Flooding in California, April 4 to 11, 2006

Name: Flooding in California, April 4 to 11, 2006
Start: 2006-04-04T21:30
End: 2006-04-11T10:30
Location: California

April 4 to 11, 2006 · NWS HNX · 2 events in 1 county or zone

Due to heavy rainfall in the adjacent mountain areas, water releases from Friant Dam resulted in river levels above the legal carrying capacity of the San Joaquin River from the 4th to the 11th of the month. No damage was reported from the high water levels in the river.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: 2

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.

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, 9:15 PM PST, 15 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 4, 9:15 PM PST, 15 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA
1015 PM PDT TUE APR 4 2006

.SHORT TERM...FOR THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INTERIOR...CENTER OF
CLOSED LOW IS LOCATED JUST WEST OF POINT CONCEPTION ON CURRENT
WATER VAPOR IMAGERY AND APPEARS TO BE SLIGHTLY SOUTH OF WHERE
00Z MODELS HAVE INITIALIZED IT. NONETHELESS...THIS LOW WILL
FINALLY MOVE ONSHORE DURING THE NEXT FEW HOURS AND DURING
THE SECOND PART OF TONIGHT...STEADY PRECIP WILL SHIFT EASTWARD
AND LEND ITSELF TO A SHOWERY...COOLER REGIME. COLDER AIR IS
ALREADY MOVING INTO THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS THIS EVENING THUS
REDUCING THE RATE OF SNOWMELT AND MINIMIZING THE THREAT OF
FLOODING.  HOWEVER...WATER LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN HIGH
ALONG MOST RIVERS AND STREAMS THROUGH WED MORNING.

THERE IS A CONCERN THIS EVENING THAT WET ROADS COULD TURN ICY
OVERNIGHT ABOVE 4K FT. RAIN HAS CHANGED TO WET SNOW IN SANDBERG
RECENTLY...SO SLICK TRAVEL COULD DEVELOP ALONG I-5 OVER TEJON PASS
OVERNIGHT. ALL OF THE MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT AND KEEP
THE CWA IN A MOIST CYCLONIC FLOW THRU WED EVE AS THE CLOSED LOW
EXITS INTO THE GREAT BASIN. ALTHO THE COLDEST POOL OF AIR ALOFT
ALSO SHIFTS EAST OF CA...THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BE MARGINALLY
UNSTABLE FOR ISOLD PM TSTMS TO POP UP IN THE SJ VLY AND FTHLS.
THE 20-KM NAM FORECASTS RELATIVELY WEAKER CAPE OVER THESE AREAS
WED...GENERALLY ON THE ORDER OF 250 TO 35O JOULES/KG.

WED NIGHT THRU THURSDAY WILL BRING A WELCOME DRY RESPITE FROM
WET WEATHER THANKS TO SHORT WAVE RIDGING. NEEDLESS TO SAY...
MORE STORMS ARE LINED UP ACROSS THE PACIFIC. AND BEFORE FRIDAY
DRAWS TO A CLOSE...THE LEADING EDGE OF PRECIP FROM THE NEXT
SYSTEM WILL ALREADY BE KNOCKING ON DOOR.

ZONE UPDATES THIS EVENING INCLUDED AMENDMENTS TO SNOW LEVELS
AND MIN TEMPS PLUS REMOVAL OF EVENING TSTMS. THE REMAINDER OF
FCST PKG LOOKS FINE.

.LONG TERM...FROM PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...FOR FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH
TUESDAY...GENERALLY UNSETTLED WEATHER WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE
PERIOD. A RELATIVE LULL IN THE ACTION COULD BE EXPERIENCED SATURDAY
AND AGAIN ON MONDAY AS OUR AREA IS PROGGED TO BE BETWEEN WEATHER
SYSTEMS. OTHERWISE...LOOKING FOR A CHANCE OF RAIN AND HIGHER
ELEVATION SNOW EACH DAY AS PACIFIC DISTURBANCES CONTINUE TO DIVE ONE
AFTER ANOTHER INTO CENTRAL CALIFORNIA. LONGER TERM MODELS ARE
HINTING AT THE MEAN TROUGH LINGERING OVER THE EPAC/WESTERN CONUS AT
LEAST INTO MID-APRIL AND POSSIBLY BEYOND. THIS WILL KEEP THE STORM
TRACK OVER CA...LEAVING THE DOOR OPEN FOR PERIODIC STORM SYSTEM
PASSAGES THROUGH THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN A
FEW DEGREES BELOW NORMAL THROUGH THE PERIOD.

