Flooding and Heavy Rain in California, November 28 to 30, 2012

Name: Flooding and Heavy Rain in California, November 28 to 30, 2012
Start: 2012-11-28T00:00
End: 2012-11-30T18:28
Location: California

November 28 to 30, 2012 · NWS HNX · 15 events in 7 counties and zones

The stable weather pattern continued through November 27th. The first in a series of east-Pacific storms approached the northern part of the central California interior that evening.

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: $240,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 15

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.

The stable weather pattern continued through November 27th. The first in a series of east-Pacific storms approached the northern part of the central California interior that evening. These storms tapped into a long fetch of subtropical moisture, with resulting high snow levels through the first day of December.

While the first storm brought between a tenth and a quarter inch of rain to much of the central and southern San Joaquin Valley north of Bakersfield it was the second storm that brought significant rainfall to the central California interior. Fresno had a record rainfall on November 30th of 0.62 inch; the old record was 0.50 inch, set in 1982. In the Southern Sierra Nevada, new snowfall amounts ranged from 8 to 18 inches above the 9,000 foot level. The Sierra foothills saw heavy rain, with amounts around 4 inches in some spots. As a result of the heavy rainfall, some rock and mud slides occurred as the heavy rains weakened the soil. There were also several reports of flooded roads in Merced, Mariposa, Madera, and Fresno Counties.

Bakersfield and the far south end of the San Joaquin Valley remain rain shadowed. Meadows Field recorded only 0.02 inch of rain from each of the first two storm, as the storm track stayed mainly north of Kern County.

The combination of clouds and the warm subtropical airmass also kept low temperatures unseasonably warm. Both Bakersfield and Fresno set record high minimum temperatures on the last day of the month. Both cities had above-normal average temperatures, an Fresno had its sixth warmest November on record. This was also the fourth consecutive month that Fresno ranked in the top 10 warmest months. August and September 2012 were the warmest months, respectively, on record, and October 2012 was the eighth warmest October on record. Temperature records for Fresno began on August 16th, 1887.

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 Nov 27, 10:56 PM PST, 1 hour 4 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 27, 10:56 PM PST, 1 hour 4 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA
1056 PM PST TUE NOV 27 2012

.SYNOPSIS... THE BROAD UPPER LEVEL LOW OVER THE PACIFIC IS BEGINNING
TO AFFECT THE AREA IN THE FORM OF MID TO HIGH LEVEL CLOUDS. THE
SYSTEM WILL BRING PRECIPITATION BEGINNING WEDNESDAY MORNING. THE
PRECIPITATION WILL FALL IN BATCHES WITH PERIODS OF DRY CONDITIONS TO
VERY LIGHT SHOWERS IN BETWEEN THE MORE MODERATE PRECIPITATION BANDS
THROUGH MONDAY MORNING.

&&

.DISCUSSION...STRONG LOW LEVEL SOUTHERLY WINDS AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING
PACIFIC TROUGH ARE BEGINNING TO SURFACE OVER THE COASTAL MOUNTAINS.
925-850MB LAYER WINDS OVER 40 KTS ARE PROGGED BY THE 00Z NAM AND THE
APRS AT SUNFLOWER VALLEY (MOUTH OF COTTONWOOD PASS ALONG HIGHWAY 41)
HAS ALREADY MEASURED GUSTS TO 40 MPH LATE THIS EVENING. THESE GUSTY
WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO SPREAD ACROSS THE WEST SIDE OF THE SAN JOAQUIN
VALLEY FLOOR THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING. A WIND ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED
FOR THE WEST SIDE OF THE SJV FROM 11 PM TONIGHT TO 2 PM WEDNESDAY.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 351 PM PST TUE NOV 27 2012/

DISCUSSION...
CLOUDS AHEAD OF THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF INCOMING SYSTEMS ARE
STREAMING ACROSS THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INTERIOR. MODELS ARE IN
DECENT AGREEMENT WITH THIS SYSTEM...WHICH WILL BE A WARM
ONE...KEEPING SNOW LEVELS AROUND 7500 AND HIGHER. EXPECT TO GET
JUST LOCAL AMOUNTS AT THE HIGHEST ELEVATIONS AROUND ADVISORY
LEVELS WEDNESDAY. GUSTY SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL ALSO PICK UP WITH
THE PASSING SYSTEM WEDNESDAY...BUT REMAIN GENERALLY BELOW ADVISORY
LEVELS. A SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT HIGHLIGHTS THE EXPECTED
AFFECTS OF THIS STORM.

