...AND THE TULARE COUNTY MOUNTAINS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM THROUGH 4 PM
SUNDAY. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE /WWUS46
KHNX/ FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

THE WINTER STORM WARNING WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY. PLEASE REFER
TO THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE /WWUS46 KHNX/ FOR FURTHER
DETAILS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS TO THEIR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

CAZ093-094-081300-
MARIPOSA MADERA AND FRESNO COUNTY FOOTHILLS-TULARE COUNTY FOOTHILLS-
500 AM PST FRI JAN 7 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE SIERRA NEVADA FOOTHILLS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS TO THEIR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

CAZ098-099-081300-
INDIAN WELLS VALLEY-SOUTHEASTERN KERN COUNTY DESERT-
500 AM PST FRI JAN 7 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE INDIAN WELLS VALLEY...AND
THE SOUTHEASTERN KERN COUNTY DESERT.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

A SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY FOR THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY.
PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY /WGUS86
KHNX/ FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

THE SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY CONTINUES THROUGH 4 PM SUNDAY.
PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY /WGUS86 KHNX/
FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS TO THEIR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

CAZ095-081300-
KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
500 AM PST FRI JAN 7 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER ADVISORY IS FOR THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY. PLEASE REFER TO
THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE /WWUS46 KHNX/ FOR FURTHER
DETAILS...AND A SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THIS
AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST SMALL STREAM
FLOOD ADVISORY /WGUS86 KHNX/ FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

THE WINTER STORM WARNING CONTINUES TO BE IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY.
THE SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY CONTINUES TO BE IN EFFECT THROUGH
SUNDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS TO THEIR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

CAZ089>092-081300-
WEST CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-EAST CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-
SOUTHWESTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-SOUTHEASTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-
500 AM PST FRI JAN 7 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN SAN
JOAQUIN VALLEY.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

THE HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE FAR SOUTH END
...AND THE WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM. PLEASE REFER
TO THE LATEST WEATHER MESSAGE /WWUS76 KHNX/ FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS TO THEIR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

TLM

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, Merced

When: January 7, 6:00 AM PST to January 11, 12:00 PM PST
Where: Merced County, Countywide
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 37.192, -120.718 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Mariposa

When: January 7, 6:00 AM PST to January 11, 1:00 PM PST
Where: Mariposa County, Countywide
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.582, -119.905 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Fresno

When: January 7, 8:00 AM PST to January 11, 2:00 PM PST
Where: Fresno County, Countywide
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 36.758, -119.649 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Kings

When: January 7, 10:00 AM PST to January 11, 2:00 PM PST
Where: Kings County, Countywide
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 36.075, -119.815 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Kern

When: January 7, 12:00 PM PST to January 11, 4:00 PM PST
Where: Kern County, Countywide
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 35.343, -118.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Rain: Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in California in 2005 Every state in 2005 This day in weather history Warnings in California, January 2005

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: 5438333, 5438337, 5438334, 5438335, 5438336.