Strong storms lashed California with quarter-sized hail and more destructive flooding on Saturday — with a rare tornado warning in Fresno County.

Funnel clouds were spotted in the heart of California’s gold rush Saturday afternoon, and the weather service issued a tornado warning for the Sierra Nevada in the foothills, as severe thunderstorms, hail and strong winds blanketed the region.

A series of tornado warnings were briefly issued in Fresno County, nearly 100 miles south of Gold County. how California heavy rain continues.

Several people in the Fresno area posted photos of themselves holding quarter-sized hailstones, with a couple using the hashtag “What hail?!”.

Flash flood warnings were in effect late Saturday in Tuolumne County, with roads around Sonora and nearby communities flooded.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage from the hail or tornado threat Saturday.

Tornadoes do happen from time to time, but are still fairly rare in California, averaging about 11 per year.

There has never been a deadliest tornado in Golden State history. The last of them took place in November last year Reading.

This week’s storm was the state’s 10th atmospheric river of the winter, storms that brought massive amounts of rain and snow to the state and helped ease a three-year drought.

State reservoirs, which had dropped to surprisingly low levels, are now well above average for this time of year, prompting state officials to release water from dams to help with flood control and make room for more rain.

Across the state on Saturday, Californians battled torrential rains and rising atmospheric river levels.

In Monterey County on the Central Coast, more than 8,500 people were under evacuation orders and warnings Saturday, including about 1,700 residents – many of them Latino – from the unincorporated community of Pajara.

Officials said the breach in Pahara river dam is about 100 feet wide. Crews went door-to-door Friday afternoon to urge residents to stay out of the rain, but some remained and had to be pulled from floodwaters Saturday.

Several people in Fresno County have posted photos of themselves holding quarter-sized hailstones

Snow is blown by high winds as storm clouds pass, and snow continues to fall in the Sierra Nevada mountains as a result of an atmospheric downpour on Saturday

Both sides of Highway 99 are closed due to flooding in Earlimart, Tulare County

A view of the damaged road and Tule River along Highway 190 during heavy rain in Springville

More than 50 people were rescued during the night. One video showed a Guardsman helping the driver out of the car, which was waist-deep in water.

In Tulare County, the sheriff ordered residents living near the Tule River to evacuate, and people near Poso Creek in Kern County were under an evacuation advisory.

National Weather Service meteorologists issued flood warnings and advisories, asking motorists to stay off flooded roads.

In San Francisco, an 85-ft a eucalyptus fell on the Trocadero club building early Saturday morning. The 1892 clubhouse, a historic San Francisco landmark, was badly damaged, with part of the roof blown off and the interior flooded.

In recent weeks, Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared states of emergency in 34 counties, and the Biden administration approved a presidential disaster declaration for some on Friday morning, which will bring more federal aid.

In Tulare County, the sheriff ordered residents living near the Tule River to evacuate, and people near Poso Creek in Kern County were under an evacuation advisory

During a break in the rain, farm workers drain floodwaters from lettuce fields as the atmospheric river storm hits Salinas, California

Road washed out during heavy rain in Springville

A view of a landslide on Highway 190 during heavy rain in Springville

Vehicles are detoured on flooded Route 144 on both sides of Highway 99

President Biden spoke with Newsom on Saturday to pledge the federal government’s support for California’s emergency response, the White House said.

The atmospheric river, known as the “Pineapple Express” because it brought warm subtropical moisture across the Pacific Ocean from Hawaii, was melting the lower parts of a huge snowpack built up in the mountains of California.

Another atmospheric river is already in the forecast for the beginning of next week. State climatologist Michael Anderson said a third and possibly a fourth is forming over the Pacific Ocean.

Anderson said Friday that California appeared to be “on its way to a fourth year of drought” before the early winter series of storms.

“Now we are in a completely different state,” he added.

A thunderstorm and tornado watch has been issued for this cloud formation in northeastern Stanislaus County

The Tuolumne River in Modesto, California creeps to the edge of its banks and near a mobile home park

Highway 190 is closed due to landslides during heavy rain

A view of the Tule River as snow melts from the mountain during heavy rain in Springville

A thunderstorm and tornado watch has been issued for this cloud formation in northeastern Stanislaus County

The National Weather Service on Saturday predicted more rain and snow Monday through Wednesday, with significant flooding possible along the state’s central coast, the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys and the southern foothills of the Sierra Nevada through midweek.

Another heavy sleet is expected to fall in the Sierra and highlands by midweek, the weather service said.

Officials said about 32 inches of snow had fallen by Saturday morning at Mount Rose Ski Resort outside Reno, Nevada.