THE SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT ALSO COVERS THE FOLLOWING SYSTEMS
WHICH ARE PROGGED TO SWING INLAND ACROSS THE REGION DURING THE
REMAINDER OF THE WEEK AND INTO THE WEEKEND. THE SECOND IMPULSE IS
EXPECTED TO HIT NORTHERN PORTIONS OF OUR AREA FRIDAY. THE GFS IS
TRENDING IT A BIT FARTHER SOUTH THAN THE ECMWF. THE FORECAST AT
THIS TIME SHOWS PRECIPITATION CHANCES MAINLY NORTH OF KERN COUNTY.

MODELS HAVE SOME DIFFERENCES WITH THE STRENGTH AND TIMING OF THE
SUNDAY SYSTEM...BUT CERTAINTY IS FAIRLY HIGH THAT PRECIPITATION
WILL OCCUR OVER MOST OF THE FORECAST AREA DURING THE LATE WEEKEND
PERIOD.

&&

.AVIATION...
VFR/MVFR CONDITIONS IN MIST/HAZE WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 06Z
WEDNESDAY. LOCAL IFR CONDITIONS WILL EXIST BRIEFLY BETWEEN 12Z AND
18Z WEDNESDAY BEFORE A CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION ENTERS THE REGION.
RAIN AND SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE AFTER 18Z WEDNESDAY WITH INCREASING
AREAS OF IFR CONDITIONS...MAINLY OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS IN
MOUNTAIN OBSCURATION...WITH MVFR CONDITIONS EXISTING OVER THE SJ
VALLEY.

&&

.AIR QUALITY ISSUES...
ON WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 28 2012... FIREPLACE/WOOD STOVE BURNING IS
PROHIBITED IN KERN COUNTY.
FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT VALLEYAIR.ORG

&&

.CERTAINTY...

THE LEVEL OF CERTAINTY FOR DAYS 1 AND 2 IS HIGH.
THE LEVEL OF CERTAINTY FOR DAYS 3 THROUGH 7 IS MEDIUM.

THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED AS PART OF A TRIAL PROJECT CONDUCTED
BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD.
CERTAINTY LEVELS INCLUDE LOW...MEDIUM...AND HIGH. PLEASE VISIT
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/HNX/CERTAINTY.PHP /ALL LOWER CASE/ FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND/OR TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK.

&&

.CLIMATE...
             RECORDS
SITE DATE    HI_MAX:YEAR LO_MAX:YEAR HI_MIN:YEAR LO_MIN:YEAR

KFAT 11-27       78:1959     47:1972     54:1985     27:1948
KFAT 11-28       76:1891     46:1972     52:1966     28:1969
KFAT 11-29       76:1947     47:1905     58:1901     26:1975

KBFL 11-27       85:1901     46:1972     54:1904     28:1905
KBFL 11-28       82:1993     46:2000     55:1904     28:1905
KBFL 11-29       80:1924     51:2006     57:1938     28:1919
&&

.HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 2 PM PST WEDNESDAY FOR THE WEST SIDE OF THE
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY IN THE CAZ089-091.

&&

PUBLIC...DCH
AVN/FW...DUDLEY
SYNOPSIS...BSO
PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...JEB

WEATHER.GOV/HANFORD

Hazardous weather outlook, Nov 27, 10:52 PM PST, 1 hour 8 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA
1052 PM PST TUE NOV 27 2012

CAZ090-092>099-281230-
EAST CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-SOUTHEASTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-
MARIPOSA MADERA AND FRESNO COUNTY FOOTHILLS-
TULARE COUNTY FOOTHILLS-KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON-
TULARE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-INDIAN WELLS VALLEY-
SOUTHEASTERN KERN COUNTY DESERT-
1052 PM PST TUE NOV 27 2012

...STORM TO REACH CENTRAL CALIFORNIA WEDNESDAY FOLLOWED BY
ANOTHER STORM FRIDAY INTO THE WEEKEND...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR INTERIOR CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
EXCEPT THE WEST SIDE OF THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

THERE IS A CHANCE FOR PRECIPITATION ON WEDNESDAY AND AGAIN LATE
THURSDAY NIGHT AND INTO THE WEEKEND.

FOR MORE DETAILS...REFER TO THE SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...OR
/SFOSPSHNX/.

.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.

CAZ089-091-281230-
WEST CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-SOUTHWESTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-
1052 PM PST TUE NOV 27 2012

...STORM TO REACH CENTRAL CALIFORNIA WEDNESDAY FOLLOWED BY
ANOTHER STORM FRIDAY INTO THE WEEKEND...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE WEST SIDE OF THE SAN
JOAQUIN VALLEY.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM PST TONIGHT UNTIL 2 PM PST
WEDNESDAY. REFER TO THE LATEST NON-PRECIPITATION STATEMENT...OR
/SFONPWHNX/...FOR MORE DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

THE WIND ADVISORY WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM WEDNESDAY.

