Alert archive / California / Winter Storm Warnings in 2016

Winter Storm Warning 3, NWS San Diego, CA

March 6, 2016Riverside County, San Bernardino County, San Diego County, California

NWS San Diego, CA issued this winter storm warning at Mar 6, 2016, 12:58 PM PST for Riverside County, San Bernardino County, San Diego County, California. It took effect at Mar 7, 2016, 8:00 AM PST. It was in force for 17 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Mar 6, 2016, 12:58 PM PST (20:58 UTC)
In effect from
Mar 7, 2016, 8:00 AM PST
Expired
Mar 8, 2016, 1:20 AM PST
In force
17 hr
Issued by
NWS San Diego, CA

Counties Riverside County, CA, San Bernardino County, CA, San Diego County, CA

The radar

The Santa Ana Mts radar (KSOX), 122 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:58 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

San Diego, CA (KNKX), launched 12:00Z, 9.0 hours before the alert went out and 145 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, San Diego, CA at 12:00Z on 2016-03-06Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 14 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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, San Diego, CA at 12:00Z on 2016-03-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 71 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
14 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
527 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
60 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
71 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
183 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

369 
WWUS46 KSGX 062058
WSWSGX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
1258 PM PST SUN MAR 6 2016

...HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS AND STRONG WINDS EXPECTED IN THE MOUNTAINS
OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ON MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT...

.A STORM SYSTEM WILL DEVELOP OVER SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA ON MONDAY
BRINGING MUCH COLDER AIR AND HEAVY SNOWFALL IN THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE
5000 FEET. STRONG WESTERLY WINDS WILL ACCOMPANY THE SNOWFALL...
RESULTING IN BLOWING SNOW AND REDUCED VISIBILITY AT TIMES. THE
SNOW SHOWERS WILL BEGIN ON MONDAY MORNING AND END LATE MONDAY
NIGHT.

CAZ055-056-058-070600-
/O.NEW.KSGX.WS.W.0003.160307T1600Z-160308T1100Z/
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...BIG BEAR CITY...
BIG BEAR LAKE...LAKE ARROWHEAD...RUNNING SPRINGS...WRIGHTWOOD
1258 PM PST SUN MAR 6 2016

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM MONDAY TO 3 AM PST
TUESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SAN DIEGO HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM MONDAY TO 3 AM PST
TUESDAY. 

* SNOW LEVELS...STARTING AROUND 5000 FEET ON MONDAY MORNING...
  FALLING TO 4500 TO 5000 FEET BY LATE AFTERNOON AND 4000 TO 4500
  FEET MONDAY EVENING.

* TIMING...SNOW BEGINNING AFTER SUNRISE ON MONDAY AND CONTINUING
  OFF AND ON THROUGH LATE MONDAY NIGHT.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...HIGHLY VARIABLE...BUT GENERALLY 4 TO 8
  INCHES NEAR AND ABOVE 5000 FEET WITH AMOUNTS OF 10 INCHES OR
  MORE ON THE HIGHER PEAKS OF THE SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS. ONE
  TO THREE INCHES OF SNOW ARE POSSIBLE AS LOW AS 4500 FEET.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST TO WEST 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH.
  STRONGER WEST WINDS WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH ARE LIKELY OVER THE SAN
  DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS LATE MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

* VISIBILITY...LOCALLY REDUCED IN FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW...AND
  FOG.

* IMPACTS...CHAIN CONTROL IS LIKELY IN THE MOUNTAINS. TRAVEL WILL
  BECOME HAZARDOUS IN SOME AREAS OF THE MOUNTAINS DUE TO ICE AND
  SNOW PACKED ROADS AND LOW VISIBILITY AT TIMES.

* OUTLOOK...THE SNOW SHOWERS WILL WIND DOWN LATE MONDAY NIGHT AND
  END BY TUESDAY MORNING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

JAD
5 follow-up statements
394 
WWUS46 KSGX 070502
WSWSGX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
902 PM PST SUN MAR 6 2016

...HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS AND STRONG WINDS EXPECTED IN THE MOUNTAINS
OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ON MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT...

.A STORM SYSTEM WILL DEVELOP OVER SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA ON MONDAY
BRINGING MUCH COLDER AIR AND PERIODS OF HEAVY SNOWFALL IN THE
MOUNTAINS ABOVE 5000 FEET. STRONG WESTERLY WINDS WILL ACCOMPANY
THE SNOWFALL... RESULTING IN BLOWING SNOW AND REDUCED VISIBILITY
AT TIMES. THE SNOW SHOWERS WILL BEGIN ON MONDAY MORNING AND END
LATE MONDAY NIGHT.

CAZ055-056-058-071400-
/O.CON.KSGX.WS.W.0003.160307T1600Z-160308T1100Z/
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...BIG BEAR CITY...
BIG BEAR LAKE...LAKE ARROWHEAD...RUNNING SPRINGS...WRIGHTWOOD
902 PM PST SUN MAR 6 2016

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM MONDAY TO
3 AM PST TUESDAY...

