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Tuolumne County, California
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1996 and 2023, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
1
Tornado reports
6
Hail reports
24
Floods since 1996
66
All events
2
Deaths
$94.3M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Tuolumne County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 1 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated
Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
Thunderstorms developed in the afternoon along the Sierra Nevada crest and spread eastward. Witnesses reported a 66-year old female died in a campground after a lightning strike hit the area. No enter/exit woulds reported to confirm a direct hit. However, evidence would suggest c…
All public entities in Tuolumne County completed a preliminary estimate of storm damage for February through April, with costs well over $42 million.
A period of heavy rain upstream from Moccasin Dam, in which about three inches fell during four hours led to significant erosion and at least one landslide. It caused a massive amount of water and debris to run downhill into the Moccasin Reservoir. The water level rose to 3 times…
Extensive flooding in downtown Groveland, as floodwaters ran down the main street, Highway 120. Property was damage and water rescues for stranded residents. There was significant damage done to Groveland Community Hall and Mary Laveroni Community Park. Preliminary estimates from…
Flood Flood
Caltrans District 10 reported a mudslide on State Route 49 between Fairview Lane and Mill Villa Court in Sonora due to heavy rain.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Flash flooding was reported in the downtown area of Sonora due to heavy rain from a severe thunderstorm. Tuolumne County OES reported a creek flowing out of banks, and water flowing over Washington Street, impacting approximately 25 to 30 homes, 10 public buildings and 30 busines…
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Tuolumne County Emergency Manager reported significant roadway flooding in the town of Tuolumne with creeks overflowing their banks.
Funnel Cloud Funnel Cloud
Tuolumne County Emergency Manager received multiple reports of a funnel cloud, observed along Campo Seco Road in Jamestown.
Hail Hail
A trained spotter reported 1 inch hail in Downtown Sonora.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
Numerous hardwood trees snapped or uprooted. A wooden power pole snapped in half. NWS Storm Survey determined it to be rated EF-1 with 90 mph winds.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Tuolumne County Emergency Manager reported several trees and power poles down near the intersection of Martin Lane and Campo Seco Road. The Mount Elizabeth RAWS reported a maximum wind gusts of 61 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Tuolumne County OES reported extensive tree damage at Woods Creek Mobile Home Park with 34 trees down.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Tree down across Italian Bar Rd. There was a gust of 37 mph measured at nearby Columbia Airport.
Flood Flood
Caltrans reported a Westbound SR120 lane closure at Tulloch Road Crossover due to roadway wash-out/slip-out.
Flood Flood
Roadway flooding with several inches of water reported at Via Este Road and State Route 108.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Heavy rain was reported in Tuolumne County. Reported storm totals reached 5.63 inches just south of Cherry Lake to 6.91 inches near Twain Heart.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
A thunderstorm produced heavy rain at Tuolumne Meadows with 1.25 measured at the ranger station between 1500 and 1700 PDT. The storm also produced pea sized hail and flooded some tents at the Tuolumne Meadows Campground.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Park Service Rangers reported flash flooding on SR 120. A nearby weather station at Tuolumne Meadows reported 0.42 inches of rain and hail between 1500 and 1600 PST.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Yosemite National Park dispatch reported several trees donwed in the Hetch Hetchy area due to strong thunderstorm wind gusts.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The Crane Flat RAWS reported a peak thunderstorm wind gust of 59 mph.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Yosemite Park Rangers reported flash flooding near the Dana Creek and State Route 120 intersection at Tuolumne Meadows where 40 people were rescued when the river swelled and separated them from the highway.
Flood Flood
Caltrans reported road flooding in the Sonora area.
Flood Flood
Multiple reports of road flooding in Sonora, CA.
Flood Flood
Caltrans reported road flooding in Sonora, CA.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Tuolumne County Sheriff Reported flash flooding at Woods Creek near Stockton St. in Sonora, Ca.
Flood Flood
Caltrans reported that roadway was flooded.
Flood Flood
Tuolumne County Sheriffs Office reports there are road closures along Red Hills Road in Chinese Camp, Sims Road in Jamestown, and Bell Mooney Road in Jamestown.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Overflowing water from a strong thunderstorm which produced heavy rain closed down a section of State Route 120 near Tuolumne Meadows. The duration of the flash flood was around one hour.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Tuolumne Meadows received 0.98 inches of rainfall was measured in a one hour period.
Hail Hail
Hail covered the ground to a depth of just over 2 inches. Most of the hail was pea size, but the larger hailstones were as large as nickels and quarters. The hail for about 15 minutes.
Flood Flood
Full closure of Highway 49 from Moccasin Creek to Bear Valley Road due to road washout.
Debris Flow Debris Flow
A Yosemite National Park employee reported a rock slide over Park Road near Hetch Hetchy.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
An NWS storm survey team determined straight line winds from a micro-burst associated with a severe thunderstorm caused damage in Twain Harte, CA Numerous trees were brought down, and a home was damaged. Winds gusted to an estimated 105 mpg. Significant wind damage was done along…
Hail Hail
A photo on Twitter showed large hail in Groveland, estimated to be 1.25 in diameter.
Debris Flow Debris Flow
California Highway Patrol reported a rock slide due to heavy rainfall on Highway 140 east of Ferguson Bridge about 5 miles north northwest of Midpines.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Spotter reported 1.01 inches of rain fell in 4 hours. Hasn't seen any flooding, but heard small creeks are running high and fast.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
There were 5 inches of rain measured with 2 inches of new snow over a 24-hour period.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The main Lake Don Pedro Marina (LDPM) sustained damage to its structure that led to the evacuation of its employees until the weather system died down. The facility was closed for repairs.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
There was a 24 hour total of 6.53 inches of rain measured near Cedar Ridge at 4050 feet elevation. The storm total was 7.58 inches. Observer location Sonora.
Hail Hail
Hail to the size of nickels was reported.
Hail Hail
Hail to 1 inch in diameter reported in Dardanelle.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Tuolumne Public Works reported a culvert under Evergreen road at the Peach Growers Campground that got overwhelmed by the intensity of rainfall from a thunderstorm.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Heavy rain reported., 1.10 inches storm total.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Stream bank erosion, with some scouring, rilling, and sheet erosion. Sediment deposited in creek bed at multiple road/creek crossings. There was also float-able debris that was later removed. Road was over-topped at multiple locations. Estimated Granite Creek Basin flow of 1200 C…
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain over Rim Fire Burn scar. Storm total of 1.31 inches in 2 hours, heavy rain for 30 minutes.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain over Rim Fire Burn scar. Storm total of 1.69 in, for approximately 2 hours.
Debris Flow Debris Flow
The Rim Fire burn scar area received 0.20 to over 1 of rainfall from thunderstorms on the early morning of March 6th. The ground was previously saturated due to rainfall for several days prior to this event. There were approximately 10-11 different debris flow slides along the ro…
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Twenty four hour rainfall total at Tuolumne Meadows was 3.70 inches.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 11 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 |
| 2020 | 3 | 0 |
| 2019 | 7 | 0 |
| 2018 | 6 | 0 |
| 2017 | 4 | 0 |
| 2016 | 3 | 0 |
| 2015 | 5 | 0 |
| 2014 | 4 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 |
| 2006 | 1 | 0 |
| 2005 | 3 | 0 |
| 2001 | 1 | 0 |
| 2000 | 3 | 0 |
| 1999 | 4 | 0 |
| 1998 | 3 | 0 |
| 1996 | 3 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Tuolumne County, measured to its path.
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