{"id":479057,"date":"2026-09-29T05:52:16","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T05:52:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/479057\/"},"modified":"2026-09-29T05:52:16","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T05:52:16","slug":"thunderstorms-with-pea-sized-hail-in-fresno-area-monday-winds-gusting-up-to-40-mph","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/479057\/","title":{"rendered":"Thunderstorms with pea-sized hail in Fresno area Monday – winds gusting up to 40 mph"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"unitedrobots<\/p>\n

The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom. Read more on our AI policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The NWS Hanford CA issued a weather alert at 2:36 p.m. on Monday for thunderstorms until 3 p.m. The alert is for Fresno-Tulare Foothills, Fresno-Tulare Lower Sierra and Kaiser to Rodgers Ridge.<\/p>\n

Be ready for pea-sized hail (0.25 inches) and wind gusts of up to 40 mph.<\/p>\n

“At 2:35 p.m., Doppler radar tracked a strong thunderstorm 30 miles north of Orange Cove, or 32 miles northeast of Clovis, moving southwest at 15 mph,” says the NWS. “Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.”<\/p>\n

The alert is for Fence Meadow.<\/p>\n

The NWS states, “This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.”<\/p>\n

This alert is in effect until 3 p.m.<\/p>\n

\"unitedrobots How to react when facing a lightning hazard? <\/p>\n

Lightning strikes the United States about 25 million times a year. Most of the strikes occur in the summer, killing 20 people each year, according to the NWS. Chance of lightning increases as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is overhead. It diminishes as the storm moves away.<\/p>\n

Here are recommendations for maintaining safety during a thunderstorm:<\/p>\n

To lower the risk of lightning strikes, when going outdoors, develop a plan to reach a safer spot.If the sky becomes threatening and thunder can be heard, find a safe place to shelter.Once inside, abstain from touching corded phones, electrical devices, plumbing, and windows and doors.Wait for 30 minutes after the last lightning or thunder before going back out.<\/p>\n

If finding indoor shelter is not an option:<\/p>\n

Stay away from open fields, hill summits, or ridge tops.Stay away from tall, isolated trees or other tall objects. If you are in a forest, stay near a lower stand of trees.When in a group, space out to prevent the current from transferring between individuals.If you are camping in an open area, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low area. Remember, a tent offers no protection from lighting.Maintain a safe distance from water, wet items, and metal objects. Water and metal do not attract lightning, yet they conduct electricity efficiently.What to do in the rain on the road? Switch on headlights – Even during daylight hours, using headlights can enhance visibility and signal your presence to other drivers.While driving – Stick to the middle lanes and stay on elevated ground. Rainwater tends to accumulate at the road edges.Avoid puddles – Driving into puddles or low rainwater areas can lead to vehicles hydroplaning or losing control.Don’t tail large vehicles closely – Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.Avoid flooded areas – When encountering a flooded road, do a U-turn and head back. The strong currents from flash floods can pull drivers off roadways. Driving through deep water can also negatively affect a vehicle’s mechanical and electrical systems.<\/p>\n

What is hydroplaning?<\/p>\n

Hydroplaning is the term for when a vehicle begins sliding uncontrollably on wet roads.<\/p>\n

This happens when water in front of the tire builds up faster than the vehicle’s weight can push water out of the way. The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control. Hydroplaning is primarily caused by three factors:<\/p>\n

Vehicle speed – When a vehicle’s speed increases, the tire-traction grip and ability to control the vehicle decreases. Drive at a reduced speed during wet weather.Water depth – The deeper the water, the sooner a vehicle loses traction on the road. It doesn’t matter how deep the water is, even a thin layer can lead to hydroplaning.Tire tread depth – Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.<\/p>\n

In the event of your vehicle hydroplaning, here’s what to know:<\/p>\n

Ease off the accelerator – Step off the gas to slow down the vehicle until the tires find traction.Turn into the skid – Turning into the skid can help the vehicle’s tires realign to regain control.Make sure the tires reconnect with the road – During the skid, wait until the tires reconnect with the road and then gently straighten the wheels to regain control.Brake gently as needed – Brake normally if the vehicle has anti-lock brakes and pump brakes gently if in an older vehicle.<\/p>\n

Source: The National Weather Service<\/p>\n

United Robots California<\/p>\n

This story was originally published September 28, 2026 at 2:39 PM.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":479058,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[112,114,113],"class_list":["post-479057","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-fresno","tag-fresno","tag-fresno-headlines","tag-fresno-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/479057","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=479057"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/479057\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/479058"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=479057"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=479057"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=479057"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}