Rainfall totals ‘hit or miss’ in Valley’s scattered storms

While Friday’s intense storm brought heavy rainfall to some areas across the San Joaquin Valley and flash flood warnings continued throughout Saturday, recording accurate rainfall totals at many locations was “hit or miss,” Dan Harty of the National Weather Service said Saturday.

Fresno’s rain total was recorded at 1 to 1.5 inches, Harty said. But if the rain doesn’t fall at gauging centers, it won’t be recorded. Because of the disparity and range in the amount of rainfall between locations, some of the total may not have been captured, he said.

Most of the flooding took place along the west side of the San Joaquin Valley, near San Joaquin and Mendota, but flooding was seen as far south as Bakersfield and Tehachapi Pass, Harty said. Those areas received around 2 inches of rainfall in a very short time, he said, causing flash flood warnings throughout the Valley.

A flash flood watch remained in effect through 10 p.m. Saturday for the entire San Joaquin Valley as well as the Kern County mountains.

Isolated mountain showers are expected through Sunday afternoon, with higher than normal temperatures in the low 90s predicted for next week.

This story was originally published May 7, 2016 at 5:56 PM with the headline "Rainfall totals ‘hit or miss’ in Valley’s scattered storms."