Tornado and Debris Flows in California, January 16 to 17, 2019

Name: Tornado and Debris Flows in California, January 16 to 17, 2019
Start: 2019-01-16T20:00
End: 2019-01-17T23:27
Location: California

January 16 to 17, 2019 · NWS HNX · 30 events in 10 counties and zones

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: $505,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 30

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.

A strong low pressure system with a deep moisture fetch pushed into central California during the afternoon of January 16 and brought moderate to heavy precipitation along with strong winds to much of the area through the afternoon of January 17. Several reports of roadway flooding were received during the morning of January 17 when the heaviest precipitation occurred. Flash flooding and debris flows were reported in the Ferguson Fire burn area in Mariposa County and State Route 140 was closed for over 11 hours. The precipitation turned to showers and isolated thunderstorms during the afternoon of January 17. One thunderstorm produced a tornado east of Clovis which was rated as EF-1 following a storm survey of the damage it produced. Most of the San Joaquin Valley and Kern County Deserts picked up between half an inch to an inch of rain while the Southern Sierra Nevada had 2 to 4 inches of liquid precipitation and the Kern County Mountains had 1.5 to 3 inches of liquid precipitation. The precipitation mainly fell as snow above 7000 feet where several locations in the higher elevations of the Southern Sierra Nevada above 7000 feet picked up 10 to 20 inches of new snowfall. There were also several reports of post-frontal wind gusts exceeding 50 mph in the Kern County Mountains and Deserts while a few low impact indicator sites had gusts exceeding 65 mph.

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 16, 12:30 PM PST, 7 hours 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 16, 12:30 PM PST, 7 hours 30 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley - Hanford CA
1230 PM PST Wed Jan 16 2019

.SYNOPSIS...A third and final storm system will enter Central
California today. Periods of heavy rain, mountain snow, strong
winds will begin this afternoon and will last through Thursday.
Fog will be possible in the San Joaquin Valley starting Friday
morning, and is possible Saturday and Sunday morning. A weak
disturbance will impact the area Sunday, followed by an extended
period of dry weather.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
This week has been full of unsettled weather, and the storm system
that comes in later today will be the apex event of the week
bringing multiple weather-related impacts. Currently,
precipitation is north of us in the Bay Area and Sacramento
Valley, but it will edge southward throughout the day. Into the
afternoon, precipitation associated with this storm
system/atmospheric river will first impact the northern portion of
the CWA. The likelihood of intense rainfall rates in the Southern
Sierra Nevada below 7,000 and foothills will increase as we
progress later into the night. This will increase the risk of
flash flooding in areas that have excess runoff, and a risk of
Debris Flows and Mudslides over burn scars, especially the
Ferguson and Pier Burn Scars, will need to be monitored throughout
the night. The time frame of the most intense rainfall looks to
be between 2 AM PST through 6 AM PST Thursday morning associated
with the frontal passage. Precipitation will continue into
Thursday, so a clap of thunder or two will possible due to better
lapse rates aloft. Due to the possibility of heavy rain starting
this afternoon, and additional rain tomorrow, a Flash Flood Watch
remains in effect for Mariposa, Madera, and Fresno County
Foothills, Sierra Nevada from Yosemite to Kings Canyon, Tulare
County Foothills, and Tulare County Mountains through 10 PM PST
Thursday. Light precipitation will continue until early Friday
morning across the district. Rainfall totals in these areas will
be in the 2-4 inch range, with localized areas of 5-6" possible.
Rain in the valley may cause some nuisance flooding in urban
areas. Totals will be 1 to 1.5 inches in the northern portion of
the valley, and .5-1 inches in the southern portion of the valley.

In terms of winter weather, we currently have a Winter Storm
Warning that will be valid starting 4 PM today through 10 PM
Thursday for the Sierra Nevada from Yosemite to Kings Canyon and
Tulare County Mountains above 7,000 feet. Snow levels will be in
the 7,000 foot range across the Sierra Nevada this afternoon and
evening, and will slowly rise to just over 8,000 feet by tomorrow.
Heavy snow will begin to fall as the atmospheric river enters the
region, and creating nearly white-out conditions. Strong, to very
strong wind gusts of 65-85 mph will be possible for exposed
ridgetops. This will create treacherous conditions for anybody
traveling in the Southern Sierra Nevada during the timeframe of
the Winter Storm Warning. Anybody who exposes themselves to these
conditions will be endangering their life, and rescue missions may
be nearly impossible. Snow fall totals will be 1-3 feet, with
localized areas of 4-5 feet of snow possible by Friday morning
from this system alone.

