5/28/09 California Supercell

Last night, a severe thunderstorm in central California between Porterville and Visalia (north of Bakersfield) went supercell around 8pm. I monitored the lifecycle of this incredible storm with characteristics on GRL3 such as:

57k ft tops
2.25" hail
73 dbz (br2)
60 VIL
hook echo

NWS Hanford (KHNX) and local media reports out of the area confirmed hook echo and possible funnel cloud along highway 190. Following is from NWS Hanford (truncated):
-----
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA
959 PM PDT THU MAY 28 2009
... A THUNDERSTORM THAT BEGAN EAST OF PORTERVILLE BEFORE SUNSET HAS MANAGED TO STAY
TOGETHER AS IT MOVED NORTHWEST TOWARD VISALIA/HANFORD THIS EVENING. THIS THUNDERSTORM HAS PRODUCED NUMEROUS WIND DAMAGE (BLOWING DUST) AND SOME HAIL DAMAGE ALONG THIS PATH. DOPPLER RADAR PLAN AND PROFILE VIEW HAS SHOWN THIS TO BE A SUPER-CELL TYPE STORM WITH A HOOK ECHO OBSERVED BETWEEN TIPTON/LINDSAY AND PORTERVILLE. OBSERVERS (MEDIA REPORTS) REPORTED A POSSIBLE TORNADO OR FUNNEL CLOUD UNDER THE HOOK ECHO ALONG HIGHWAY 190. IN ADDITION TO THE HOOK ECHO...THIS EVENINGS STORMS HAVE PRODUCED REFLECTIVITY CORE VALUES AS HIGH AS 65-70 DBZ.......
-----

Many reports of large trees down from this storm as well.

Overall, a total of about 11 severe thunderstorm warnings were issued statewide since 1pm.

latest SPC 0600 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook expanded general risk and "see text" to include virtually all of California for Friday 5/29, and a 5% hail outline through the center of the state. Will be monitorig possible repeat of yesterday.