Lightning in Fresno County, California

Lightning June 24, 2024 · Fresno County, California

$1.0M

Damage as recorded

Where the report was made, with tornadoes recorded within 15 miles over the years.

What the National Weather Service wrote

Dry lightning sparked several wildfires during the afternoon and evening of June 24 east of Reedley and Sanger. These fires became known as the Fresno Lightning Complex which resulted in several evacuations as the fires spread rapidly due to heavy fuel loading. The transmitter for KVPT Channel 18 was destroyed by one of the fires.

The wider storm

Moisture from the remains of Atlantic Tropical Storm Alberto wrapped around high pressure centered over the Desert Southwest the pulled up north behind it into central California on June 24 and 25. The result of this was thunderstorms which had little to no precipitation with them on both days. One cluster of thunderstorms produced dry lightning which ignited several wildfires east of Reedley during the afternoon of June 24 which became known as the Fresno Lightning Complex Fires.

Began near Squaw Vly (36.7456, -119.2836).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event 1179415. Narratives are written by the National Weather Service forecast office that issued the report.

Tornadoes near your address

See every tornado that passed near a place you know, measured to its path.