A warm plume of moist tropical air brought a very active period of weather to the area between the evening of March 20 and the evening of March 22. This resulted in widespread heavy rainfall across the area on March 21 and 22 which produced flooding at many locations with rock slides and debris flows closing several roads across the area. The most impacted areas being around Mariposa as a result of the Detwiler Fire burn scar and Springville as a result of the Pier Fire burn scar. In addition, thunderstorms developed during the afternoon of March 22 producing flash flooding at many locations as well as funnel clouds. A Flash Flood Emergency was issued for most of western Mariposa County where several buildings were flooded and some areas were evacuated. A small tornado briefly touched down near Dinuba in Tulare County. In addition, several feet of new snow fell above 9000 feet. Below the snow line, much of the Southern Sierra Nevada measured between 4 and 8 inches of rainfall while most of the San Joaquin Valley picked up between 1 and 3 inches of rainfall.

Debris Flow in MARIPOSA, CALIFORNIA
From 22-MAR-18 14:59:00 to 22-MAR-18 14:59:00 (PST-8)
Location: MIDPINES
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Burn Area
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported State Route 140 sliding into the Merced River and a large crack in the road.

Flood in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 21-MAR-18 14:07:00 to 21-MAR-18 14:07:00 (PST-8)
Location: ALTA SIERRA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported two boulders in the roadway of State Route 155 near Alta Sierra Rd. with heavy rainfall in the area.

Flood in FRESNO, CALIFORNIA
From 22-MAR-18 17:30:00 to 22-MAR-18 17:30:00 (PST-8)
Location: PINEDALE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Several media and social media reports of numerous cars hitting each other or getting stuck because of high water on Champlain Dr. in north Fresno.

Flood in FRESNO, CALIFORNIA
From 22-MAR-18 17:55:00 to 22-MAR-18 17:55:00 (PST-8)
Location: CLOVIS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Public reports of road flooding with about 10 cars stuck in high water on Clovis Ave near the State Route 168 underpass in Clovis.

Funnel Cloud in TULARE, CALIFORNIA
From 22-MAR-18 14:45:00 to 22-MAR-18 14:45:00 (PST-8)
Location: VISALIA
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

A brief cold air funnel was reported by an NWS employee at the corner of Houston Ave. and Mooney Blvd. in north Visalia.

Flood in MERCED, CALIFORNIA
From 23-MAR-18 03:00:00 to 23-MAR-18 03:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: PLANADA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Public report of around a foot of water from Miles Creek flooding parts of Planada Elementary School. This report was later confirmed by the Merced County OES official.

Heavy Snow in S SIERRA MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 20-MAR-18 19:00:00 to 23-MAR-18 07:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Tuolumne Meadows (8694 feet) measured 31 inches of new snow during the 2 and a half day event as precipitation mainly fell as snow above 8500 feet.

Debris Flow in MARIPOSA, CALIFORNIA
From 22-MAR-18 13:58:00 to 22-MAR-18 13:58:00 (PST-8)
Location: BEAR VLY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Burn Area
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported State Route 49 completely closed due to mudslides between State Route 120 and Bear Valley Rd.  The road was closed for several days due to erosion from a massive amount of water which washed out the roadway.

Flash Flood in MERCED, CALIFORNIA
From 22-MAR-18 12:30:00 to 22-MAR-18 14:30:00 (PST-8)
Location: SNELLING
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported the entire roadway flooded at the intersection of Roadway J59 and Fields Rd.

Flood in FRESNO, CALIFORNIA
From 22-MAR-18 06:25:00 to 22-MAR-18 06:25:00 (PST-8)
Location: PINEDALE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Media report of minor flooding at the intersection of Champlain and Perrin in north Fresno with several inches of water covering the roadway.

Debris Flow in MERCED, CALIFORNIA
From 22-MAR-18 12:57:00 to 22-MAR-18 12:57:00 (PST-8)
Location: (MER)CASTLE AFB
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported major flooding across the roadway at State Route 59  and Nevada St.

Flood in MADERA, CALIFORNIA
From 22-MAR-18 07:25:00 to 22-MAR-18 07:25:00 (PST-8)
Location: WISHON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported a mud slide onto the roadway on Road 274 at Marina View Dr. near the southeast side of Bass Lake.

Tornado in TULARE, CALIFORNIA
From 22-MAR-18 14:49:00 to 22-MAR-18 14:50:00 (PST-8)
Location: YETTEM
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

A storm chaser intercepted a small tornado between Yettem and Seville on State Route 201. The tornado was on the ground for a minute or less and no damage was reported.

Debris Flow in MARIPOSA, CALIFORNIA
From 22-MAR-18 12:15:00 to 22-MAR-18 12:15:00 (PST-8)
Location: MIDPINES
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Burn Area
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported large boulders at State Route 140 and Colorado Rd.

