High Wind, Kern Cty Mtns
- When
- March 19, 8:39 PM PST to March 20, 4:52 PM PST
- Where
- Kern Cty Mtns forecast zone
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Mesonet
Winter Storm and Flooding in California, March 19 to 25, 2011
Dry conditions prevailed over the area through March 15th, with gusts of 45-60 mph at times in the mountain and desert areas of Kern County. The weather pattern then changed sharply, transitioning to a 12-day period which saw periods of heavy precipitation and below normal temperatures.
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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $4.1 million
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 29
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.
Dry conditions prevailed over the area through March 15th, with gusts of 45-60 mph at times in the mountain and desert areas of Kern County. The weather pattern then changed sharply, transitioning to a 12-day period which saw periods of heavy precipitation and below normal temperatures.
From the evening of the 15th until the afternoon of the 16th, a storm system passed over the area, bringing precipitation mainly to the mountains and foothills, but light amounts did fall on the San Joaquin Valley floor. Most of the precipitation fell mainly as rain over the Southern Sierra Nevada in the northern part of WFO San Joaquin Valley-Hanford’s forecast/warning area. The highest amounts, which occurred in Yosemite National Park, ranged from about 1.5 to 3 inches; this was the most precipitation that had occurred in the region for the month thus far. However, this was just the harbinger of what was to come only 4 days later.
While the rain was focused toward the north, winds were the main concern over the southern part of the region. The Kern County deserts saw gusts of 45-55 mph, and gusts as high as 66 mph were recorded in the Kern County mountains. The winds pushed clouds over the San Joaquin Valley into the Tehachapi Mountains, creating areas of dense fog. Visibilities as low as 100 feet were reported near Tehachapi.
The next storm arrived two days later. This was a two-part system, with the first part bringing between a tenth and a third of an inch of rain to the central and southern San Joaquin Valley. The first wave also brought a very cold airmass to the region. A foot of snow fell at Hetch Hetchy, and 10 inches of snow fell as far south as Lodgepole in Sequoia National Park. Snow even fell in the foothills, with 5 inches falling at Mid Pines at an elevation of 2400 feet. The main part of the storm arrived on the 20th, bringing record rain to both Bakersfield and Fresno, the latter city recording 1.82 inch of rain. In the Southern Sierra Nevada, there was no break in the snow, as upslope showers continued through the 19th until the second wave arrived.
Another foot of snow fell as far south as Fresno County on the 19th, and 4-5 inches in Tulare County.
Strong winds developed ahead of the main storm, with gusts up to 84 mph in the hills above the Grapevine during the night of March 19th-20th, and gusts up to 60 mph at the lower elevations from Frazier Park to the base of the Grapevine.
The winds spread as far north as Bakersfield during the early morning of the 20th, and continued spreading north through the day. The heavy rains caused some road flooding on the San Joaquin Valley floor, as well as on Interstate 5 north of Fort Tejon before the mountain rain turned to snow. Up to 4 feet of snow fell at Frazier Park; the strong winds created drifts as high as 6 feet deep. Snow caused the closure of Interstate 5 over the Grapevine, and snow even fell on the Temblors and Diablo Range along the west side of the San Joaquin Valley. In Yosemite National Park and the surrounding area, winds toppled trees and downed power lines, and the combination|of heavy snow and rock slides closed roads into the Park. This was the first time since the floods of January, 1997, that Yosemite National Park was closed due to weather. Heavy snow and downed oak trees also plagued the El Portal and Wawona areas. Due to the power outages, Yosemite park officials evacuated some visitors to the park for a period of time due to the extensive impacts from this storm.
The morning of March 21st saw hail falling on the San Joaquin Valley floor, including near Rio Bravo and later over the Fresno-Clovis metro area. By the afternoon, hail was reported in Selma and Visalia, with -inch hail reported in the latter city. In the Tehachapi Mountains, up to a foot of new snow was reported.
The trough moved into the Great Basin, but a trailing short-wave brought light showers to the Kern County mountains and the far south end of the San Joaquin Valley during the early morning hours of March 22nd. Isolated showers were reported over parts of downtown Bakersfield, but stayed just south of Meadows Field.