THERE IS A CHANCE FOR RAIN ON WEDNESDAY AND AGAIN LATE THURSDAY
NIGHT AND INTO THE WEEKEND. FOR MORE DETAILS...REFER TO THE
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...OR /SFOSPSHNX/.

.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.

BSO

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 heavy rain, 6 flood, 2 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Strong Wind, W Central S.J. Valley

When: November 28, 12:00 AM PST to 2:00 PM PST
Where: W Central S.J. Valley forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind, Sw S.J. Valley

When: November 28, 12:00 AM PST to 2:00 PM PST
Where: Sw S.J. Valley forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Mesonet

Heavy Rain, Mariposa

When: November 30, 11:51 AM PST
Where: Mariposa County, 1.3 mi ESE of North Wawona
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 37.540, -119.630

Twenty four hour rainfall total at Wawona was 3.06 inches.

Heavy Rain, Mariposa

When: November 30, 12:00 PM PST
Where: Mariposa County, 1.29 mi WSW of Yosemite Vlg
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 37.740, -119.600

Twenty four hour rainfall total at Happy Isles in Yosemite Park was 2.59 inches.

Flood, Merced

When: November 30, 12:46 PM PST to 1:46 PM PST
Where: Merced County, 2.15 mi SE of Arena to 1.69 mi NW of Atwater
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $120,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.350, -120.640

California highway patrol reported a multi-vehicle accident in heavy rain on highway 99 at west side boulevard. Involved 3 cars and a big rig. Number of injuries unknown at this time.

Heavy Rain, Fresno

When: November 30, 1:27 PM PST
Where: Fresno County, 4.43 mi W of Silver Creek
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 36.730, -120.480

Twenty four hour rainfall total at Mendota was 0.86 inches.

Heavy Rain, Mariposa

When: November 30, 1:51 PM PST
Where: Mariposa County, 1.3 mi ESE of North Wawona
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 37.540, -119.630

Twenty four hour rainfall total at Wawona was 3.98 inches.

Flood, Fresno

When: November 30, 2:00 PM PST to 3:00 PM PST
Where: Fresno County, 1.38 mi N of Figarden to 0.99 mi NNE of Figarden
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 36.840, -119.869

Street flooding was reported at Brawley and Herndon on Fresno's north side.

Flood, Mariposa

When: November 30, 3:07 PM PST to 5:07 PM PST
Where: Mariposa County, 1.49 mi NNW of Mariposa to 2.1 mi N of Mormon Bar
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.500, -119.980

The Highway Patrol had to close Highway 49 due to flooding.

Flood, Madera

When: November 30, 3:09 PM PST to 5:09 PM PST
Where: Madera County, 6.68 mi ENE of Trigo to 7.26 mi S of Indian Spgs
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 36.941, -119.832

The Highway Patrol reported flooding and road closure of Highway 41 at Avenue 15.

Heavy Rain, Mariposa

When: November 30, 3:47 PM PST
Where: Mariposa County, 1.49 mi NNW of Darrah
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 37.540, -119.840

Twenty four hour rainfall total at Mariposa was 3.61 inches.

Heavy Rain, Mariposa

When: November 30, 3:51 PM PST
Where: Mariposa County, 1.3 mi ESE of North Wawona
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 37.540, -119.630

Twenty four hour rainfall total at Wawona was 4.56 inches.

Flood, Mariposa

When: November 30, 4:00 PM PST to 6:00 PM PST
Where: Mariposa County, 1.3 mi ENE of Elliott Corner to 16.13 mi SE of Fish Camp
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.480, -119.750

A trained weather spotter reported street flooding that backed up into a home.

Heavy Rain, Tuolumne

When: November 30, 4:14 PM PST
Where: Tuolumne County, 7.3 mi SE of Harden Flats
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 37.760, -119.820

Twenty four hour rainfall total at Tuolumne Meadows was 3.70 inches.

Flood, Fresno

When: November 30, 4:28 PM PST to 6:28 PM PST
Where: Fresno County, 15 mi NE of Clovis to 2.25 mi E of Prather
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $35,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 36.974, -119.508

Law enforcement reported a rock and mud slide on Highway 168 about 15 miles northeast of Clovis, which closed the road for several hours while authorities cleaned up the debris.

What these are

Strong Wind: Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.
Heavy Rain: Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
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 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history Warnings in California, November 2012

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: 420194, 420196, 420232, 420233, 420203, 420234, 420235, 420205, 420206, 420208, 420236, 420237, 420213, 420239, 420249.