A strong low pressure system with a deep moisture fetch pushed into central California during the afternoon of January 16 and brought moderate to heavy precipitation along with strong winds to much of the area through the afternoon of January 17. Several reports of roadway flooding were received during the morning of January 17 when the heaviest precipitation occurred. Flash flooding and debris flows were reported in the Ferguson Fire burn area in Mariposa County and State Route 140 was closed for over 11 hours. The precipitation turned to showers and isolated thunderstorms during the afternoon of January 17. One thunderstorm produced a tornado east of Clovis which was rated as EF-1 following a storm survey of the damage it produced. Most of the San Joaquin Valley and Kern County Deserts picked up between half an inch to an inch of rain while the Southern Sierra Nevada had 2 to 4 inches of liquid precipitation and the Kern County Mountains had 1.5 to 3 inches of liquid precipitation. The precipitation mainly fell as snow above 7000 feet where several locations in the higher elevations of the Southern Sierra Nevada above 7000 feet picked up 10 to 20 inches of new snowfall. There were also several reports of post-frontal wind gusts exceeding 50 mph in the Kern County Mountains and Deserts while a few low impact indicator sites had gusts exceeding 65 mph.

Heavy Snow in TULARE CTY MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 16-JAN-19 20:00:00 to 17-JAN-19 08:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Crabtree Meadow SNOTEL (10700 feet) picked up 14.0 inches of new snow.

Debris Flow in MARIPOSA, CALIFORNIA
From 16-JAN-19 20:30:00 to 17-JAN-19 06:30:00 (PST-8)
Location: INCLINE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Burn Area
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

State Route 140 was already closed in advance as a Flash Flood Watch was issued for the Ferguson Fire burn area. Approximately 50 yards of debris had to be removed from State Route 140 west of the Yosemite Park entrance as heavy rains resulted in debris flow across the burn area.

Flood in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 17-JAN-19 05:10:00 to 17-JAN-19 07:10:00 (PST-8)
Location: KERN JCT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding affecting the westbound lanes of State Route 58 east of Cottonwood Road in Bakersfield.

Flood in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 17-JAN-19 05:44:00 to 17-JAN-19 09:44:00 (PST-8)
Location: BODFISH
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported the northbound lanes of Lake Isabella Blvd. completely flooded at the Chain Ave. intersection in Bodfish.

Flood in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 17-JAN-19 06:19:00 to 17-JAN-19 10:19:00 (PST-8)
Location: GARLOCK
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported Redrock-Randsburg Road flooded at the intersection of Garlock Road near Randsburg.

Flood in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 17-JAN-19 06:33:00 to 17-JAN-19 08:33:00 (PST-8)
Location: CABLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding at the intersection of Pellisier Road and Banducci Road near Stallion Springs.

Flood in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 17-JAN-19 07:03:00 to 17-JAN-19 09:03:00 (PST-8)
Location: BAKERSFIELD EAST
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding at the intersection of Niles St. and Mount Vernon Ave in Bakersfield.

Flood in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 17-JAN-19 08:24:00 to 17-JAN-19 10:24:00 (PST-8)
Location: ROSAMOND ARPT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding on Rosamond Blvd. in Rosamond.

Flood in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 17-JAN-19 08:33:00 to 17-JAN-19 10:33:00 (PST-8)
Location: KERN CITY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Public report of roadway flooding on F St. in Bakersfield.

Flood in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 17-JAN-19 09:06:00 to 17-JAN-19 11:06:00 (PST-8)
Location: LAKE ISABELLA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding on Joshua St. in South Lake.

Strong Wind in S SIERRA FOOTHILLS, CALIFORNIA
From 17-JAN-19 04:31:00 to 17-JAN-19 04:31:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 35.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported a downed tree covering the entire roadway on Burrough Valley Road near the intersection of Cassandra Road near Auberry.

Strong Wind in S SIERRA MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 17-JAN-19 05:58:00 to 17-JAN-19 05:58:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 43.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported a tree downed blocking both lanes on Littlefield Road at Wild Rose Lane near Shaver Lake.