Yet another storm reached the central California interior on March 23rd-24th. A line of thunderstorms developed on the 23rd over Merced County, then moved eastward into Madera and Mariposa Counties. Thunderstorms at the south end of the line propagated southward into Fresno County, ultimately reaching parts of Fresno and near Hanford. In fact, Fresno reported over a half inch of rain that day, with 0.38 inch falling in an hour at Fresno-Yosemite International Airport during the afternoon. Small hail, frequent lightning, and brief heavy rainfall were the main impacts of these storm cells. Funnel clouds were reported west of Madera, and near Clovis and Kerman; none touched down. The heavy rains caused flooding in the Southern Sierra Nevada foothills east of Fresno, as well as in downtown Fresno and southeast of Bakersfield. Convective cooling lowered the snow level down to 2200 feet in Mariposa and Madera Counties.
The last major storm of the month arrived on March 24th. This storm brought gusts to 45 mph to the west side of the San Joaquin Valley, and gusts to 65 mph in the Kern County mountains and deserts. Convective activity was limited to near Merced, with several reports of road flooding due to the already saturated ground. Thunderstorms and showers moved east into the foothills of Madera and Mariposa Counties, where the heavy rains triggered rock and mud slides. Mainly light showers occurred southward. The trough moved east of the region on the 25th, with residual light showers in its wake. Additional light snow fell in the Southern Sierra Nevada measuring around 5 inches or less. Local media reported that the roof of a vacant store at Shaver Lake collapsed on March 26th due to 6 feet of snow accumulation on the roof.
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 Mar 19, 8:20 PM PST, 19 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 19, 8:20 PM PST, 19 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA 920 PM PDT SAT MAR 19 2011 .SYNOPSIS... A STRONG LOW PRESSURE AREA WEST OF SAN FRANCISCO WILL MOVE INLAND OVERNIGHT. THIS WILL BRING SOME GUSTY AND LOCALLY STRONG WINDS TO PORTIONS OF THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AND THE TEHACHAPI MOUNTAINS. PERIODS OF RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW WILL DEVELOP OVERNIGHT AS WELL...WITH OCCASIONALLY MODERATE TO HEAVY ACCUMULATIONS. THIS STORM WILL LINGER INTO SUNDAY NIGHT THEN BEGIN TO WEAKEN AND MOVE MOVE TO THE EAST MONDAY. ANOTHER STORM MAY IMPACT THE REGION WEDNESDAY. && .DISCUSSION...980 +/- MB SURFACE LOW WEST OF SFO ON SAT PIX APPEARS TO BE PEAKING...AND IS BEGINNING ITS TURN TO THE NORTH. STRONGEST GRADIENTS ARE FROM ABOUT MERCED NORTH THRU THE DELTA AND SAC VALLEY WHERE WINDS ARE GUSTING 35-45 MPH. WINDS ARE ALSO INCREASING ACROSS THE TEHACHAPI MTNS FROM THE TOP OF TEJON PASS TO THE BASE OF THE GRAPEVINE IN THE SJV. ELSEWHERE WINDS ARE NEGLIGIBLE. UPPER JET SUPPORT FOR STRONGER WINDS WONT BE TILL MID-DAY SUNDAY...BUT BY THAT TIME THE SOUTH TO NORTH SURFACE GRADS DWINDLE TO VERY WEAK. HAVE SOME DOUBTS AT THIS POINT THAT A VALLEY-WIDE HIGH WIND EVENT WILL OCCUR. BUT THERE IS STILL TIME FOR SOMETHING TO DEVELOP...ESPECIALLY FROM THE TOP OF THE GRAPEVINE TO THE FAR WEST SIDE OF THE VALLEY...PENDING DEVELOPMENT OF A LOW LEVEL BARRIER JET. CLOUD MASS WEST OF THE CENTRAL COAST HAS PWATS SLIGHTLY OVER ONE INCH...AND LAST DISCUSSION FROM NESDIS SHOWED SOME RAIN RATES NEAR 1/2 INCH PER HOUR. WILL SEE AN INCREASE IN RAIN AND MTN SNOW OVER THE REST OF THE NIGHT WHICH WILL CONT MUCH OF THE DAY SUN...THOUGH BECOMING MORE SHOWERY IN THE VALLEY LATER IN THE DAY. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 230 PM PDT SAT MAR 19 2011/ SOME LIGHT RAIN MAINLY OVER THE NORTH AND WEST SIDE OF THE VALLEY TODAY. MORE UNSTABLE CONDITIONS TOWARDS NORTH CA PROVING STRONGER SHOWERS TOWARDS THE SACRAMENTO AREA. AN SHORT WAVE UPPER TROUGH OFF THE COAST WILL DEEPEN TONIGHT OFF THE BAY AREA OVERNIGHT THAN MOVE NORTH ALONG THE NORCAL COAST. THE SURFACE LOW WILL PROVIDE IMPRESSIVE PRESSURE GRADIENTS OVER THE CENTRAL CA TONIGHT AND SUNDAY. MODELS INDICATE HIGH WIND POTENTIAL DEVELOPING TONIGHT WITH 50-60KT SOUTH FLOW AT 5KFT TONIGHT AND SUNDAY. THE STRONG WINDS SHOULD DECREASE SUNDAY AFTERNOON IN THE SJV BUT STRONG WINDS MAY CONTINUE OVER THE KERN COUNTY HIGH DESERT INTO SUNDAY NIGHT. A COLD LOW PRESSURE CENTER OFF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST COAST WILL DIG SOUTH OFF THE CALIFORNIA COAST SUNDAY. SUBTROPICAL MOISTURE AND THE EXIT AREA OF AN UPPER JET WILL SET UP OVER CENTRAL CALIFORNIA FOR WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION AND HEAVY SNOW OVER THE MOUNTAINS. THE STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL LIKELY DOWNSLOPE ALONG THE GRAPEVINE AND HIGH WINDS COULD AFFECT THE SOUTH END OF THE VALLEY. LOW SNOW LEVELS WILL INCREASE TONIGHT TO 5KFT AS SOUTH FLOW BRING WARMER AIRMASS INTO THE AREA. THINK SNOW LEVEL WILL REMAIN RELATIVELY HIGH THROUGH SUNDAY. SNOW LEVELS MAY LOWER TO PASS LEVEL SUNDAY NIGHT AS THE COLDER UPPER LOW PUSHES EAST THROUGH THE AREA. RAINFALL AMOUNTS WILL BE IMPRESSIVE OVER THE SIERRA AND ESPECIALLY THE SOUTH PORTIONS OF THE TEHACHAPI MOUNTAINS DUE TO FAVORABLE OROGRAPHIC LIFT. QPF VALUES COULD RANGE AROUND 1.5 INCHES IN THE N SECTORS OF THE VALLEY AND DOWN TO AROUND 0.5 INCHES NEAR BFL. THE FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT WITH A GRADUAL DECREASE IN SHOWER ACTIVITY TOWARDS DAYBREAK ON MONDAY. PARTIAL CLEARING ON MONDAY IS EXPECTED IN THE SJV WITH CONTINUED SHOWERS ACROSS THE SIERRA. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN ON TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT BEFORE ANOTHER SYSTEM MOVES IN ON WEDNESDAY MORNING. THE GFS HAS A GOOD HANDLE ON THIS SYSTEM WITH PRECIP ENDING LATE WED EVENING. WEAK HIGH PRESSURE ON THURSDAY AS ANOTHER COLD FRONT IN ASSOCIATION WITH A VERY LARGE LOW PRESSURE CENTER IN THE GULF OF AK WILL MOVE INTO THE CENTRAL CA INTERIOR BY THURSDAY NIGHT AND BRING ANOTHER CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION EARLY FRIDAY MORNING AND CONTINUING ON FRIDAY. HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS BACK IN ON FRIDAY NIGHT AND CONTINUES ON SATURDAY. EXACT TIMING OF THESE FEATURES MAY BE OFF AS THE PATTERN IS VERY ACTIVE AND IT CAN BE HARD FOR THE MODELS TO PICK UP SMALL SCALE FEATURES. && .AVIATION... IFR CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA THROUGH 00Z MONDAY WITH MOUNTAIN OBSCURATIONS IN PRECIPITATION. MVFR CEILINGS CAN BE EXPECTED IN THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA FOOTHILLS AND ALONG THE NORTH AND WEST FACING SLOPES OF THE TEHACHAPI MOUNTAINS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY. VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL ELSEWHERE ACROSS THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INTERIOR THROUGH 00Z MONDAY. HOWEVER...ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WITH LOCAL MVFR CEILINGS ARE POSSIBLE IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY FROM FRESNO COUNTY NORTHWARD UNTIL EARLY THIS EVENING...AND AGAIN AFTER 20Z SUNDAY. ADDITIONALLY...STRONG WINDS IN EXCESS OF 35 KNOTS WILL DEVELOP OVER THE GRAPEVINE BY 06Z SUNDAY AND CONTINUE OVER THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY...AND THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA CREST THROUGH 00Z MONDAY. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES... NONE && .HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 5 AM PDT MONDAY BELOW 5000 FEET FOR THE CAZ095. WIND ADVISORY FROM 5 AM SUNDAY TO 5 AM PDT MONDAY CAZ098. HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 8 PM PDT SUNDAY CAZ089>092. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM PDT SUNDAY CAZ093-094. WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 2 AM SUNDAY TO 5 AM PDT MONDAY ABOVE 5000 FEET FOR THE CAZ095. WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 2 AM SUNDAY TO 5 AM PDT MONDAY CAZ096-097. HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 5 AM SUNDAY TO 5 AM PDT MONDAY CAZ099. && PUBLIC...BINGHAM AVN/FW...DCH SYNOPSIS...BINGHAM WEATHER.GOV/HANFORD
Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 19, 11:50 AM PST, 8 hours 49 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK..UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA 1250 PM PDT SAT MAR 19 2011 UPDATED FOR POSSIBLE SKYWARN ACTIVATION CAZ089>092-201900- WEST CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-EAST CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY- SOUTHWESTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-SOUTHEASTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY- 1250 PM PDT SAT MAR 19 2011 ...STRONG WINDS TONIGHT AND SUNDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING UNTIL 8 PM PDT SUNDAY. FOR DETAILS...PLEASE REFER TO THE WEATHER MESSAGE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN HANFORD /SFONPWHNX OR WWUS76 KHNX/. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY A HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT SUNDAY. FOR DETAILS...PLEASE REFER TO THE WEATHER MESSAGE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN HANFORD /SFONPWHNX OR WWUS76 KHNX/. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NECESSARY FOR THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY FROM 11 PM TONIGHT UNTIL 8 PM PDT SUNDAY EVENING. WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY SIGNIFICANT OR UNUSUAL CONDITIONS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. CAZ096-097-201900- SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON- TULARE COUNTY MOUNTAINS- 1250 PM PDT SAT MAR 19 2011 ...HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG WINDS TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM SUNDAY UNTIL 5 AM PDT MONDAY. FOR DETAILS...PLEASE REFER TO THE WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN HANFORD /SFOWSWHNX OR WWUS46 KHNX/. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM PDT MONDAY. FOR DETAILS...PLEASE REFER TO THE WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN HANFORD /SFOWSWHNX OR WWUS46 KHNX/. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY SIGNIFICANT OR UNUSUAL CONDITIONS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. CAZ095-201900- KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS- 1250 PM PDT SAT MAR 19 2011 ...STRONG WINDS AND HEAVY SNOW TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT BELOW 5000 FEET FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING UNTIL 5 AM PDT MONDAY. FOR DETAILS...PLEASE REFER TO THE WEATHER MESSAGE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN HANFORD /SFONPWHNX OR WWUS76 KHNX/. A WINTER WARNING IS IN EFFECT ABOVE 5000 FEET FROM 2 AM SUNDAY UNTIL 5 AM PDT MONDAY. FOR DETAILS...PLEASE REFER TO THE WEATHER MESSAGE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN HANFORD /SFOWSWHNX OR WWUS46 KHNX/. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY A HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT BELOW 5000 FEET UNTIL 5 AM PDT MONDAY. FOR DETAILS...PLEASE REFER TO THE WEATHER MESSAGE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN HANFORD /SFONPWHNX OR WWUS76 KHNX/. A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT ABOVE 5000 FEET UNTIL 5 AM PDT MONDAY. FOR DETAILS...PLEASE REFER TO THE WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN HANFORD /SFOWSWHNX OR WWUS46 KHNX/. