Flood — Merced, California

1998-10-24 · near Hilmar, Merced, California

Event narrative

The cool season's first significant rain pushed through Central California starting about 1100 PDT in Merced County and through Kern County by 2100 PDT. Merced received 0.75" of rain in embedded frontal thundershowers and locally heavy rain in about 2 hours beginning at 1115 PDT. Some local street flooding was reported just south of Hilmar and within Delhi. In Merced a tree was toppled by the storm. Several traffic accidents occurred on rain-slickened roads. Other rainfall amounts with the fast-moving front were 0.85" at Lemoore; only 0.16" at Fresno; and 0.21" at Bakersfield. While no warnings needed to have been formally issued, the storm's approach and timing were well advertised by NWS Special Weather Statements more than 18 hours in advance and Short Term Forecasts with the front's passage.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5668452. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.