Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena - CIG

CALIFORNIA, South CentralMerced County10 SE Merced to 28 1625PST11 SE MercedMadera CountyChowchilla ArptFresno County3 SE (Fat) AirTerminal0 0Hail (1.00)1633PSTMerced County Sheriff reports plus reports from truck drivers indicated that hail was large and deep enough to cause cars to slideoff State Highway 99 just north of the Merced/Madera County line.28 1635PST 0.3 5 0 0Tornado (F0)Tornado touched down on northwest edge of airport property, moved two belt loaders 25 feet, and then arced to south beforedissipating. Pea-size hail accompanied the storm to such an extent that it reached 2 inches in depth in the area.281905PST001KLightningA lightning strike on a 120-foot tree exploded the tree and rained debris down onto a family exiting the house below. No injuriesalthough 5 members of the family were stunned by lightning.Fresno CountyParlier28 1915PST0 0LightningReported by spotter during storm chase.Numerous thunderstorms developed during the afternoon hours throughout much of Central California and reached severe limits inMerced and Madera Counties. The tornado at the Chowchilla Airport occurred with a severe thunderstorm warning of at least 10minutes. Additional hail of 1/2" diameter, not reaching severe thresholds, also fell in Southwest Fresno County just west ofLemoore Naval Air Station.Fresno CountyHuron to 28 1800PST0 05.0M Small HailKingsburg1930PSTTulare CountyVisalia to 28 1930PST0 05M Small HailExeter2030PSTKern County16 SE Bakersfield 31 2359PST0 05.7M Urban/Sml Stream FldActive thunderstorms in the Central San Joaquin Valley caused widespread crop damage to almonds, grapes, stone fruit, and lettuce.While not reaching severe size (3/4"), the hail stacked on the ground up to a couple of inches at sizes just less than 3/4" in diameter.Heavy rain accompanying the convective activity continued to plague and delay ag field operations for cotton planting, cantaloupes,and tomato processing. The damage in Fresno County was estimated at $4.97M starting at Huron on the west side and progressingeastward through Sanger, Reedley, and Kingsburg. Further damage occurred in Tulare County where a band of damage occurredfrom mostly Visalia toward Exeter. The damage for 1,250 acres of hail-damaged plums was estimated at $5M in Tulare County.Continued rain kept agricultural ground operations to a minimum with almost all application of herbicides, insecticides, andfertilizers conducted by agricultural aircraft in February and March.In Kern County continued above normal rain brought continued small stream flow onto the Southern San Joaquin Valleyfloor. The loss of access and/or damage to farm land continued to add to the overall spring storm and heavy rain damageassessment to Central Caliornia agriculture. Bakersfield received 2.51" of rain in March compared to normal of approximately1"...The last week saw 1.5" of that total.CALIFORNIA, SoutheastCALIFORNIA, SouthwestStorm Data and Unusual Weather PhenomenaTimePath PathNumber ofEstimatedLocal/ Length WidthPersonsDamageLocation DateStandard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of StormNONE REPORTED.March 1998Orange County8 W Huntington Beach 13 1710PST1720PST0 0WaterspoutOrange County8 W Huntington Beach 13 1712PST0 0Waterspoutto1737PST8 SW HuntingtonBeachUnstable conditions associated with a low pressure trough dropping down the California coast, spawned two waterspouts off ofHuntington Beach. The waterspouts came very close to offshore platforms, but no damage was reported. These were part of afamily of at least 6 waterspouts which a pilot report indicated stretched from near Seal Beach to Santa Catalina Island.26 20