Alert archive / California / Winter Storm Warnings in 2012

Winter Storm Warning 9, NWS Las Vegas, NV

December 22, 2012Inyo County, California

NWS Las Vegas, NV issued this winter storm warning at Dec 22, 2012, 9:39 PM PST for Inyo County, California. It took effect at Dec 23, 2012, 10:00 AM PST. It was in force for 11 hr. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Dec 22, 2012, 9:39 PM PST (05:39 UTC)
In effect from
Dec 23, 2012, 10:00 AM PST
Expired
Dec 23, 2012, 9:19 PM PST
In force
11 hr
Issued by
NWS Las Vegas, NV

County Inyo County, CA

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Dec 23, 8:43 PM PSTSNOW 41 Wnw Aspendell, CAESTIMATED THAT 3.5 INCHES OF SNOW HAS FALLEN AT THE 8400 FOOT LEVEL SINCE 330 PM PST. TOTAL SNOW FOR THE DAY IS ESTIMATED TO BE 4 INCHES.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Las Vegas, NV (KVEF), launched 00:00Z, 5.7 hours before the alert went out and 168 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Las Vegas, NV at 00:00Z on 2012-12-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Las Vegas, NV at 00:00Z on 2012-12-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 297 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
2648 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
63 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
297 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
360 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

417 
WWUS45 KVEF 230539
WSWVEF

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
939 PM PST SAT DEC 22 2012

...A SECOND IN A SERIES OF STORMS WILL MOVE INTO THE SOUTHERN
SIERRA EARLY SUNDAY RESULTING IN LOCALLY HEAVY SNOW OVER THE
EASTERN SIERRA SLOPES SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT...

.THE SECOND STORM IN A SERIES WILL BEGIN TO MOVE INTO THE
SOUTHERN SIERRA EARLY SUNDAY BEFORE CROSSING OVER THE AREA SUNDAY
AFTERNOON AND NIGHT. LOCALLY HEAVY SNOWFALL AND GUSTY WINDS WILL
LIKELY ACCOMPANY THIS STORM AS IT MOVES ACROSS THE AREA. THE STORM
IS EXPECTED TO EXIT THE REGION BY LATE SUNDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY MONDAY.

CAZ519-231400-
/O.CAN.KVEF.WW.Y.0015.000000T0000Z-121223T0800Z/
/O.NEW.KVEF.WS.W.0009.121223T1800Z-121224T1200Z/
EASTERN SIERRA SLOPES-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ASPENDELL...WHITNEY PORTAL
939 PM PST SAT DEC 22 2012

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM SUNDAY TO 4 AM PST
MONDAY...
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAS VEGAS HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW...AND GUSTY WINDS...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM 10 AM SUNDAY TO 4 AM PST MONDAY FOR THE EASTERN SIERRA SLOPES.
THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

* TIMING: SNOW HAS TAPERED OFF THIS EVENING...BUT WILL INCREASE
  AGAIN EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. OCCASIONAL HEAVY SNOW IS THEN
  EXPECTED SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY NIGHT BEFORE
  TAPERING OFF ONCE AGAIN LATE SUNDAY NIGHT/EARLY MONDAY MORNING.

* SNOW LEVEL: AROUND 5000 FEET.

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 8 TO 12 INCHES ABOVE 7000 FEET...WITH
  18 INCHES OR MORE POSSIBLE ABOVE 9500 FEET.

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH OVER THE 
  RIDGETOPS.

* IMPACTS: TRAVEL WILL BECOME VERY DIFFICULT DUE TO SNOW AND
  BLOWING SNOW. TRAVELERS ALONG 168 SHOULD BE AWARE OF THESE
  POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS AS WELL AS RESIDENCES IN ASPENDELL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING.  ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY
SINCE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE
TRAVEL DANGEROUS. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA
FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN
EMERGENCY.

&&

$$
4 follow-up statements
612 
WWUS45 KVEF 231343
WSWVEF

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
543 AM PST SUN DEC 23 2012

...HEAVY SNOW ALONG THE EASTERN SIERRA SLOPES OF INYO COUNTY 
THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

.THE SECOND STORM IN A SERIES OF STORMS WILL MOVE INTO THE
SOUTHERN SIERRA LATE THIS MORNING BEFORE CROSSING OVER THE AREA
SUNDAY EVENING. HEAVY SNOW AND GUSTY WINDS WILL LIKELY ACCOMPANY
THIS STORM AS IT MOVES ACROSS THE AREA. THE STORM IS EXPECTED TO
EXIT THE REGION BY EARLY MONDAY.

CAZ519-232200-
/O.CON.KVEF.WS.W.0009.121223T1800Z-121224T1200Z/
EASTERN SIERRA SLOPES-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ASPENDELL...WHITNEY PORTAL
543 AM PST SUN DEC 23 2012

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING
TO 4 AM PST MONDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING
TO 4 AM PST MONDAY FOR THE EASTERN SIERRA SLOPES OF INYO COUNTY.

* TIMING: LIGHT SNOW WILL DEVELOP THIS MORNING...BE HEAVY AT TIMES
  FROM LATE MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING..BEFORE TAPERING OFF ONCE
  AGAIN EARLY MONDAY MORNING.