Flash Flood in FRESNO, CALIFORNIA
From 23-MAR-18 01:30:00 to 23-MAR-18 03:30:00 (PST-8)
Location: PINEDALE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A television station broadcast indicated that 6 campers were trapped in high water from the San Joaquin River in Woodward Park. 2 were able to escape and 4 were rescued by the Fresno Fire Department in 2-3 feet of water.

Flash Flood in MARIPOSA, CALIFORNIA
From 22-MAR-18 14:00:00 to 22-MAR-18 18:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: COULTERVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 2.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Mariposa Office of Emergency Services reported several homes flooded and roadways washed out. While many roadways were washed out across Northwestern Mariposa County, the homes were generally impacted near Lake Don Pedro, Hornitos, and the City of Mariposa. The two fatalities that did occur in the area were both related to a person driving into a flooded roadway. One was along highway 132 west of Coulterville and the other was near Cathey's Valley where a 72 year old woman was found dead nearly four months later.

Flood in FRESNO, CALIFORNIA
From 21-MAR-18 05:05:00 to 21-MAR-18 05:05:00 (PST-8)
Location: LAKESHORE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported a rock slide covering half of the roadway on State Route 168 at Huntington Lake Rd.

Flood in MADERA, CALIFORNIA
From 22-MAR-18 09:00:00 to 22-MAR-18 09:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: COARSEGOLD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

Madera County Public Works reported Road 417 was closed just west of Huron Rd. due to flooding.

Debris Flow in MARIPOSA, CALIFORNIA
From 22-MAR-18 09:42:00 to 22-MAR-18 09:42:00 (PST-8)
Location: BRICEBURG
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Burn Area
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported a rock slide covering the entire westbound lane and partial blocking of the eastbound lane of State Highway 140 at Briceburg.

Flood in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 22-MAR-18 11:51:00 to 22-MAR-18 11:51:00 (PST-8)
Location: CANTIL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported Redrock-Randsburg Rd. at State Route 14 closed due to water over the road.

Debris Flow in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 22-MAR-18 09:27:00 to 22-MAR-18 09:27:00 (PST-8)
Location: DEMOCRAT SPGS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported a rock slide partially blocking State Route 178 in Kern Canyon.

Flood in FRESNO, CALIFORNIA
From 21-MAR-18 11:18:00 to 21-MAR-18 11:18:00 (PST-8)
Location: ALDER SPGS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported rocks fallen onto the roadway at the middle of a 4 lane section of State Route 168 below Shaver Lake.

Funnel Cloud in TULARE, CALIFORNIA
From 22-MAR-18 15:15:00 to 22-MAR-18 15:15:00 (PST-8)
Location: SEVILLE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Public report of a funnel cloud in the vicinity of Ave 384 and Road 156 in the Seville area.

Funnel Cloud in TULARE, CALIFORNIA
From 22-MAR-18 15:15:00 to 22-MAR-18 15:15:00 (PST-8)
Location: YETTEM
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Report of a funnel cloud received on Facebook near the intersection of State Route 201 and Road 140 near Yettem.

Flood in FRESNO, CALIFORNIA
From 21-MAR-18 11:59:00 to 21-MAR-18 11:59:00 (PST-8)
Location: DUNLAP
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported debris covering one lane on the westbound side of State Route 180 and partially the other lanes at Snow Line Lodge near Dunlap.

Debris Flow in MARIPOSA, CALIFORNIA
From 21-MAR-18 17:31:00 to 21-MAR-18 17:31:00 (PST-8)
Location: FISH CAMP
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported a mud slide along northbound State Route 41 at Jackson Rd. near Fish Camp after brief heavy rain moved over the area.

Flood in FRESNO, CALIFORNIA
From 22-MAR-18 13:58:00 to 22-MAR-18 13:58:00 (PST-8)
Location: WILDFLOWER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported Fowler Ave. just north of Elkhorn Ave. completely flooded.

Flood in TULARE, CALIFORNIA
From 22-MAR-18 17:15:00 to 22-MAR-18 17:15:00 (PST-8)
Location: CAMP NELSON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Burn Area
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Cal Trans reported a road closure due to a mudslide on State Route 190 about 8.4 miles west of Camp Nelson.

Debris Flow in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 23-MAR-18 00:37:00 to 23-MAR-18 00:37:00 (PST-8)
Location: BEALVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported road closure due to rocks and mud on State Route 223 at State Route 58. Several vehicles were stuck in mud.

Flood in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 21-MAR-18 12:01:00 to 21-MAR-18 12:01:00 (PST-8)
Location: RIBIER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported closure of Malaga Rd. between Digiorgio Rd. and Panama Rd. due to roadway flooding.

Heavy Rain in FRESNO, CALIFORNIA
From 21-MAR-18 20:00:00 to 22-MAR-18 06:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: MELVIN
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter measured 0.91 inches of rainfall between 900 pm on March 21 and 700 am on March 22 with periods of heavy rain during this time frame.