Heavy Snow, Owens Valley
- When
- February 23, 6:30 AM PST to 8:00 PM PST
- Where
- Owens Valley forecast zone
Heavy Snow and Heavy Rain in California, February 23, 1998
The last of the February storms pounded southern California with heavy snow in the mountains and heavy rain across the deserts. Aspendell, in the southern Sierra, saw a storm total of 19 inches of new snow in a little over 12 hours.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 2
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
What happened
The episode as NWS VEF wrote it up.
The last of the February storms pounded southern California with heavy snow in the mountains and heavy rain across the deserts. Aspendell, in the southern Sierra, saw a storm total of 19 inches of new snow in a little over 12 hours. Death Valley National Park was hit hard by heavy rains which caused a rock slide to block Highway 190 between Stovepipe Wells and Panamint springs. Also, several other roads were closed throughout the park due to minor flooding and standing water.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
1 heavy snow, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy Rain, Inyo
- When
- February 23, 8:00 AM PST to 6:00 PM PST
- Where
- Inyo County, Death Vly
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Coordinates
- 36.511, -117.411 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
What these are
- Heavy Snow
- Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
- Heavy Rain
- Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Flash Flooding and Flood in California, February 23 to 24, 1998
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in California, February 23 to 24, 1998
- Flood in California, February 23 to 25, 1998
- Flash Flooding and Coastal Flood in Massachusetts, February 23 to 25, 1998
- Damaging Wind in California, February 23, 1998
- Heavy Snow in Nevada, February 23 to 24, 1998
- Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, February 23, 1998
- Heavy Rain in New Jersey, February 23, 1998
- Winter Storm in New York, February 23 to 25, 1998
- Strong Wind and Heavy Rain in Rhode Island, February 23 to 25, 1998
- Coastal Flood and High Wind in New Jersey, February 23 to 24, 1998
- Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, February 23 to 24, 1998
More
Every storm in California in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in California, February 1998
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5634878, 5634879.