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NECESSARY FOR THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS BELOW 5000 FEET FROM 11 PM TONIGHT THROUGH 5 SM PDT MONDAY MORNING. WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY SIGNIFICANT OR UNUSUAL CONDITIONS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. CAZ093-094-201900- MARIPOSA MADERA AND FRESNO COUNTY FOOTHILLS- TULARE COUNTY FOOTHILLS- 1250 PM PDT SAT MAR 19 2011 ...GUSTY WINDS TONIGHT AND SUNDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE FOOTHILLS OF THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING UNTIL 8 PM PDT SUNDAY. FOR DETAILS...PLEASE REFER TO THE WEATHER MESSAGE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN HANFORD /SFONPWHNX OR WWUS76 KHNX/. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT SUNDAY. FOR DETAILS...PLEASE REFER TO THE WEATHER MESSAGE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN HANFORD /SFONPWHNX OR WWUS76 KHNX/. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY SIGNIFICANT OR UNUSUAL CONDITIONS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. CAZ099-201900- SOUTHEASTERN KERN COUNTY DESERT- 1250 PM PDT SAT MAR 19 2011 ...STRONG WINDS SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE SOUTHEASTERN KERN COUNTY DESERT. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM SUNDAY UNTIL 5 AM PDT MONDAY. FOR DETAILS...PLEASE REFER TO THE WEATHER MESSAGE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN HANFORD /SFONPWHNX OR WWUS76 KHNX/. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NECESSARY FOR THE SOUTHEASTERN KERN COUNTY DESERT FROM 5 AM SUNDAY MORNING UNTIL 5 AM PDT MONDAY MORNING. WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY SIGNIFICANT OR UNUSUAL CONDITIONS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. CAZ098-201900- INDIAN WELLS VALLEY- 1250 PM PDT SAT MAR 19 2011 ...GUSTY WINDS SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE INDIAN WELLS VALLEY. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME... .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM SUNDAY UNTIL 5 AM PDT MONDAY. FOR DETAILS...PLEASE REFER TO THE WEATHER MESSAGE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN HANFORD /SFONPWHNX OR WWUS76 KHNX/. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY SIGNIFICANT OR UNUSUAL CONDITIONS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. SANGER WEATHER.GOV/HANFORD
The radar
The Los Angeles radar (KVTX), 72 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:25 UTC.
Event by event
19 flood, 6 winter storm, 3 funnel cloud, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Winter Storm, Kern Cty Mtns
- When
- March 20, 1:00 AM PST to March 21, 2:00 PM PST
- Where
- Kern Cty Mtns forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
Winter Storm, S Sierra Mtns
- When
- March 20, 1:00 AM PST to March 21, 2:00 PM PST
- Where
- S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
- Property damage
- $1.0 million
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
Winter Storm, Tulare Cty Mtns
- When
- March 20, 1:00 AM PST to March 21, 2:00 PM PST
- Where
- Tulare Cty Mtns forecast zone
- Property damage
- $1.0 million
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
Flood, Kern
- When
- March 20, 6:24 AM PST to 9:24 AM PST
- Where
- Kern County, 9.17 mi ENE of Grape Vine to 5.1 mi NE of Lebec
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 34.970, -118.770
The CHP reported flooding on interstate 5 just north of Fort Tejon.
Flood, Fresno
- When
- March 20, 6:53 AM PST to 10:00 AM PST
- Where
- Fresno County, 3.23 mi SSW of Westhaven to 1.83 mi SW of Westhaven
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $1,000
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 36.190, -120.030
The CHP reported flooding on Lassen Avenue at the Fresno-Kings County line.
