The April 28, 2005 Hailstorm
During the afternoon of April 28, 2005, violent thunderstorms produced large hail and flooding over parts of the San Joaquin Valley. Angie and I took off when we noticed a large thunderstorm approaching, and took several pictures of this nasty thunderstorm which produced some hail larger than a quarter. Several crops were wiped out by this event which were the most damaging thunderstorms in the area since the May 20, 2002 thunderstorm event which I worked through most of. I had this day off, but I did not miss helping out as I helped verify two warnings for my co-workers.
Time line of the events that day (all times PDT).
124 PM - My co-workers smacked out a warning on a cell over central Kings County moving toward Lemoore. At that time we took off and and drove two miles west.
130 PM - We decide to wait at 14th and Grangeville as the cell approaches.
Cell over Armona at 140 PM
Cell over Lemoore at 140 PM
145 PM - Looking north from 14th and Fargo. The rain becomes heavy. (2 pictures)
148 PM - The hail begins.
151 PM - The hail reaches 3/4 inch in diameter. We are on 14th between Grangeville and Fargo. Warning verified.
158 PM - More large hail going south on 15th.
201 PM - Hail reaches 1.25 inches in diameter just after the warning was reissued.
205 PM - Heavy rain and hail at 14th and Grangeville.
215 PM - Our neighborhood about to go under water.
218 PM - This van had to abandon trying to enter our neighborhood.
219 PM- Water begins to spread over the properties across the street.
220 PM - Our front yard flooding.
221 PM - This guy actually dared to try and test the high waters. He almost had to bail as I have seen many do when I chased in Texas.
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