On the 28th, southeast winds aloft began to bring mid-level moisture from northern Mexico and the Desert Southwest. For the first time in approximately three weeks, isolated thunderstorms developed over the Sierra crest around Kings Canyon and points just to the north and east. The surge of monsoonal moisture continued through the end of the month, with the strongest thunderstorm activity on July 30th and the morning of the 31st. A few thunderstorms over the Southern Sierra Nevada had rain rates of an inch or more in an hour, and a severe thunderstorm moved over Edwards Air Force Base during the afternoon of the 30th. The warm nature of the monsoonal moisture kept central and southern San Joaquin Valley high temperatures around 100 degrees through July 30th.
A line of thunderstorms moved through the central and southern San Joaquin Valley during the morning of July 31st, bringing record-tying rain to both Bakersfield and Fresno. After the thunderstorms moved out of the San Joaquin Valley, skies began to clear and temperatures warmed rapidly. With the cloud cover, the temperature at Fresno was between 70-72 degrees for most of the morning of the 31st. But once the clouds began to clear, the temperature warmed at a rate of 8 degrees per hour from 11 AM to 1 PM (reaching 88 degrees), and topped out at 97 degrees at 5 PM.
Both Bakersfield and Fresno were 0.6 degrees warmer than normal for July. However, July was the last month to use the 1971-2000 30-year climatological normals. The new normals, for 1981-2010, were implemented of August 1st. The new average temperature for July is slightly warmer than the 1971-2000 average. Using the new normals, July 2011 was slightly cooler than normal, with Bakersfield down 0.1 degree, and Fresno down 1.0 degree. Both Bakersfield and Fresno had 11 days with highs of 100 or above in July.

Heavy Rain in FRESNO, CALIFORNIA
From 30-JUL-11 15:57:00 to 30-JUL-11 17:57:00 (PST-8)
Location: CEDAR GROVE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

One hour rainfall amount, from a heavy thunderstorm, was 1.06 inches.

Heavy Rain in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 30-JUL-11 16:00:00 to 30-JUL-11 18:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: ONYX
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

In only 33 minutes, a heavy thunderstorm dropped 0.56 inches of rain.

Heavy Rain in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 30-JUL-11 16:30:00 to 30-JUL-11 18:30:00 (PST-8)
Location: SUMMIT SWITCH
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

One hour rainfall from a heavy thunderstorm was 1.44 inches at Whiterock Creek.

Flash Flood in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 30-JUL-11 17:06:00 to 30-JUL-11 18:06:00 (PST-8)
Location: CLARAVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The highway patrol reported a mudlisde on Kelso Creek Road in the Kern County Mountains.

Flash Flood in TULARE, CALIFORNIA
From 30-JUL-11 17:36:00 to 30-JUL-11 18:36:00 (PST-8)
Location: ROADS END
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The California Highway Patrol reported a mudslide which caused damage to Salmon Creek Highway and Mountain Highway 99 near Johnsondale.

Heavy Rain in FRESNO, CALIFORNIA
From 30-JUL-11 10:51:00 to 30-JUL-11 12:51:00 (PST-8)
Location: MONO HOT SPGS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Two-hour rainfall total was 0.89 inches.  The thunderstorm dropped 0.87 inches from 1251 PDT to 1351 PDT.

Lightning in FRESNO, CALIFORNIA
From 31-JUL-11 08:30:00 to 31-JUL-11 08:30:00 (PST-8)
Location: SANGER
Property damage: 3.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A 21- Year old woman was struck in the ankle while inside her home by lightning. She was standing near a sliding glass door.

Thunderstorm Wind in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 30-JUL-11 13:55:00 to 30-JUL-11 14:15:00 (PST-8)
Location: BORON
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Trained spotter and Edwards mesonet observations indicated wind gusts to around 60 mph from a thunderstorm outflow. No damage was reported.