* SNOW LEVELS...STARTING AROUND 5500 FEET ON MONDAY MORNING...FALLING
  TO 4500 TO 5000 FEET BY LATE AFTERNOON AND 4000 TO 4500 FEET
  MONDAY EVENING.

* TIMING...SNOW BEGINNING AFTER SUNRISE ON MONDAY AND CONTINUING 
  OFF AND ON THROUGH LATE MONDAY NIGHT. 

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...HIGHLY VARIABLE...BUT GENERALLY 4 TO 8 
  INCHES NEAR AND ABOVE 5000 FEET WITH AMOUNTS OF 10 INCHES OR 
  MORE ON THE HIGHER PEAKS OF THE SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS. ONE 
  TO THREE INCHES OF SNOW ARE POSSIBLE AS LOW AS 4500 FEET. 

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST TO WEST 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH. 
  STRONGER WEST WINDS WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH ARE LIKELY OVER THE 
  SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS LATE MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. 

* VISIBILITY...LOCALLY REDUCED IN FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW...AND 
  FOG. 

* IMPACTS...CHAIN CONTROL IS LIKELY IN THE MOUNTAINS. TRAVEL 
  WILL BECOME HAZARDOUS IN SOME AREAS OF THE MOUNTAINS DUE TO 
  ICE AND SNOW PACKED ROADS AND LOW VISIBILITY AT TIMES. 

* OUTLOOK...THE SNOW SHOWERS WILL WIND DOWN LATE MONDAY NIGHT 
  AND END BY TUESDAY MORNING. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$
165 
WWUS46 KSGX 071026
WSWSGX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
226 AM PST MON MAR 7 2016

...HEAVY SNOWFALL AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS FOR THE MOUNTAINS INTO
TONIGHT...

.A COLD PACIFIC STORM FROM THE NORTHWEST WILL MOVE ACROSS SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA TODAY AND INTO BAJA TONIGHT. NUMEROUS SNOW SHOWERS WILL
DEVELOP TODAY AND CONTINUE INTO EARLY EVENING...DECREASING TONIGHT
INTO EARLY TUESDAY. THERE IS ALSO A SLIGHT CHANCE OF
THUNDERSTORMS. STRONG GUSTY WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL CAUSE
BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW WITH LOW VISIBILITIES.

CAZ055-056-058-072230-
/O.CON.KSGX.WS.W.0003.160307T1600Z-160308T1100Z/
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...BIG BEAR CITY...
BIG BEAR LAKE...LAKE ARROWHEAD...RUNNING SPRINGS...WRIGHTWOOD
226 AM PST MON MAR 7 2016

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM THIS MORNING
TO 3 AM PST TUESDAY...

* SNOW LEVELS...AROUND 5500 FEET EARLY THIS MORNING...LOWERING TO
  AROUND 4500 FEET TODAY...AND 4000 FEET TONIGHT.

* TIMING...NUMEROUS SNOW SHOWERS DEVELOPING DURING THE MORNING
  CONTINUING THROUGH THE AFTERNOON...DECREASING TONIGHT INTO EARLY
  TUESDAY. THERE IS ALSO A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TODAY.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 8 TO 14 INCHES
  ABOVE 5500 FEET WITH LOCALLY 12 TO 18 INCHES ABOVE 7000 FEET. A
  FEW INCHES OF SNOWFALL IS POSSIBLE DOWN TO AROUND 4500 FEET. 

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST TO WEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50
  MPH....BECOMING WEST TO NORTHWEST FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND
  EVENING.

* VISIBILITY...REDUCED TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES IN HEAVY SNOW...
  BLOWING SNOW...AND FOG.

* IMPACTS...RESIDENTS AND TRAVELERS INTO THE MOUNTAINS SHOULD BE
  PREPARED FOR HAZARDOUS WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS AND POSSIBLE
  ROAD CLOSURES. IF POSSIBLE...CARRY CHAINS AND TAKE EXTRA FOOD
  AND CLOTHING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

FOR A DETAILED MAP OF THE HAZARD:
WWW.WRH.NOAA.GOV/WRH/WHV/?WFO=SGX

17
506 
WWUS46 KSGX 072213
WSWSGX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
213 PM PST MON MAR 7 2016

...HEAVY SNOWFALL AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS FOR THE MOUNTAINS INTO
TONIGHT...

.SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THROUGH THIS EVENING...
DECREASING TONIGHT INTO EARLY TUESDAY. STRONG GUSTY WEST TO
NORTHWEST WINDS WILL CAUSE BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW WITH LOW
VISIBILITIES. CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE BY EARLY TUESDAY MORNING.

