Flood, Tulare
- When
- April 4, 9:52 AM PST to April 5, 8:40 PM PST
- Where
- Tulare County, 4 mi SE of Cutler
- Property damage
- $100,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.483, -119.233
Flooding and Heavy Rain in California, April 4 to 5, 2006
Continued rain, locally heavy, led to numerous urban ponding incidences within the city of Visalia. Additionally, a canal bank breached near Orosi with the excess water and runoff.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $250,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 3
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.
Continued rain, locally heavy, led to numerous urban ponding incidences within the city of Visalia. Additionally, a canal bank breached near Orosi with the excess water and runoff. Poor drainage resulted in substantial damage to homes in Visalia from flooding. Further flooding occurred in homes and the school at Seville, southeast of Cutler in Tulare County.
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 Apr 4, 2:30 AM PST, 7 hours 22 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 4, 2:30 AM PST, 7 hours 22 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
330 AM PDT TUE APR 4 2006
.SHORT TERM...FOR THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INTERIOR...HEAVY RAIN
CONTINUES OVER THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY, THE FOOTHILLS AND THE SIERRA
BELOW 8000 FEET. LOOKS LIKE AN INCREDIBLE SNOW DUMP IS OCCURRING
OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE SIERRA WITH REPORTS FROM MAMMOTH
MOUNTAIN SHOWING BIG INCREASES IN SNOW DEPTH. RAINFALL TOTALS FROM
SITES IN THE SIERRA SHOW AN AVERAGE OF 3-5 IN THE PAST 24 HOURS
WITH NATURE POINT NEAR MAMMOTH POOL IN FRESNO COUNTY REPORTING
8.00 OF RAIN AND GIN FLAT IN YOSEMITE PARK REPORTING AN EYE OPENING
10 OF RAIN. THE MAIN CONCERN OBVIOUSLY THIS MORNING IS HYDROLOGY
WITH THE CONTINUED HEAVY RAIN. WATER VAPOR SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS
CONTINUED DEEP MOISTURE ADVECTING INTO THE AREA AROUND THE BOTTOM
OF THE LOW, NOW CENTERED OUT NEAR 35/130W. THE LOW CONTINUES TO
SLOWLY INCH TO THE EAST AND COLD, CONVECTIVE ELEMENTS ARE QUITE
WIDESPREAD WITH THIS LOW. AS STATED ABOVE, THE MAIN CONCERN REMAINS
FLOODING AS THE AREA WILL STAY IN THE WARM, SOUTHWEST FLOW UNTIL
THE LOW MOVES CLOSER TO THE COAST. THIS WILL LIKELY BE SOMETIME
TONIGHT AND ANOTHER 12 TO 18 HOURS OF WARM RAIN OVER THE FOOTHILLS
AND SIERRA SLOPES IN THE 5000-7000 FOOT RANGE MAY CAUSE SOME
CONSIDERABLE FLOODING BEFORE THE PRECIPITATION FINALLY CHANGES OVER
TO SNOW TONIGHT AND EARLY WEDNESDAY. WILL BE UPDATING THE FLOOD
WARNING STATEMENTS ON THIS PACKAGE. COE CONTINUES TO RELEASE FROM
FRIANT DAM AND WILL MONITOR ANY INCREASES IN RELEASE FOR ADDITIONAL
FLOODING THREATS. IT LOOKS LIKE THE RAIN WILL FINALLY GET TO
THE KERN DESERT AREAS LATER TODAY AS THE LOW EDGES EAST AND
HEAVY RAIN HERE CANNOT BE RULED OUT. MODELS ARE IN NO HURRY TO EJECT
THE LOW TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY MORNING AND I HAVE BUMPED UP POPS
CONSIDERABLY DURING THESE PERIODS. IT LOOKS LIKE FINALLY THE LOW WILL
MOVE EAST WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING AND A BREAK IN THE WET
WEATHER WILL OCCUR FOR THURSDAY.
.LONG TERM...FOR THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY...MEDIUM RANGE MODELS
CONTINUE TO AGREE WITH KEEPING THE REGION UNDER AN UNSETTLED AND
PROGRESSIVE PATTERN. A BREAK FROM THE ACTION TO BEGIN THE PERIOD
COURTESY OF SHORT WAVE RIDGING. RIDGE AXIS SHIFTS EAST FRIDAY
MORNING AS THE EPAC TROUGH PUSHES TOWARDS THE COAST. INCREASING
SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT DURING THE DAY AS SHORT WAVE ENERGY AROUND
THE PARENT LOW IS PROGGED TO MOVE INTO NORCAL FRIDAY AFTN/EVE.
APPEARS TO BE A DECENT CHANCE FOR PRECIP OVER THE NORTHERN HALF OF
THE CWFA WITH ITS PASSAGE. A RELATIVE LULL IN THE ACTION ON
SATURDAY WITH ONLY LOW CHANCE POPS ACROSS THE NORTHERNMOST PORTIONS
OF THE FA GIVEN THE MOIST CYCLONIC FLOW ALOFT. THE LOW OFF THE PACNW
COAST THEN HEADS TOWARDS THE DISTRICT WITH MODELS PLACING IT JUST NW
OF THE BAY AREA SUNDAY AFTN. WILL CONTINUE WITH CHANCE POPS OVER ALL
BUT THE DESERTS FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY. PEAKING AHEAD AT THE MODELS
SUGGESTS ENERGY WILL CONTINUE TO STREAM DOWN FROM THE GULF OF
ALASKA MAINTAINING THE MEAN TROUGH OVER THE FAR EPAC AND WESTERN
CONUS. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN A LITTLE BELOW NORMAL THROUGH THE
PERIOD.
