A strong atmospheric river moved through California late on December 23rd into the afternoon of December 24th. Very heavy rainfall and strong gusty winds were observed across most of our County Warning Area (CWA).
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS HNX wrote it up.
A strong atmospheric river moved through California late on December 23rd into the afternoon of December 24th. Very heavy rainfall and strong gusty winds were observed across most of our County Warning Area (CWA). The heaviest rainfall was observed in Fresno, Mariposa and Kern County. Rainfall ranged from around half inch up to four inches in some localized areas. Flash flooding occurred mainly in eastern Kern County were several roads or closed.
Wet pattern began in the region during the early morning hours of the 24th and lasted until the 26th. Many locations reported 2-4 inches of rain, and some other locations reported as much as 9-10 inches of rain, mainly towards Shaver Lake and Dinkey Creek in the Sierra Nevada in Fresno County. About 2-4 feet of snow fell at elevations above 7,000 feet, and snow levels lowered to about 6,000 feet by the 26th. Some vehicles were stuck in snow as far south as Kern County, or in Pine Mountain Club on the afternoon of the 26th. Heavy rain prompted Flood Warnings over the burn scars in Fresno and Kern Counties and Flood Advisories in the Central Valley and quite a bit of the higher terrain adjacent to the San Joaquin Valley. Gusty winds developed each day during this period, with the strongest gusts in the Coastal Ranges that reached above 60 mph. In addition, isolated thunderstorms popped up over parts of the Central Valley in the afternoon and early evening of the 26th which produced mainly lightning, gusty winds, and brief moderate rainfall.
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 Dec 24, 9:52 AM PST, 2 hours 42 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 952 AM PST Wed Dec 24 2025 PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 1252 AM PST Wed Dec 24 2025/ KEY MESSAGES... 1. High confidence of a line of heavy rainfall, flooding, and embedded strong thunderstorms arriving from 4am through 8am Wednesday, moving from southwest to northeast, starting in Kern County. Burn scars are at risk. 2. High Wind Warning and Wind Advisory areas impacted by downed trees or power outages, moderate confidence. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. 3. 40% Probability of winds gusting to 30 mph from Merced to Hanford, will also topple trees and move loose objects. 4. High confidence of heavy snow above 7000 feet, with snow load impacts on roofs in the high Sierra. Travel will be impossible with 60 mph winds and whiteout conditions. 5. Wednesday afternoon will feature thunderstorms, with the highest probability of severe weather from Fresno county and points north. DISCUSSION... A potent atmospheric river has arrived along the southern California coast, bringing with it significant and impactful precipitation as well as strong winds. Expanding upon this threat, the Weather Prediction Center's Excessive Rainfall Outlook highlights the Kern County Mountains as the primary threat area for heavy precipitation with a Slight risk (15-40% chance). The risk increases to Moderate (40-70%) along the far southern edge of the forecast area including I-5 through Grapevine. Accumulated rainfall amounts continue to track steady from the previous forecast cycle, with a reasonable high end scenario for the high terrain nudging upward slightly. The northern Sierra Nevada are poised to see at least (90% chance) 3 inches of precipitation with as much as 8.5 inches (10% chance) at the higher end. The upper end potential tapers to 5 inches (10% chance) at the southern end near Alta Sierra and Lake Isabella. Significant spread remains at the far southern edge of the forecast area with a reasonable best/worst case scenario along I-5 being 1.5 to 6 inches of liquid precipitation. Given this continued level of confidence, Flood Watches remain in effect as we head into Wednesday morning. Expect rises along waterways and minor flooding to occur due to this precipitation. Recent burn scars, especially those due to the Basin, Garnet, French, and Borel Fires, will be particularly vulnerable to excessive runoff and debris flows. Also worth noting that the Storm Prediction Center has the entire forecast area under a General Thunder outlook with a low probability of thunderstorm development in the forecast, and a marginal risk for severe storms limited to the west of the forecast area at this time. Snow levels continue to run fairly high given the warm airmass accompanying this atmospheric river, with high confidence that the snow level will sit at around 6800-7000 feet. This is driving a high confidence forecast for multiple feet (3+) of snow across much of the high Sierra, with confidence greatest for the highest peaks. It is worth noting that there is a 25% chance that the snow level could push as high as 8600 feet during the day on Wednesday, especially further south along the range. Wednesday night into Thursday, the likelihood of valley precipitation decreases greatly as we transition into more of a terrain-forced mode. This will shift focus for continued precipitation towards the terrain on Thursday, with early indications of the storm wrapping