Flash Flood in Kings County, California

California Highway Patrol reported very heavy rain flooding both northbound and southbound I-5 between Kettleman City and Avenal. CHP was pacing traffic in both directions following a brief closure.

An upper level low pressure system dropped slowly southward over central California on May 31. While widespread showers and thunderstorms developed that afternoon over the Sierra Nevada range and adjacent foothills as well as the west side hills of the San Joaquin Valley, no significant flooding took place and thunderstorms remained below severe limits. However, as the low moved south into southern California on June 1 and spread wrap around moisture into the area, slow moving thunderstorms developed during the afternoon and evening hours. One slow moving cell produced flash flooding in the Mojave area and another thunderstorm produced flash flooding near Kettlemen City in western Kings County. Both episodes resulted in some brief road closures. Several reports of hail between a quarter and a half inch in diameter and rainfall reports of up to half an inch of rain were observed with the stronger thunderstorms.