We have two Wind Advisories that will be valid later today. The
first Wind Advisory will be valid 1 PM PST today through 1 AM
Thursday for the west central portion of the San Joaquin Valley
and foothills including and north of Fresno County. Southeast wind
gusts up to 45 mph are possible in these areas. Areas that have
wet soil could see some trees blown down when gusts get over 40
mph. The second Wind Advisory is for the Southwestern Valley and
Mountainous areas in Kern County west of Highway 58, as well as
the Grapevine area where a strong off shore pressure gradient will
set up through the night. This advisory is in effect starting 6
PM tonight through 4 AM Thursday morning... southeast 20 to 30 mph
with gusts up to 45 mph possible. Local gusts up to 55 mph
possible in the Grapevine area, as well as Cummings Valley.

Starting Friday morning, fog formation may be possible in the San
Joaquin Valley as shortwave ridging moves over the area.
Conditions will be conducive to fog formation due to the decrease
in winds and added boundary layer moisture from the recent
rainfall. We have added fog in the forecast for Friday morning
and Saturday morning. Fog may also be possible Sunday morning, but
have held off on putting it into the forecast as there is a fair
amount of uncertainty in forecasting fog this far out. On Sunday
and into early Monday morning, a trough of low pressure aloft
will bring impacts mainly to the north of our forecast area, but
will still introduce a chance of precipitation into the area
starting Sunday morning and lasting through Sunday night.
Rainfall/snowfall rates look to be fairly tame with this system.

In the long term, courser resolution models are showing
a significant Eastern Pacific ridge forming on late
Monday/Tuesday. Models are showing the ridge of high pressure
aloft staying in place/amplifying through the rest of the
forecast period. This will mean daily occurrences of morning Tule
Fog are possible in the valley as winds will likely be light and
variable along with the antecedent wet soil/appreciable boundary
layer moisture from the barrage of precipitation we get this week.
Dry weather will also occur next week as ridging persists, and
will continue into the foreseeable future as CPC progs have
Central California at well-below average chance for precip in the
6-10 day range.

&&

.AVIATION...
Areas of mountain obscuration across the Southern Sierra Nevada and
Tehachapi mountains becoming widespread after 00Z Thu due to
precipitation and low clouds. Windy conditions over much of central
CA with strong wind gust 35+ kts expected over higher mountain
terrain. Thunderstorms will be possible across the San Joaquin
Valley after 12Z Thur. Otherwise areas of MVFR conditions with local
IFR conditions through 00Z Fri due to rain and mist.

&&

.AIR QUALITY ISSUES...
None.

&&

.CERTAINTY...

The level of certainty for days 1 and 2 is high.
The level of certainty for days 3 through 7 is medium.

Certainty levels include low...medium...and high. Please visit
www.weather.gov/hnx/certainty.html for additional information
an/or to provide feedback.

&&

.HNX Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
Flash Flood Watch from 4 PM PST this afternoon through Thursday
evening CAZ093-094-096-097.

Winter Storm Warning from 4 PM this afternoon to 10 PM PST
Thursday ABOVE 7000 FEET FOR THE CAZ096-097.

Wind Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 4 AM PST Thursday
CAZ091-095.

Wind Advisory until 1 AM PST Thursday CAZ089-090-093.

&&

public...Bollenbacher
avn/fw...MV
synopsis...Bollenbacher

weather.gov/hanford

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 16, 5:31 PM PST, 2 hours 29 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
531 PM PST WED JAN 16 2019

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

0444 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 18 SW GUSTINE           37.04N 121.19W
01/16/2019  E45 MPH          MERCED             CA   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            WX6HNX-9 PACHECO PASS APRS (AT423).

&&

Local storm report, Jan 16, 5:33 PM PST, 2 hours 27 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
533 PM PST WED JAN 16 2019

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

0459 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 7 SW FISH CAMP          37.42N 119.75W
01/16/2019  E50 MPH          MARIPOSA           CA   MESONET

            MIAMI RAWS.

&&

Local storm report, Jan 16, 5:34 PM PST, 2 hours 26 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
534 PM PST WED JAN 16 2019

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

0500 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 18 NNE SNELLING         37.73N 120.26W
01/16/2019  E55 MPH          MARIPOSA           CA   UTILITY COMPANY

            PG&E PENON BLANCO STATION.

&&

Local storm report, Jan 16, 5:38 PM PST, 2 hours 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
538 PM PST WED JAN 16 2019

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

0750 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 18 NNE SNELLING         37.73N 120.26W
01/15/2019  E62 MPH          MARIPOSA           CA   UTILITY COMPANY

            PG&E PENON BLANCO STATION.

