A developing Pacific storm approached California on June 4th. Cold air pushed into the San Joaquin Valley, plunging temperatures to well below normal. The high at Fresno on the 4th was only 66 degrees, six degrees colder than the previous record low maximum temperature for the date of 72 degrees, set in 1954. As the push of cold air funneled through the passes of the Kern County mountains.
The upper-level trough reached the California coast during the evening of June 4th, with the associated low dropping to west of Monterey Bay overnight. Ahead of the low, the warm front moved into the central California interior, bringing mostly light rain. Because the airmass was warm, snow levels were high, around 9000 feet. Also ahead of the front, downsloping winds developed over the Tehachapi Mountains, as well as in the Kern River Canyon. Gusts to around 50 mph were recorded at the base of the Grapevine during the morning of the 4th, but then subsided as the front arrived before increasing again the next day. The downsloping winds also brought several degrees of warming to the south end of the San Joaquin Valley. Bakersfield had a high of 83 degrees on June 5th, with the Porterville Municipal Airport only 2 degrees cooler. The California Highway Patrol weigh station at the base of the Grapevine had a high of 78 degrees on the 5th, 6 degrees warmer than the previous day.
A pronounced dry slot developed behind the warm front, and much of the central and southern San Joaquin Valley saw dry weather for the morning of June 5th.
An upper-level disturbance rotating around the low moved over the San Joaquin Valley during the afternoon of June 5th. This disturbance triggered showers and thunderstorms that produced heavy rain and lightning, but little hail. Fresno recorded 1.16 inch of rain on the 5th, all but 0.06 inch falling after 5 PM. Rain continued in to the morning hours of June 6th, bringing the 48-hour total to 1.64 inch at Fresno-Yosemite International Airport. This made June 2011 the third wettest June on record, and only 0.02 inch behind the second place amount of 1.66 inch (June 1939). The wettest June on record for Fresno was June 1998, with 1.93 inch.
There were some reports of road flooding from the heavy rains, as well as a few trees that were toppled as the soil became saturated. In the Southern Sierra Nevada, the snow level began falling as the cold front arrived, with late-season accumulating snow prompting a (rare for June) Winter Storm Warning. Up to 9 inches of new snow fell on the high country of the Southern Sierra Nevada on June 5th-6th.
As the upper-level low came onshore over southern Monterey/northern San Luis Obispo Counties, a strong vorticity maximum was rotating around the low center. This vorticity dropped south off the coast, then deepened into an upper-level low and swung in land over the San Joaquin Valley, triggering thunderstorms over the Southern Sierra Nevada during the evening of June 7th. As the low moved into southern Nevada, a northeasterly flow developed over the Southern Sierra Nevada. This flow pushed debris clouds from the thunderstorms over the east side of the San Joaquin Valley, resulting in a few sprinkles falling as far west as Dinuba, Fresno and Visalia. This flow also caused clouds to pool over the south end of the San Joaquin Valley during the early morning of June 8th, but these clouds dissipated shortly after sunrise.

Flood in FRESNO, CALIFORNIA
From 05-JUN-11 19:46:00 to 05-JUN-11 21:46:00 (PST-8)
Location: (FCH) CHANDLER AF
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Highway Patrol reported the Highway 41 on ramp at Highway 99 was flooded.

Flood in FRESNO, CALIFORNIA
From 05-JUN-11 21:15:00 to 05-JUN-11 23:15:00 (PST-8)
Location: CLOVIS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Several reports of city street flooding were reported in North Fresno and Clovis by a trained spotter.

Flood in KINGS, CALIFORNIA
From 05-JUN-11 21:30:00 to 05-JUN-11 23:30:00 (PST-8)
Location: HANFORD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Off duty National Weather Service employee reported street flooding at North 11th Avenue and West Elm Street in Hanford.

Flood in FRESNO, CALIFORNIA
From 05-JUN-11 21:59:00 to 05-JUN-11 23:59:00 (PST-8)
Location: (FCH) CHANDLER AF
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported flooding on South Highway 41 at O Street.

Flood in FRESNO, CALIFORNIA
From 05-JUN-11 22:11:00 to 06-JUN-11 00:11:00 (PST-8)
Location: HAMMOND
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported flooding on the Tulare Avenue on ramp at CA Highway 41.

Flood in TULARE, CALIFORNIA
From 05-JUN-11 22:14:00 to 06-JUN-11 00:14:00 (PST-8)
Location: TRAVER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The Highway patrol reported flooding on Road 40 at Highway 384.

Thunderstorm Wind in KINGS, CALIFORNIA
From 05-JUN-11 21:30:00 to 05-JUN-11 21:35:00 (PST-8)
Location: HANFORD
Magnitude: 45.00 EG
Property damage: 0.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Off duty NWS employee reported a tree down in center divider of North 11th Avenue just north of West Lacey Blvd.

Flood in FRESNO, CALIFORNIA
From 05-JUN-11 22:58:00 to 06-JUN-11 00:58:00 (PST-8)
Location: INDIAN MISSION
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The highway patrol reported flooding on Millerton Road at Mono Avenue.

Thunderstorm Wind in KINGS, CALIFORNIA
From 06-JUN-11 00:14:00 to 06-JUN-11 00:20:00 (PST-8)
Location: SHIRLEY
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The California Highway patrol reported two trees down across 6th Avenue at Clinton Avenue north of Hanford.

Winter Storm in TULARE CTY MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 05-JUN-11 22:00:00 to 06-JUN-11 10:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

Winter Storm in S SIERRA MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 05-JUN-11 22:00:00 to 06-JUN-11 10:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Park/Forest Service