Funnel Clouds in the San Joaquin Valley, California

Abstract

Abstract The authors observed a relatively rare funnel cloud in the northern San Joaquin Valley, California on 21 March 1987. The pattern which occurred in California on that day was similar to that observed with other recent severe weather events in the state. Although this pattern differs from that associated with severe weather elsewhere, some of the mechanisms documented for severe thunderstorm formation in the Great Plains were present in this case.