Flood, Fresno
- When
- March 21, 10:21 AM PST to 12:21 PM PST
- Where
- Fresno County, 2.58 mi NW of Clovis to 1.86 mi W of Glorietta
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $3,000
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 36.848, -119.730
The California highway patrol reported flooding on Freeway 168 at Herndon Avenue. Spotter previously reported a thunderstorm producing small hail at Herndon avenue and Willow.
Flood, Fresno
- When
- March 21, 3:00 PM PST to 5:00 PM PST
- Where
- Fresno County, Reedley to 1.62 mi E of Reedley
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Reported by
- Newspaper
- Coordinates
- 36.600, -119.450
Flooding reported on Huntsman at Del Altair. 24-hour rainfall reports between Hanford and Fresno were between 1.50 to 2.00 inches.
Winter Storm, S Sierra Mtns
- When
- March 22, 11:00 PM PST to March 25, 4:00 PM PST
- Where
- S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
- Property damage
- $1.5 million
- Reported by
- Park/Forest Service
Winter Storm, S Sierra Mtns
- When
- March 22, 11:00 PM PST to March 25, 4:00 PM PST
- Where
- S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
- Property damage
- $50,000
- Reported by
- Park/Forest Service
Funnel Cloud, Madera
- When
- March 23, 3:30 PM PST
- Where
- Madera County, 1.77 mi NW of Bonita
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 36.970, -120.220
A motorist on State Route 99 reported a funnel cloud west of the City of Madera. A line of thunderstorms was moving through the area at the time.
Funnel Cloud, Fresno
- When
- March 23, 4:15 PM PST
- Where
- Fresno County, 0.55 mi E of Kerman
- Reported by
- Broadcast Media
- Coordinates
- 36.720, -120.060
Local TV broadcasters reported a funnel cloud observed from the town of Kerman.
Flood, Fresno
- When
- March 23, 4:31 PM PST to 6:31 PM PST
- Where
- Fresno County, 2.85 mi ENE of Belmont Avenue to 1.25 mi ESE of Piedra
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $1,000
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 36.780, -119.400
The CHP reported flooding on Trimmer Springs Road and Piedra Road.
Flood, Tulare
- When
- March 23, 4:38 PM PST to 6:38 PM PST
- Where
- Tulare County, 3.94 mi WSW of Poplar to 2.61 mi NE of Porterville Muni Arp
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $3,000
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 36.020, -119.210
The CHP reported flooding on State Route 190 at Road 152.
Flood, Kern
- When
- March 23, 5:17 PM PST to 7:17 PM PST
- Where
- Kern County, 1.51 mi WNW of Ribier to 1.83 mi NE of Ribier
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 35.258, -118.895
The CHP reported flooding on East Panama Lane at Edison Road.
Funnel Cloud, Fresno
- When
- March 23, 5:20 PM PST
- Where
- Fresno County, Clovis
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 36.820, -119.700
A funnel cloud was observed by a trained weather spotter from the northwest part of Clovis.
Flood, Fresno
- When
- March 23, 6:22 PM PST to 8:22 PM PST
- Where
- Fresno County, 1.69 mi NNW of (Fch) Chandler Af to 2.38 mi N of (Fch) Chandler Af
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $4,000
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 36.751, -119.837
The CHP reported flooding on Highway 99 at the Olive Ave offramp.
Winter Storm, S Sierra Foothills
- When
- March 23, 6:25 PM PST to March 24, 3:00 AM PST
- Where
- S Sierra Foothills forecast zone
- Property damage
- $500,000
- Reported by
- Park/Forest Service
Flood, Kern
- When
- March 23, 6:27 PM PST to 8:27 PM PST
- Where
- Kern County, 2.62 mi ESE of Kern Jct to 1.63 mi N of Lamont
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 35.337, -118.936
The CHP reported flooding on State Route 184 at Muller.
