Wednesday’s early morning thunderstorms became the week’s main weather story, startling many South Valley residents from their sleep.
A cut-off low that had lingered southwest of California since the weekend finally drifted into south-central California. The system brought just enough moisture, lift, and instability to spark lightning, thunder, rain, and even hail across Kern County.
Although most rainfall totals were light due to the dry air between the clouds and the ground, areas just across the county line—like Visalia—saw an inch of rain in just 30 minutes, leading to localized flooding.
Chief Meteorologist Ilya Neyman explained why these thunderstorms developed during the early morning, a time typically known for being the most stable part of the day.
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