A severe thunderstorm warning rolled across the Northern Sierra foothills early Friday, pelting the region with quarter-size hail and powerful gusts that forecasters warned could damage vehicles and property. Small mountain towns from Downieville and Alleghany through nearby foothill communities were put on alert as a tense line of storms pushed through.
The National Weather Service in Sacramento issued the warning Friday morning and reported the severe thunderstorm was located near Alleghany, about nine miles southwest of Downieville, moving north at roughly 25 mph with hail up to one inch and potential vehicle damage. The office listed the warning as in effect until 8:30 a.m. PDT and urged residents to move to an interior room on the lowest floor for protection, according to NWS Sacramento.
As reported by The Sacramento Bee, the alert specifically named Downieville, Alleghany, American House, La Porte, Pike, Little Grass Valley, Camptonville and Gibsonville as the communities most squarely in the storm’s path. The Bee noted that radar signatures showed the cell capable of producing damaging hail and advised residents to stay tuned for rolling updates from local agencies.
What the storm can do and why lightning matters
Beyond hail and strong winds, lightning is a major hazard with springtime convective storms. The National Weather Service notes that thunderstorms produce roughly 20 fatalities a year in the U.S., and lightning strikes the country about 25 million times annually. Those numbers underline how dangerous even short-lived cells can be and back up the advice to get inside at the first rumble of thunder. (National Weather Service.)
How to stay safe right now
Officials urged simple, time-tested precautions: get indoors and into an interior room on the lowest floor, avoid open vehicles, and steer clear of windows and tall isolated trees. The Sacramento Bee cited National Weather Service guidance to seek interior shelter, and local agencies reminded drivers that hail can make roads slick and sharply cut visibility. Keep phones charged, heed any emergency alerts, and wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder before heading back outside…