Flood, Merced
- When
- March 24, 5:17 PM PST to 7:17 PM PST
- Where
- Merced County, 2.07 mi S of Cregan to 1.75 mi S of Cregan
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 37.270, -120.480
The CHP reported flooding on Route 59 just south of Mission Ave.
Flood, Merced
- When
- March 24, 5:25 PM PST to 7:25 PM PST
- Where
- Merced County, 2.87 mi S of Atwater Muni Arpt to 1.63 mi SSE of Atwater Muni Arpt
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 37.289, -120.610
The CHP reported flooding on State Route 140 just east of North Applegate Road.
Flood, Madera
- When
- March 24, 5:47 PM PST to 7:47 PM PST
- Where
- Madera County, 4.05 mi WNW of Oneals to 4.36 mi NNE of Oneals
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $3,000
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 37.151, -119.769
The CHP reported flooding on Route 41 just north of Oneals Turnoff.
Flood, Merced
- When
- March 24, 6:14 PM PST to 8:14 PM PST
- Where
- Merced County, 1.14 mi W of Cregan to 0.91 mi WSW of Cregan
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $1,000
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 37.298, -120.501
The CHP reported flooding at 99 and R Street.
Flood, Mariposa
- When
- March 24, 6:34 PM PST to 8:34 PM PST
- Where
- Mariposa County, 4.29 mi NNW of Briceburg to 2.3 mi WNW of Incline
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 37.660, -119.990
The CHP reported a mud and rock slide on State Highway 140 at Foresta Road just east of Briceburg.
Flood, Mariposa
- When
- March 24, 6:53 PM PST to 8:53 PM PST
- Where
- Mariposa County, 1.1 mi W of Fish Camp to 1.78 mi NE of Fish Camp
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 37.480, -119.650
The CHP reported a mud and rock slide on Highway 41 just north of Broken Bit.
Flood, Merced
- When
- March 24, 7:11 PM PST to 9:11 PM PST
- Where
- Merced County, 3.8 mi NE of (Mer)castle Afb to 3.47 mi SSE of Hopeton
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 37.410, -120.522
The CHP reported flooding on Highway 59 just south of Oakdale Road.
Flood, Merced
- When
- March 24, 7:29 PM PST to 9:29 PM PST
- Where
- Merced County, 2.65 mi SE of Cregan to 2.46 mi SE of Cregan
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 37.270, -120.450
The CHP reported flooding on East Childs Avenue.
Flood, Merced
- When
- March 24, 7:40 PM PST to 9:40 PM PST
- Where
- Merced County, 4.54 mi NNE of Cregan to 5.27 mi NW of Tuttle
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- NWS Employee
- Coordinates
- 37.358, -120.440
Off duty meteorologist reported flooding near the University of California - Merced Campus.
Flood, Madera
- When
- March 24, 7:48 PM PST to 9:48 PM PST
- Where
- Madera County, 5.4 mi SW of Indian Spgs to 4.66 mi SW of Indian Spgs
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 36.999, -119.804
The CHP reported flooding on State route 41 at Road 416.
What these are
- High Wind
- Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
- Winter Storm
- A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
- Flood
- Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
- Funnel Cloud
- A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Tornado and Hail in Texas, March 19, 2011
- Hail in Kansas, March 19, 2011
- High Wind in Alaska, March 19, 2011
- Hail and Damaging Winds in South Carolina, March 19, 2011
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Georgia, March 19, 2011
- Hail in Oklahoma, March 19, 2011
- Hail in Kansas, March 19, 2011
- Tornado and Hail in South Carolina, March 19, 2011
- Hail and Lightning Strike in Kansas, March 19, 2011
- Hail in Kansas, March 19, 2011
- Hail and Damaging Winds in South Carolina, March 19, 2011
- High Surf in Hawaii, March 19 to 20, 2011
More
Every storm in California in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in California, March 2011
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: 294559, 294561, 294563, 294565, 294566, 294567, 294568, 294569, 294589, 294590, 294586, 294587, 294570, 294571, 294572, 294588, 294573, 294592, 294574, 294575, 294576, 294577, 294578, 294579, 294580, 294581, 294582, 294583, 294584.