CAZ055-056-058-080600-
/O.CON.KSGX.WS.W.0003.000000T0000Z-160308T1100Z/
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...BIG BEAR CITY...
BIG BEAR LAKE...LAKE ARROWHEAD...RUNNING SPRINGS...WRIGHTWOOD
213 PM PST MON MAR 7 2016

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM PST
TUESDAY...

* SNOW LEVELS...AROUND 4500 FEET THIS AFTERNOON...AND AS LOW AS
  3500 FEET TONIGHT.

* TIMING...SCATTERED SHOWERS THIS AFTERNOON...BECOMING MORE
  ISOLATED THIS EVENING.

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...1 TO 3 INCHES 3500 TO 4500 FT...3 TO
  6 INCHES 4500 TO 6000 FT...6 TO 10 INCHES...LOCAL AMOUNTS TO 12
  INCHES ABOVE 6000 FT.

* WINDS...WEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH.

* VISIBILITY...REDUCED TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES IN HEAVY SNOW... 
  BLOWING SNOW...AND FOG. 

* IMPACTS...RESIDENTS AND TRAVELERS INTO THE MOUNTAINS SHOULD BE 
  PREPARED FOR HAZARDOUS WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS AND POSSIBLE 
  ROAD CLOSURES. IF POSSIBLE...CARRY CHAINS AND TAKE EXTRA FOOD 
  AND CLOTHING. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

JJT
142 
WWUS46 KSGX 080411
WSWSGX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
811 PM PST MON MAR 7 2016

...SNOW SHOWERS SHIFTING SLOWLY SOUTH THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

.SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OVERNIGHT WITH THE EMPHASIS
SHIFTING TO THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS. THE GUSTY WESTERLY
WINDS WILL BEGIN TO WEAKEN AFTER MIDNIGHT AND SHIFT TO THE
NORTH...BECOMING STRONG AND GUSTY OVER THE RIDGES AND ALONG THE
COASTAL SLOPES OF THE SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS.
THE SNOW WILL END BY SUNUP ON TUESDAY.

CAZ055-056-058-081100-
/O.CON.KSGX.WS.W.0003.000000T0000Z-160308T1100Z/
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...BIG BEAR CITY...
BIG BEAR LAKE...LAKE ARROWHEAD...RUNNING SPRINGS...WRIGHTWOOD
811 PM PST MON MAR 7 2016

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM PST
TUESDAY...

* SNOW LEVELS...NEAR 4000 FEET AND LOCALLY LOWER IN THE HEAVIER
  SHOWERS.

* TIMING...DECREASING THIS EVENING OVER THE SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
  MOUNTAINS...BUT CONTINUING THROUGH LATE TONIGHT IN SAN DIEGO
  COUNTY.

* ADDITIONAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS...1 TO 3 INCHES ABOVE 3500
  FEET...MAINLY SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

* WINDS...WEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH THIS EVENING IN
  SAN DIEGO COUNTY...BECOMING NORTH 10 TO 15 MPH AFTER MIDNIGHT.
  FOR THE NORTHERN MOUNTAIN AREAS...WEST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH THIS
  EVENING...BECOMING NORTH AND INCREASING TO 20 TO 30 MPH AFTER
  MIDNIGHT.

* VISIBILITY...LOCALLY REDUCED IN THE HEAVIER SNOW SHOWERS AND
  FOG.

* IMPACTS...RESIDENTS AND TRAVELERS INTO THE MOUNTAINS SHOULD BE
  PREPARED FOR HAZARDOUS WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS. IF
  POSSIBLE...CARRY CHAINS AND TAKE EXTRA FOOD AND CLOTHING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

JAD
758 
WWUS46 KSGX 080920
WSWSGX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
120 AM PST TUE MAR 8 2016

...THE WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE 5500 FEET HAS
BEEN CANCELLED...

.A COLD LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IS CENTERED OVER NORTHWEST MEXICO AND
IS CONTINUING TO MOVE TO THE EAST. SNOW SHOWERS OVER THE MOUNTAINS
HAVE MOSTLY ENDED WITH A FEW FLURRIES POSSIBLE THE NEXT FEW HOURS.

CAZ055-056-058-081030-
/O.CAN.KSGX.WS.W.0003.000000T0000Z-160308T1100Z/
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
120 AM PST TUE MAR 8 2016

...WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SAN DIEGO HAS CANCELLED THE
WINTER STORM WARNING. 

SNOW SHOWERS HAVE MOSTLY ENDED WITH A FEW FLURRIES POSSIBLE THE
NEXT FEW HOURS.

$$

17

The office that day

Everything else NWS San Diego, CA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 5, 8:19 PM PSTCoastal Flood AdvisorySGXOrange, San Diego64 hr
Mar 5, 8:19 PM PSTHigh Surf WarningSGXOrange, San Diego53 hr
Mar 6, 2:10 PM PSTGale WatchSGX12 hr

Nearby

Winter Storm Warnings in California, 2016Every winter storm warning in 2016

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.