Scattered power outages from ‘bomb cyclone’ around Fresno. Weather prep continues
The fast-moving “bomb cyclone” that slammed into California late Wednesday appeared Thursday afternoon to be rapidly moving through the central San Joaquin Valley, causing some power outages and rain squalls.
Up to 500 people were left without power east of Clovis near Herndon and McCall avenues, though it was no longer on the PG&E outage map as of 3:30 p.m.
The National Weather Service continued a flood watch until 4 a.m. Friday, but officials at the weather service in Hanford said it appeared that the power of the massive storm was mainly moving north of the Fresno region. The speed of the front seemed be limiting the among of rainfall hitting streets.
“It’s pretty much past,” said Antoinette Serrato, a meteorologist in Hanford. “There will still be rain in some areas, but there is no longer a wind advisory,”
The weather service forecast possible thundershowers to continue through the evening.
Serrato said in a 24-hour period, the rain had left a quarter-inch of rain on the Valley floor, and 11 inches of snow in Yosemite National Park.
Still, concerns about a more powerful weather front continued in the Valley.
The Bureau of Reclamation, in anticipation of possible flooding, increased releases of water from Friant Dam into the San Joaquin River to make room for forecasted inflows from the storm. Increases jumped from 600 to 1,600 cubic feet per second, and will go to 4,500 cubic feet per second in the next few days, officials said.
In Clovis, concerns about flooding prompted some to fill sandbags, but there were no immediate reports of widespread flooding.
Traffic lights out at Shaw and Brawley
Two people were taken to the hospital after a two-vehicle crash at Shaw and Brawley avenues around 4 p.m.
The traffic lights were out at the intersection, and it was not known how long they’d remain out.
A woman driving a Camry and man driving a Mercedes were involved in the incident, and the injuries did not appear to be life-threatening. It was unknown if alcohol or drugs were a factor.
