Winter Weather, S Sierra Foothills
- When
- February 2, 8:00 PM PST to February 3, 10:00 AM PST
- Where
- S Sierra Foothills forecast zone
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
Winter Storm and Strong Wind in California, February 2 to 3, 2008
The unsettled weather from the last days of January continued into the first few days of February, as the next Pacific storm dropped out of the Gulf of Alaska and into California. 70 inch, except for the rain-shadowed west side of the San Joaquin Valley, where the Hanford airport had less than half an inch of rain, with lesser amounts further west of Hanford.
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- $3,000
- Events
- 7
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 HNX wrote it up.
The unsettled weather from the last days of January continued into the first few days of February, as the next Pacific storm dropped out of the Gulf of Alaska and into California. By the time the storm ended on the 3rd, Fresno’s three-day rain total was 0.67 inch, and stations from the Merced airport south through Bakersfield reported storm totals between 0.60-0.70 inch, except for the rain-shadowed west side of the San Joaquin Valley, where the Hanford airport had less than half an inch of rain, with lesser amounts further west of Hanford.
In the Southern Sierra Nevada, up to 18 inches of snow fell in the high country above 7000 feet. Up to one foot of snow fell in the Tehachapi Mountains of Kern County. The storm brought a push of cold air to the region, resulting in low snow levels. Measurable snow fell into the Sierra foothills below 3000 feet and below the Pass level in the Tehachapi Mountains. The storm also brought gusty winds to the region. Gusts to 45 mph were recorded in the central San Joaquin Valley during the afternoon and night of February 2nd, and gusts near 60 mph hit the Indian Wells Valley of the Mojave Desert on the 3rd.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Hanford, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 2, 3:03 PM PST, 4 hours 57 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Feb 2, 3:03 PM PST, 4 hours 57 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA 303 PM PST SAT FEB 2 2008 .DISCUSSION...SATELLITE AND REGIONAL DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED MOST OF CURRENT STORM PRECIP OVER NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. WHILE SOME SHOWERS HAVE REACHING THE DISTRICT...THE BULK OF THE PRECIP IS STILL TIMED FOR THIS EVENING. THEREFORE...WILL KEEP THE TIMING OF HAVE THE WINTER STORM WARNING START AFTER 600 PM PST AND CONTINUE THROUGH OUT THE NIGHT. SATELLITE IMAGERY ALSO SHOWED GOOD CLOUD TOP ENHANCEMENTS ON THE LEFT FRONT QUAD OF THE +110KT JET MAX NOW APPROACHING THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. WILL EXPECT GOOD DYNAMICS TO ENTER THE REGION AS THE JET DIVES EVER CLOSER TO THE DISTRICT ALONG WITH A STRONG VORT LOBE EXPECTED TO ENTER THE DISTRICT EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. TOTAL PRECIP WATER FROM AMSU SHOWED VALUES OF 0.75 INCHES PUSHING INTO THE REGION WITH AN AREA OF +1.0 INCH MOVES CLOSER TO CALIFORNIA. TIMING OF THE HEAVIEST PRECIP WILL BE NEAR AND AFTER MIDNIGHT AND ALONG THE COLD FRONT PUSHING INTO CENTRAL CALIFORNIA EARLY SUNDAY. BASED ON THE LATEST RFC NUMBERS...HAVE GOOD CONSENSUS ON MAINTAINING THE WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE SIERRA NEVADA RANGE AND THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS. FURTHERMORE...WITH THE PRECIP EXPECTED OVERNIGHT... MODELS ARE STILL PROGGING AN UNSTABLE AIRMASS SUNDAY MORNING. WHILE THE INSTABILITY REMAINS VERY WEAK...MAY SEE VERY HEAVY SHOWERS EARLY SUNDAY...ESPECIALLY DURING FRONTAL PASSAGE. THEREFORE...WHILE THE FORECAST WILL NOT MENTION THUNDERSTORMS...THE POTENTIAL FOR THUNDERSTORMS MAY EXIST SUNDAY MORNING DURING THE TIME OF COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE. AS FOR THE WINDS...WILL KEEP THE WIND ADVISORY GOING FOR THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AS A TIGHTENING SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT MAY ALLOW FOR VERY WINDY CONDITIONS ON SUNDAY. BOTH SURFACE AND JET MAX SUPPORT MAY ALSO ALLOW THE WINDS OVER THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS TO BLOW ON SUNDAY AND POSSIBLY REACH WARNING CRITERIA. WILL MAINTAIN THE ADVISORY FOR NOW AND MONITOR THE SITUATION FOR THE POTENTIAL OF STRONG WINDS OVER KERN COUNTY AS A +110KT JET MAX DIVES INTO CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ON SUNDAY. BY MONDAY...MODELS BEGIN INTRODUCING A RIDGE OVER THE WEST COAST FOR THE TERMINATION OF PRECIP...EXCEPT FOR LINGERING AREAS NEAR THE GRAPEVINE. YET...THE TREND IS FOR DRY CONDITIONS THROUGH MID WEEK WITH THE RETURN OF FOG OVER THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY. && .AVIATION...VFR/MVFR CONDITIONS CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INTERIOR THROUGH 00Z MONDAY. RAIN AND SNOW WILL BEGIN EARLY THIS EVENING AND BECOME HEAVY EARLY SUNDAY MORNING... PRODUCING LOCAL IFR CONDITIONS ALONG WITH MOUNTAIN OBSCURATION. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES...NONE && .HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...WIND ADVISORY FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO MIDNIGHT PST SUNDAY NIGHT FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY ALONG WITH THE KERN COUNTY DESERTS /CAZ0089>092-098-099/. SNOW ADVISORY FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO MIDNIGHT PST SUNDAY NIGHT FOR THE SIERRA NEVADA FOOTHILLS /CAZ093-094/. WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO MIDNIGHT PST SUNDAY NIGHT FOR THE SIERRA NEVADA AND KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS /CAZ095>097/. && PUBLIC...MOLINA AVN/FW...BINGHAM WEATHER.GOV/HANFORD
Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 2, 4:07 AM PST, 15 hours 53 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA 407 AM PST SAT FEB 2 2008 CAZ095>097-031200- KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS-SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON- TULARE COUNTY MOUNTAINS- 407 AM PST SAT FEB 2 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS AND THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO MIDNIGHT PST SUNDAY NIGHT FOR THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA AND THE TEHACHAPI MOUNTAINS. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST /WWUS46 KHNX/ OR /SFOWSWHNX/ FOR FURTHER DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT PST SUNDAY NIGHT FOR THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA AND THE TEHACHAPI MOUNTAINS. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST /WWUS46 KHNX/ OR /SFOWSWHNX/ FOR FURTHER DETAILS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS TO THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE. WEATHER.GOV/HANFORD CAZ089>092-098-099-031200- WEST CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-EAST CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY- SOUTHWESTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-SOUTHEASTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY- INDIAN WELLS VALLEY-SOUTHEASTERN KERN COUNTY DESERT- 407 AM PST SAT FEB 2 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AS WELL AS THE KERN COUNTY DESERTS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM PST SUNDAY FOR THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AND KERN COUNTY DESERTS. PLEASE PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST /WWUS76 KHNX/ OR /SFONPWHNX/ FOR FURTHER DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM PST SUNDAY FOR THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AND KERN COUNTY DESERTS. PLEASE PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST /WWUS76 KHNX/ OR /SFONPWHNX/ FOR FURTHER DETAILS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS TO THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE. WEATHER.GOV/HANFORD
Event by event
3 strong wind, 3 winter storm, 1 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Strong Wind, E Central S.J. Valley
- When
- February 2, 9:00 PM PST to February 3, 2:00 AM PST
- Where
- E Central S.J. Valley forecast zone
- Measured
- 39 kt (45 mph) measured gust
- Crop damage
- $1,000
- Reported by
- Mesonet
Strong Wind, W Central S.J. Valley
- When
- February 2, 9:35 PM PST to February 3, 2:00 AM PST
- Where
- W Central S.J. Valley forecast zone
- Measured
- 33 kt (38 mph) measured gust
- Crop damage
- $1,000
- Reported by
- Mesonet
Winter Storm, S Sierra Mtns
- When
- February 3, 12:00 AM PST to 3:01 PM PST
- Where
- S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
Winter Storm, Tulare Cty Mtns
- When
- February 3, 12:00 AM PST to 3:01 PM PST
- Where
- Tulare Cty Mtns forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
Strong Wind, Indian Wells Vly
- When
- February 3, 3:11 AM PST to 9:27 PM PST
- Where
- Indian Wells Vly forecast zone
- Measured
- 49 kt (56 mph) measured gust
- Crop damage
- $1,000
- Reported by
- Mesonet
Winter Storm, Kern Cty Mtns
- When
- February 3, 4:00 AM PST to 3:01 PM PST
- Where
- Kern Cty Mtns forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
What these are
- Winter Weather
- Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
- Strong Wind
- Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.
- Winter Storm
- A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Utah, February 2 to 4, 2008
- Winter Storm in Nevada, February 2 to 3, 2008
- Heavy Snow in California, February 2 to 4, 2008
- Winter Storm in California, February 2 to 3, 2008
- Heavy Snow in Alaska, February 2 to 4, 2008
- Heavy Snow in Oregon, February 2 to 3, 2008
- Heavy Snow in Idaho, February 2 to 3, 2008
- Heavy Snow and High Wind in California, February 2 to 3, 2008
- Heavy Snow and High Wind in Nevada, February 2 to 3, 2008
- Blizzard and High Wind in Alaska, February 2 to 3, 2008
- Heavy Snow in Washington, February 2 to 3, 2008
- Heavy Snow in Oregon, February 2 to 3, 2008
More
Every storm in California in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in California, February 2008
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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 84859, 84857, 84856, 84854, 84855, 84858, 84830.