&&
.AVIATION...A STORM SYSTEM WILL RESULT IN AREAS OF MVFR CIGS/VIS
IN RAIN. ISOLD IFR IN HEAVIER SHOWERS AND POSSIBLE TSRA THIS AFTN.
MOUNTAIN OBSCURATIONS OVER THE SIERRA NEVADA AND TEHACHAPI
MOUNTAINS. FOR SPECIFIC DETAILS...PLEASE REFER TO TAFS FOR
KMCE...KFAT AND KBFL.
&&
.HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE
SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA...FROM YOSEMITE TO THE KERN COUNTY
LINE THROUGH TONIGHT.
...FLOOD WARNING FOR THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA BELOW 5000
FEET IN ADDITION TO THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS THROUGH 6 PM.
...FLOOD WARNING ALONG THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER BELOW FRIANT DAM
THROUGH AT LEAST THIS MORNING.
&&
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/HANFORD /USE ALL LOWER CASE/
DUDLEY/DCHHazardous weather outlook, Apr 4, 4:55 AM PST, 4 hours 57 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA 555 AM PDT TUE APR 4 2006 CAZ089>092-051200- WEST CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-EAST CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY- SOUTHWESTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-SOUTHEASTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY- 555 AM PDT TUE APR 4 2006 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY. .DAY ONE...TODAY FLOOD WARNING BELOW FRIANT DAM IN CENTRAL FRESNO COUNTY. SEE PRODUCT WGUS86 OR SFOFLSHNX FOR FURTHER DETAILS. SLIGHT CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. OTHERWISE...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED. SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS TO THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE. CAZ093-094-051200- MARIPOSA MADERA AND FRESNO COUNTY FOOTHILLS-TULARE COUNTY FOOTHILLS- 555 AM PDT TUE APR 4 2006 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE SIERRA NEVADA FOOTHILLS FROM MARIPOSA COUNTY THROUGH TULARE COUNTY. .DAY ONE...TODAY FLOOD WARNING THROUGH 6 PM. SEE PRODUCT WGUS86 OR SFOFLSHNX FOR FURTHER DETAILS. SLIGHT CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. OTHERWISE...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED. SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS TO THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE. CAZ095-051200- KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS- 555 AM PDT TUE APR 4 2006 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS. .DAY ONE...TODAY FLOOD WARNING THROUGH 6 PM. SEE PRODUCT WGUS86 OR SFOFLSHNX FOR FURTHER DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED. SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS TO THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE. CAZ096-097-051200- SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON-TULARE COUNTY MOUNTAINS- 555 AM PDT TUE APR 4 2006 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO THE KERN COUNTY LINE. .DAY ONE...TODAY FLOOD WARNING THROUGH 6 PM. SEE PRODUCT WGUS86 OR SFOFLSHNX FOR FURTHER DETAILS. WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM PDT WEDNESDAY. SEE PRODUCT .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY WINTER STORM WARNING CONTINUES THROUGH 5 AM PDT WEDNESDAY. OTHERWISE...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED. SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS TO THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE. CAZ098-099-051200- INDIAN WELLS VALLEY-SOUTHEASTERN KERN COUNTY DESERT- 555 AM PDT TUE APR 4 2006 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE KERN COUNTY DESERT. .DAY ONE...TODAY WINDS WILL GUST LOCALLY TO 45 MPH DURING THE AFTERNOON...OTHERWISE NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED. SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS TO THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE. JEB
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
2 flood, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy Rain, Tulare
- When
- April 4, 9:52 AM PST to April 5, 8:40 PM PST
- Where
- Tulare County, 1 mi WNW of Visalia
- Property damage
- $50,000
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 36.220, -118.800 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flood, Tulare
- When
- April 4, 9:52 AM PST to April 5, 8:40 PM PST
- Where
- Tulare County, 1 mi E of Orosi
- Property damage
- $100,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.550, -119.267
What these are
- Flood
- Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
- 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
- Lightning Strike in American Samoa, April 4, 2006
- Debris Flow in California, April 4 to 12, 2006
- Flooding in California, April 4 to 5, 2006
- Winter Storm in Vermont, April 4, 2006
- Winter Storm in Maine, April 4 to 5, 2006
- Flooding in Minnesota, April 4 to 20, 2006
- Flooding in Indiana, April 4 to 14, 2006
- Winter Storm in New Hampshire, April 4 to 5, 2006
- Flooding in California, April 4 to 11, 2006
- High Wind in Virginia, April 4, 2006
- Heavy Snow in Alaska, April 4, 2006
- Wildfire in Texas, April 4 to 5, 2006
More
Every storm in California in 2006Every state in 2006This day in weather historyWarnings in California, April 2006
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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5501919, 5501920, 5501921.