&&

The radar

The San Joaquin Valley radar (KHNX), 152 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:30 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 flood, 7 heavy snow, 5 high wind, 5 strong wind, 4 debris flow, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, S Sierra Mtns

When: January 16, 8:00 PM PST to January 17, 8:00 AM PST
Where: S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Horse Meadow SNOTEL (8400 feet) picked up 12.0 inches of new snow.

Heavy Snow, S Sierra Mtns

When: January 16, 8:00 PM PST to January 17, 8:00 AM PST
Where: S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Ostrander Lake SNOTEL (8200 feet) picked up 15.0 inches of new snow.

Heavy Snow, S Sierra Mtns

When: January 16, 8:00 PM PST to January 17, 8:00 AM PST
Where: S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Charlotte Lake SNOTEL (10400 feet) picked up 18.0 inches of new snow.

Heavy Snow, S Sierra Mtns

When: January 16, 8:00 PM PST to January 17, 8:00 AM PST
Where: S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

Tuolumne Meadows (8694 feet) picked up 19.0 inches of new snow.

Heavy Snow, S Sierra Mtns

When: January 16, 8:00 PM PST to January 17, 8:00 AM PST
Where: S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Green Mountain SNOTEL (7900 feet) picked up 19.0 inches of new snow.

Heavy Snow, S Sierra Mtns

When: January 16, 8:00 PM PST to January 17, 8:00 AM PST
Where: S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

The West Woodchuck Meadow SNOTEL (9100 feet) picked up 19.0 inches of new snow.

Heavy Snow, Tulare Cty Mtns

When: January 16, 8:00 PM PST to January 17, 8:00 AM PST
Where: Tulare Cty Mtns forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Crabtree Meadow SNOTEL (10700 feet) picked up 14.0 inches of new snow.

Debris Flow, Mariposa

When: January 16, 8:30 PM PST to January 17, 6:30 AM PST
Where: Mariposa County, 0.36 mi SW of Incline to 1.02 mi SW of El Portal
Cause: Heavy Rain / Burn Area
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 37.666, -119.855

State Route 140 was already closed in advance as a Flash Flood Watch was issued for the Ferguson Fire burn area. Approximately 50 yards of debris had to be removed from State Route 140 west of the Yosemite Park entrance as heavy rains resulted in debris flow across the burn area.

High Wind, S Sierra Mtns

When: January 17, 1:00 AM PST
Where: S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS

The Crane Flat RAWS reported a peak wind gust of 66 mph.

Strong Wind, S Sierra Foothills

When: January 17, 4:31 AM PST
Where: S Sierra Foothills forecast zone
Measured: 35 kt (40 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported a downed tree covering the entire roadway on Burrough Valley Road near the intersection of Cassandra Road near Auberry.

Flood, Kern

When: January 17, 5:10 AM PST to 7:10 AM PST
Where: Kern County, 0.21 mi NNW of Kern Jct to 0.28 mi NNW of Kern Jct
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.353, -118.981

California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding affecting the westbound lanes of State Route 58 east of Cottonwood Road in Bakersfield.

Flood, Kern

When: January 17, 5:44 AM PST to 9:44 AM PST
Where: Kern County, 0.81 mi ENE of Bodfish to 0.82 mi ENE of Bodfish
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.603, -118.486

California Highway Patrol reported the northbound lanes of Lake Isabella Blvd. completely flooded at the Chain Ave. intersection in Bodfish.

Strong Wind, S Sierra Mtns

When: January 17, 5:58 AM PST
Where: S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported a tree downed blocking both lanes on Littlefield Road at Wild Rose Lane near Shaver Lake.

Flood, Kern

When: January 17, 6:19 AM PST to 10:19 AM PST
Where: Kern County, 1.32 mi WSW of Garlock to 1.26 mi SW of Garlock
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.390, -117.800

California Highway Patrol reported Redrock-Randsburg Road flooded at the intersection of Garlock Road near Randsburg.

Flood, Kern

When: January 17, 6:33 AM PST to 8:33 AM PST
Where: Kern County, 7.01 mi SW of Cable to 6.78 mi SW of Cable
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.090, -118.600

California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding at the intersection of Pellisier Road and Banducci Road near Stallion Springs.

Strong Wind, S Sierra Foothills

When: January 17, 6:35 AM PST
Where: S Sierra Foothills forecast zone
Measured: 39 kt (45 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported a downed tree on Acton Road near the intersection of Auberry Road near Auberry.