Strong Wind in S SIERRA FOOTHILLS, CALIFORNIA
From 17-JAN-19 06:35:00 to 17-JAN-19 06:35:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 39.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported a downed tree on Acton Road near the intersection of Auberry Road near Auberry.

Strong Wind in TULARE CTY MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 17-JAN-19 06:43:00 to 17-JAN-19 06:43:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 43.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported a large tree across both lanes of Old Stage Road near the intersection of Jack Ranch Road south of California Hot Springs.

Strong Wind in E CENTRAL S.J. VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
From 17-JAN-19 07:03:00 to 17-JAN-19 07:03:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 30.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported a power line downed on the roadway on Applegate Road near the intersection of Bailey Road south of Atwater.

Debris Flow in TULARE, CALIFORNIA
From 17-JAN-19 08:44:00 to 17-JAN-19 11:44:00 (PST-8)
Location: LEMONCOVE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

California Highway Patrol reported Tulare County Fire Department response unit reported a land slide along Dry Creek Dr. and State Route 216 west of Lemon Cove.

Tornado in FRESNO, CALIFORNIA
From 17-JAN-19 15:20:00 to 17-JAN-19 15:25:00 (PST-8)
Location: ACADEMY
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A tornado was determined by radar and observed by public and media. Submitted video indicated damage to a building and showed the tornado which touched down near the intersection of Herndon Ave. and Academy Ave. east of Clovis. The tornado was rated EF1 based on official NWS storm survey.

Debris Flow in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 17-JAN-19 11:50:00 to 17-JAN-19 14:50:00 (PST-8)
Location: KEENE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Public reports of several large rocks on the Caliente Bodfish Road and Caliente Creek Road Fork northeast of Caliente.

High Wind in S SIERRA MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 17-JAN-19 01:00:00 to 17-JAN-19 01:00:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 57.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The Crane Flat RAWS reported a peak wind gust of 66 mph.

Debris Flow in KERN, CALIFORNIA
From 17-JAN-19 16:10:00 to 17-JAN-19 18:10:00 (PST-8)
Location: KERNVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported mud, dirt and rocks effecting Burlando Road and Kern River Dr. in Kernville.

High Wind in KERN CTY MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 17-JAN-19 12:32:00 to 17-JAN-19 12:32:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 61.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The Blue Max RAWS reported a peak wind gust of 70 mph.

High Wind in KERN CTY MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 17-JAN-19 23:14:00 to 17-JAN-19 23:14:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 59.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The Jawbone Canyon RAWS reported a peak wind gust of 68 mph.

High Wind in KERN CTY MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 17-JAN-19 23:27:00 to 17-JAN-19 23:27:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The Bird Springs Pass RAWS reported a peak wind gust of 65 mph.

High Wind in INDIAN WELLS VLY, CALIFORNIA
From 17-JAN-19 19:26:00 to 17-JAN-19 19:26:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 76.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The Indian Wells Canyon RAWS reported a peak wind gust of 87 mph.

Heavy Snow in S SIERRA MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 16-JAN-19 20:00:00 to 17-JAN-19 08:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Horse Meadow SNOTEL (8400 feet) picked up 12.0 inches of new snow.

Heavy Snow in S SIERRA MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 16-JAN-19 20:00:00 to 17-JAN-19 08:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Ostrander Lake SNOTEL (8200 feet) picked up 15.0 inches of new snow.

Heavy Snow in S SIERRA MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 16-JAN-19 20:00:00 to 17-JAN-19 08:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Charlotte Lake SNOTEL (10400 feet) picked up 18.0 inches of new snow.

Heavy Snow in S SIERRA MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 16-JAN-19 20:00:00 to 17-JAN-19 08:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

Tuolumne Meadows (8694 feet) picked up 19.0 inches of new snow.

Heavy Snow in S SIERRA MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 16-JAN-19 20:00:00 to 17-JAN-19 08:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Green Mountain SNOTEL (7900 feet) picked up 19.0 inches of new snow.

Heavy Snow in S SIERRA MTNS, CALIFORNIA
From 16-JAN-19 20:00:00 to 17-JAN-19 08:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The West Woodchuck Meadow SNOTEL (9100 feet) picked up 19.0 inches of new snow.