Just two days after one storm system produced heavy snow in the higher elevations of the Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin, a second storm came through on a track slightly south of the first one. This storm produced heavy snow down to the desert floor over much of the Mojave Desert.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS VEF wrote it up.
Just two days after one storm system produced heavy snow in the higher elevations of the Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin, a second storm came through on a track slightly south of the first one. This storm produced heavy snow down to the desert floor over much of the Mojave Desert. Snow was seen as low as 1500 feet.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
A measured 16 inches of snow fell 4 miles W of Joshua Tree.
A measured 11 inches of snow fell at Mountain Pass.
A measured 6.5 inches of snow fell at Barstow. State Highway 247 was closed for a time because snow plows could not keep up.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in California, December 2008
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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 141046, 141047, 141048.