The last major storm of the month arrived on March 24th. This storm brought gusts to 45 mph to the west side of the San Joaquin Valley, and gusts to 65 mph in the Kern County mountains and deserts. Convective activity was limited to near Merced, with several reports of road flooding due to the already saturated ground. Thunderstorms and showers moved east into the foothills of Madera and Mariposa Counties, where the heavy rains triggered rock and mud slides. Mainly light showers occurred southward. The trough moved east of the region on the 25th, with residual light showers in its wake. Additional light snow fell in the Southern Sierra Nevada measuring around 5 inches or less. Local media reported that the roof of a vacant store at Shaver Lake collapsed on March 26th due to 6 feet of snow accumulation on the roof.
A weak frontal system reached the area on the 26th-27th, bringing cooler temperatures but only light precipitation and a few gusty winds. This storm moved east of the central California interior on the 28th, with an upper-level ridge building into the state behind it to bring a strong warming trend.
High temperatures in the central and southern San Joaquin Valley warmed into the lower 80s on the last day of the month. This was the first day of 2011 that either Bakersfield or Fresno reached 80 degrees, with highs of 82 and 81 degrees, respectively. The last day Fresno had reached 80 degrees was November 5th, 2010, when Fresno had a high of 90 degrees. Bakersfield last saw an 80-degree day on November 6th, 2010, with a high of 85 degrees.
In summary, March was mainly dry during the first half of the month, followed by wet weather from the 15th until around the 27th. Temperatures generally remained near or below average until the last day of the month.

Flash Flood in MERCED, CALIFORNIA
From 24-MAR-11 20:31:00 to 24-MAR-11 22:31:00 (PST-8)
Location: (MER)CASTLE AFB
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The CHP reported flash flooding at Highway 59 just north of the Trout Farm. One foot of water was flowing across the roadway.

Flood in MADERA, CALIFORNIA
From 24-MAR-11 20:42:00 to 24-MAR-11 22:42:00 (PST-8)
Location: STOREY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The CHP reported roadway flooding on Sate highway 145 at Bonnie Way.

Winter Weather in S SIERRA MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 26-MAR-11 04:00:00 to 26-MAR-11 16:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.25M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

Flood in MERCED, CALIFORNIA
From 27-MAR-11 00:00:00 to 29-MAR-11 00:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: GUSTINE ARPT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.50M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

During the frequently stormy period that began on the 18th and ended on the 28th, as much as 7 inches of rain fell in the San Joaquin Valley and up to 10 inches of rain drenched the adjacent foothills while the higher elevations of the Sierra (above 7000 feet) received snow accumulations of up to 15 feet. Excessive runoff, combined with an increase in reservoir releases at the major dams caused higher than normal flows along rivers and streams through the end of the month. The Merced River at Stevinson peaked a half of a foot below flood stage at 4:30 pm on the 21st but otherwise remained well above monitor stage during the last two weeks of the month. Water levels along the San Joaquin River approached levels that had not been observed since January, 1997. At Newman, the river first rose above monitor stage on the morning of the 23rd and remained above monitor stage for the remainder of the month. Water flowed into the Fisherman���s Bend trailer park along the San Joaquin River near Newman by the 28th where voluntary evacuations were conducted. In Merced County, several water swollen creeks briefly flowed out of their banks on the morning of the 20th and caused minor flooding.