A significant warmup occurred from the 6th until the 10th of May due to a large upper ridge pushed inland into California. Much above average temperatures took place on the 8th until the 10th.
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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 significant warmup occurred from the 6th until the 10th of May due to a large upper ridge pushed inland into California. Much above average temperatures took place on the 8th until the 10th. Triple digit heat was reported for the first time this year on the 10th at Bakersfield, with a maximum temperature of 102 degrees. This set a record high, and a record high minimum temperature of 69 degrees was also reported 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 May 9, 9:14 PM PST, 2 hours 46 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 1014 PM PDT Fri May 9 2025 .UPDATE... Aviation Section Updated. && && .KEY MESSAGES... 1. Drying and warming will continue until Saturday with well above normal temperatures. 2. Triple digit heat is currently at a 40 to 60 percent probability of occurrence in the southern San Joaquin Valley and the Kern County desert on Saturday. Otherwise, expect widespread highs in the mid to upper 90's in the remainder of the Central Valley mainly north of Kern County. 3. A disturbance expected to impact Central California early next week as unsettled weather will exist from Sunday into the middle of next week. && .DISCUSSION... The ridge that has been building into the southwest of the CONUS will continue to intensify today, leading to well above normal high temperatures this afternoon. Saturday will also see highs well above normal, with a 40 to 60 percent chance for triple digits in the Valley and Kern County Desert. These temperatures carry a moderate heat risk, meaning most individuals sensitive to heat will be affected by it. This heat will also lead to low relative humidities, with the Valley likely to see RH's below 20% today and tomorrow. This and breezy winds during this time create a minor fire risk for the Valley and the West Side Hills, where if a fire were to start, it may spread more quickly and easily. Fortunately, this heat won't last long, as a disturbance is expected to pass through the region beginning on Sunday and exiting by Wednesday. This disturbance will bring highs down below normal for this time of year, but it will also bring strong winds to much of the region, especially to the Mojave Desert Slopes and the Sierra Nevada crest. Current probabilities for 55 mph wind gusts along the Slopes are 80 to 90 percent, and similar chances can be seen along the Sierra crest. The foothills may also see a small amount of rainfall, with the highest chances of 20 to 25% chance for measurable rainfall on Tuesday. Ridging is expected to take over once the disturbance moves out on Wednesday, with highs reaching back to above normal. Long range ensemble models are showing another disturbance may pass through Central California, though the current models are uncertain on the placement and intensity of it. This will become more clear with further model runs. && .AVIATION... 06Z Update: VFR conditions are expected for the next 24 hours in Central California. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES... ISSUED: 05/09/2025 15:10 EXPIRES: 05/10/2025 23:59 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 and/or to provide feedback. && .HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && public...EW aviation....JPK weather.gov/hanford
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 heat. Local standard time, as filed.
Triple digit heat was reported for the first time this year on the 10th at Bakersfield, with a maximum temperature of 102 degrees. This set a record high, and a record high minimum temperature of 69 degrees was also reported that day.
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, May 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: 1256367.