* SNOW LEVEL: AROUND 5000 FEET.

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 8 TO 12 INCHES ABOVE 7000 FEET...
  WITH 18 INCHES OR MORE POSSIBLE ABOVE 9500 FEET. 

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH OVER THE 
  RIDGETOPS.

* IMPACTS: TRAVEL WILL BECOME VERY DIFFICULT DUE TO SNOW AND 
  BLOWING SNOW. TRAVELERS ALONG 168 SHOULD BE AWARE OF THESE 
  POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS AS WELL AS RESIDENCES IN
  ASPENDELL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING.  ONLY TRAVEL IN AN
EMERGENCY SINCE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT
WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA
FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN
EMERGENCY.

&&

$$

PIERCE
922 
WWUS45 KVEF 231802
WSWVEF

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
1002 AM PST SUN DEC 23 2012

...HEAVY SNOW ALONG THE EASTERN SIERRA SLOPES OF INYO COUNTY THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

.THE SECOND STORM IN A SERIES OF STORMS WILL CROSS OVER THE SIERRA
THIS EVENING. HEAVY SNOW AND GUSTY WINDS WILL ACCOMPANY THIS
STORM BEFORE IT EXITS THE REGION BY EARLY MONDAY.

CAZ519-240000-
/O.CON.KVEF.WS.W.0009.000000T0000Z-121224T1200Z/
EASTERN SIERRA SLOPES-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ASPENDELL...WHITNEY PORTAL
1002 AM PST SUN DEC 23 2012

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM PST MONDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM PST MONDAY FOR
THE EASTERN SIERRA SLOPES OF INYO COUNTY.

* TIMING: SNOW WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES THROUGH THIS EVENING..BEFORE
  TAPERING OFF EARLY MONDAY MORNING.

* SNOW LEVEL: AROUND 5000 FEET.

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 8 TO 12 INCHES ABOVE 7000 FEET... 
  WITH 18 INCHES OR MORE POSSIBLE ABOVE 9500 FEET.

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH OVER THE 
  RIDGE TOPS.

* IMPACTS: SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL
  MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TRAVELERS ALONG STATE ROUTE 168 BETWEEN BISHOP AND ASPENDELL SHOULD
BE AWARE OF THESE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. IF YOU MUST
TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR
VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

&&

$$

JA
969 
WWUS45 KVEF 232347
WSWVEF

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
347 PM PST SUN DEC 23 2012

...HEAVY SNOW ALONG THE EASTERN SIERRA SLOPES OF INYO COUNTY
THROUGH EARLY MONDAY MORNING...

.THE SECOND STORM IN A SERIES OF STORMS WILL CROSS OVER THE
SIERRA THIS EVENING. HEAVY SNOW AND GUSTY WINDS WILL ACCOMPANY
THIS STORM BEFORE IT EXITS THE REGION BY EARLY MONDAY.

CAZ519-240630-
/O.CON.KVEF.WS.W.0009.000000T0000Z-121224T1200Z/
EASTERN SIERRA SLOPES-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ASPENDELL...WHITNEY PORTAL
347 PM PST SUN DEC 23 2012

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM PST MONDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM PST MONDAY
FOR THE EAST SLOPES OF THE SOUTHERN SIERRA.

* TIMING: SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN INTENSITY DURING THE
  EARLY EVENING THEN CONTINUE PAST MIDNIGHT BEFORE TAPERING OFF
  EARLY MONDAY MORNING. SNOWFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR
  CAN BE EXPECTED.

* SNOW LEVEL: AROUND 5000 FEET.

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 8 TO 12 INCHES ABOVE 7000 FEET... 
  WITH 18 INCHES OR MORE POSSIBLE ABOVE 9500 FEET.

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH OVER THE 
  RIDGE TOPS.

* IMPACTS: SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL 
  MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TRAVELERS ALONG STATE ROUTE 168 BETWEEN BISHOP AND ASPENDELL
SHOULD BE AWARE OF THESE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS
OVERNIGHT. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...
FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

&&

$$

JA
873 
WWUS45 KVEF 240519
WSWVEF

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
919 PM PST SUN DEC 23 2012

CAZ519-240630-
/O.CAN.KVEF.WS.W.0009.000000T0000Z-121224T1200Z/
EASTERN SIERRA SLOPES-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ASPENDELL...WHITNEY PORTAL
919 PM PST SUN DEC 23 2012

...WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAS VEGAS HAS CANCELLED THE
WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE EASTERN SIERRA SLOPES.

THE PACIFIC STORM WHICH MOVED INTO THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON WILL
CONTINUE TO BRING LIGHT SNOW TO THE AREA THROUGH MUCH OF THE NIGHT
BUT ADDITIONAL HEAVY ACCUMULATIONS ARE NO LONGER EXPECTED. THUS
THE WINTER STORM WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

HOWEVER...TRAVELERS IN THE EASTERN SIERRA...ESPECIALLY OVER HIGHWAY
168...ARE URGED TO USE CAUTION AS A SLICK AND OR SNOW COVERED
ROAD WILL LIKELY BE SEEN THROUGH THE NIGHT.

$$

Nearby

Winter Storm Warnings in California, 2012Every winter storm warning in 2012

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.