Heavy Rain in Southern San Joaquin Valley, California

Moisture from former Hurricane Hilary spread northward into Interior Central California very late on Tuesday, September 21st and over the entire area by Wednesday, September 22nd. Very light rain showers were reported as far north as Madera Ranchos in Central Madera County by midnight with some thunderstorm activity. In the mid-morning hours of the 22nd, locally heavy rain showers occurred with thunderstorms primarily in the Tulare County area and North Kern County. Spotters reported 0.40" of rain from these showers. Only a few hundredths occurred in other Interior Central California Valley locations. Lightning strikes throughout the San Joaquin Valley portion of Tulare County caused 9700 customers to lose power. Although rain forecasts were issued with good lead time...some growers in Tulare County were unable to get crews to roll raisins on about 1000 acres with as much as 50% loss of the crop.