Strong Wind, Tulare Cty Mtns

When: January 17, 6:43 AM PST
Where: Tulare Cty Mtns forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported a large tree across both lanes of Old Stage Road near the intersection of Jack Ranch Road south of California Hot Springs.

Flood, Kern

When: January 17, 7:03 AM PST to 9:03 AM PST
Where: Kern County, 0.83 mi NE of Bakersfield East to 0.85 mi ENE of Bakersfield East
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.377, -118.968

California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding at the intersection of Niles St. and Mount Vernon Ave in Bakersfield.

Strong Wind, E Central S.J. Valley

When: January 17, 7:03 AM PST
Where: E Central S.J. Valley forecast zone
Measured: 30 kt (35 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported a power line downed on the roadway on Applegate Road near the intersection of Bailey Road south of Atwater.

Flood, Kern

When: January 17, 8:24 AM PST to 10:24 AM PST
Where: Kern County, 1.89 mi WSW of Rosamond Arpt to 1.6 mi WSW of Rosamond Arpt
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.865, -118.233

California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding on Rosamond Blvd. in Rosamond.

Flood, Kern

When: January 17, 8:33 AM PST to 10:33 AM PST
Where: Kern County, 1.31 mi N of Kern City to 1.35 mi N of Kern City
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.369, -119.024

Public report of roadway flooding on F St. in Bakersfield.

Debris Flow, Tulare

When: January 17, 8:44 AM PST to 11:44 AM PST
Where: Tulare County, 1.56 mi NNW of Lemoncove to 1.54 mi NNW of Lemoncove
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 36.401, -119.030

California Highway Patrol reported Tulare County Fire Department response unit reported a land slide along Dry Creek Dr. and State Route 216 west of Lemon Cove.

Flood, Kern

When: January 17, 9:06 AM PST to 11:06 AM PST
Where: Kern County, 5.23 mi NE of Lake Isabella to 5.31 mi NE of Lake Isabella
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.645, -118.376

California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding on Joshua St. in South Lake.

Debris Flow, Kern

When: January 17, 11:50 AM PST to 2:50 PM PST
Where: Kern County, 6 mi NNW of Keene to 2.72 mi E of Caliente
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.300, -118.591

Public reports of several large rocks on the Caliente Bodfish Road and Caliente Creek Road Fork northeast of Caliente.

High Wind, Kern Cty Mtns

When: January 17, 12:32 PM PST
Where: Kern Cty Mtns forecast zone
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS

The Blue Max RAWS reported a peak wind gust of 70 mph.

Tornado, Fresno

When: January 17, 3:20 PM PST to 3:25 PM PST
Where: Fresno County, 3.22 mi SSW of Academy to 2.85 mi SSW of Academy
Rating: EF1
Path length: 0.25 mi
Path width: 20 yd
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.840, -119.560

A tornado was determined by radar and observed by public and media. Submitted video indicated damage to a building and showed the tornado which touched down near the intersection of Herndon Ave. and Academy Ave. east of Clovis. The tornado was rated EF1 based on official NWS storm survey.

Debris Flow, Kern

When: January 17, 4:10 PM PST to 6:10 PM PST
Where: Kern County, 1 mi SSE of Kernville to 0.76 mi ESE of Kernville
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.737, -118.423

California Highway Patrol reported mud, dirt and rocks effecting Burlando Road and Kern River Dr. in Kernville.

High Wind, Indian Wells Vly

When: January 17, 7:26 PM PST
Where: Indian Wells Vly forecast zone
Measured: 76 kt (87 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS

The Indian Wells Canyon RAWS reported a peak wind gust of 87 mph.

High Wind, Kern Cty Mtns

When: January 17, 11:14 PM PST
Where: Kern Cty Mtns forecast zone
Measured: 59 kt (68 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS

The Jawbone Canyon RAWS reported a peak wind gust of 68 mph.

High Wind, Kern Cty Mtns

When: January 17, 11:27 PM PST
Where: Kern Cty Mtns forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS

The Bird Springs Pass RAWS reported a peak wind gust of 65 mph.

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
Debris Flow: A fast-moving slurry of mud, rock and debris, usually on a slope soaked by heavy rain or stripped by a fire.
High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
Strong Wind: Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in California in 2019 Every state in 2019 This day in weather history The tornado archive for California, 2019 Warnings in California, January 2019

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: 793412, 793413, 793414, 793415, 793416, 793417, 793418, 793423, 793407, 793392, 793383, 793384, 793393, 793385, 793386, 793394, 793395, 793387, 793396, 793388, 793389, 793397, 793390, 793398, 793408, 793391, 793399, 793411, 793409, 793410.