High Wind in Southern San Joaquin Valley, California

A Coarsegold spotter in Madera County reported 56Kt wind at 1120 AM...Mariposa County wind was reported at 40 MPH during the day. Wind in the Madera County mountains began as early as 1745 PST 2/5/98 and peaking on the 6th...over 1800 electric utility customers were still without power in the Oakhurst area by the morning of the 7th. Strong southeast wind felled a tree into a house in the Caruthers area of Fresno County around 1000 PST on 2/6/98. Over 32,000 electric utility customers were without power in Merced, Madera, Fresno, Tulare, and Kings Counties. Strong southeast gradient wind again brought damage to Southern San Joaquin Valley locations beginning around 0600 PST. Powerlines and trees felled led to the loss of power to over 32,000 customers in the Kings, Tulare, and Fresno County areas, including 2000 in the Lemoore area of Kings County and 3500 in Dinuba in Tulare County.