&&

.AVIATION...A SLOW MOVING STORM SYSTEM WILL RESULT IN AREAS OF MVFR
CIGS/VIS IN RAIN. ISOLD IFR IN HEAVIER SHOWERS AND POSSIBLE TSRA
THIS AFTN/EVE. 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...
  ...FLOOD WARNING FOR THE SIERRA NEVADA FOOTHILLS AND THE KERN
COUNTY MOUNTAINS BELOW 5500 FEET THROUGH 9 AM WEDNESDAY.
  ...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA...FROM
     YOSEMITE TO THE KERN COUNTY LINE...THROUGH 5 AM WEDNESDAY.
  ...URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY FOR THE CENTRAL AND
     SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY THROUGH 9 AM WEDNESDAY.
  ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE BERENDA SLOUGH IN WESTERN MADERA
     COUNTY UNTIL MIDNIGHT.

&&

WWW.WEATHER.GOV/HANFORD /USE ALL LOWER CASE/

DURFEE/MV

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 4, 4:55 AM PST, 16 hours 35 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

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 4, 3:56 PM PST, 5 hours 34 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY CA
456 PM PDT TUE APR 04 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0344 PM     HAIL             1 N FRESNO              36.80N 119.79W
04/04/2006  M0.50 INCH       FRESNO             CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            DIME SIZE HAIL.

0359 PM     HAIL             DINUBA                  36.55N 119.39W
04/04/2006  M0.75 INCH       TULARE             CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0403 PM     HAIL             REEDLEY                 36.60N 119.45W
04/04/2006  M1.00 INCH       FRESNO             CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            NICKEL TO QUARTER SIZE HAIL.

0404 PM     HAIL             GOSHEN                  36.35N 119.42W
04/04/2006  M0.75 INCH       TULARE             CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0405 PM     HAIL             SANGER                  36.70N 119.55W
04/04/2006  E1.00 INCH       FRESNO             CA   PUBLIC

            ESTIMATED 1 TO 1.5 INCH HAIL.

0426 PM     HAIL             VISALIA                 36.33N 119.32W
04/04/2006  M0.75 INCH       TULARE             CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            IN SW VISALIA.

0427 PM     HAIL             TULARE                  36.20N 119.34W
04/04/2006  M0.75 INCH       TULARE             CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            NEAR HWY 99 AND 184

&&

MYERS

Local storm report, Apr 4, 4:10 PM PST, 5 hours 20 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY CA
510 PM PDT TUE APR 04 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0344 PM     HAIL             1 N FRESNO              36.80N 119.79W
04/04/2006  M0.50 INCH       FRESNO             CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            DIME SIZE HAIL.

0359 PM     HAIL             REEDLEY                 36.60N 119.45W
04/04/2006  M1.00 INCH       FRESNO             CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            NICKEL TO QUARTER SIZE HAIL JUST SOUTH OF REEDLEY.

0404 PM     HAIL             GOSHEN                  36.35N 119.42W
04/04/2006  M0.75 INCH       TULARE             CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0405 PM     HAIL             SANGER                  36.70N 119.55W
04/04/2006  E1.00 INCH       FRESNO             CA   PUBLIC

            ESTIMATED 1 TO 1.5 INCH HAIL.

0426 PM     HAIL             VISALIA                 36.33N 119.32W
04/04/2006  M0.75 INCH       TULARE             CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            IN SW VISALIA.

0427 PM     HAIL             TULARE                  36.20N 119.34W
04/04/2006  M0.75 INCH       TULARE             CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            NEAR HWY 99 AND 184

&&

MYERS

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Fresno

When: April 4, 9:30 PM PST to April 6, 2:15 PM PST
Where: Fresno County, 1 mi NE of Friant
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates: 37.000, -119.700

Flood, Fresno

When: April 7, 12:00 PM PST to April 11, 10:30 AM PST
Where: Fresno County, 1 mi NE of Friant
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates: 37.000, -119.700

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in California in 2006 Every state in 2006 This day in weather history Warnings 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: 5501933, 5501934.