up as early as Friday morning (10% chance), but almost certainly over after midnight Saturday into Sunday morning (90% chance). In the wake of this system, ensemble forecasts are in good agreement with the deep upper level trough closing off and sticking around into early next week before shifting out of the area. This will lead to a period of cooler temps and unsettled conditions into mid next week. AVIATION... Flight conditions across the San Joaquin Valley will be VFR becoming MVFR this evening as continued moisture streams into the region. MVFR/VFR ceilings and visibilities will fall to MVFR by early this evening with continued shower and rain potential after a brief "dry" period possible from 18 to 21z. Wind will remain gusty with gusts remaining from 20-25kts across the valley into this evening and overnight, especially for KFAT and terminals north. With a freezing level around 8500ft AGL, convection will remain limited with the best potential (< 30%) from KFAT and north this afternoon into this evening. Any storms will be isolated, otherwise additional rain and showers will continue into the overnight period with MVFR (30-40%) ceilings and visibilities possible. AIR QUALITY ISSUES... On Wednesday December 24 2025, Fireplace/Wood Stove Burning Status is: No Burning Unless Registered in Fresno and Kern Counties. Burning Discouraged in Kings, Madera, Merced, and Tulare Counties, and Kern (Greater Frazier Park Area) and Sequoia National Park and Forest. 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 and/or to provide feedback. CERTAINTY... The level of certainty for days 1 and 2 is low. The level of certainty for days 3 through 7 is low. Certainty levels include low...medium...and high. Please visit www.weather.gov/hnx/certainty.html for additional information and/or to provide feedback. && .CERTAINTY... The level of certainty for days 1 and 2 is low. The level of certainty for days 3 through 7 is low. Certainty levels include low...medium...and high. Please visit www.weather.gov/hnx/certainty.html for additional information and/or to provide feedback. && .HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch through Friday afternoon for CAZ300>339. High Wind Warning until 4 PM PST Thursday for CAZ333>339. Wind Advisory until 4 PM PST Thursday for CAZ300>304-308-309- 313-314-316>318-324-332. Winter Storm Warning until 10 PM PST Friday for CAZ323-326>331. && public...SM aviation....Mattarochia weather.gov/hanford
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hanford CA
1103 AM PST Wed Dec 24 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1053 AM Debris Flow 3 SSW Lake Isabella 35.59N 118.50W
12/24/2025 Kern CA Law Enforcement
CHP reports a mudslide on Caliente-Bodfish
Rd.
&&
JPKPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hanford CA
1153 AM PST Wed Dec 24 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1143 AM Flood 4 SSW Springville 36.08N 118.85W
12/24/2025 Tulare CA Law Enforcement
CHP reports flooding on Cattle Dr near
Coyote Dr.
&&
JPKPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hanford CA
1154 AM PST Wed Dec 24 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1132 AM Flood 7 NW Terra Bella 36.02N 119.14W
12/24/2025 Tulare CA Law Enforcement
CHP reports NB Rd 192 south of Ave 128 is
flooded.
&&
JPKPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hanford CA
1226 PM PST Wed Dec 24 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0800 AM Flood 3 S Fresno 36.73N 119.79W
12/24/2025 Fresno CA Broadcast Media
KMPH 26 (Fox) reported drivers were trapped
and rescued at the Tulare St which was
flooded.
&&
JPKPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hanford CA
1229 PM PST Wed Dec 24 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0830 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 ESE Fresno 36.76N 119.73W
12/24/2025 Fresno CA Broadcast Media
KMPH Fox 26 reports two house fires at Tyler
and Winery Ave in Fresno. One was reported
to have been started by a downed power line.
&&
JPKPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hanford CA
1231 PM PST Wed Dec 24 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1015 AM Flood 4 ESE Fresno 36.77N 119.73W
12/24/2025 Fresno CA Broadcast Media
KMPH Fox 26 reported E McKinley Ave flooded
west of the Fresno Airport.
&&
JPKThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
8 flood, 1 strong wind, 1 heavy rain, 1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
California Highway Patrol reports flooding on AVENUE 128 / ROAD 184.
CHP reports flooding up to 5 inches at Birch St and Harrison St.
CHP reports power pole down blocking Road 36.
CHP reports flooding on SR 190 near Globe Dr.
CHP reports flooding at Ave 72 at Rd 132.
CHP reports SR 166 closed between Maricopa and Old River Rd due to flooding.
Social Media post shared of flooding at the Wasco Walmart.
CHP reports Jawbone Canyon Rd closed due to flooding.
CHP reported flooding on SR 137 between Rd 46 and Road 48.
Storm total is 2.75 inches.
CHP reported moderate to heavy snow with multiple vehicles stuck in snow on Cuddy |Valley Rd at Mt Pinos Rd.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in California, December 2025
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: 1308623, 1308627, 1308629, 1308632, 1308636, 1308637, 1308639, 1308642, 1308641, 1308644, 1308645.