A large 536 decameter upper-level low pressure center and a strong surface cold front brought periods of gusty winds, heavy rain, small hail, and mountain snow to much of California. 5 inches in the foothills.
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 SGX wrote it up.
A large 536 decameter upper-level low pressure center and a strong surface cold front brought periods of gusty winds, heavy rain, small hail, and mountain snow to much of California. Rainfall totals varied from around 0.6 inches near the coast and up to 2.5 inches in the foothills. Snowfall amounts of up to 18 inches were reported in the mountains, bringing the snow depth in Big Bear City to 45 inches. Heavy rain caused urban flooding, mainly on highways and in areas with poor drainage. At one point, the California Highway Patrol reported 7 inches of water in the lanes at the Interstate 5 and Interstate 8 interchange. Several highways in the mountains, including Interstate 15 through the Cajon Pass, were closed due to snow.
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 San Diego, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 15, 9:55 PM PST, 2 hours 5 minutes earlier.
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</html>The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 heavy snow, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A spotter in Wrightwood reported 12 to 18 inches of new snow between midnight and 1453 PST.
Other snowfall totals include 15 inches at Big Bear City and 9.5 inches at Lake Arrowhead.
A peak wind gust of 68 MPH was measured by the Burns Canyon RAWS at 0651 PST.
The Idyllwild COOP observer relayed a report of 12-18 inches of snow between 0630 PST and 1615 PST above Idyllwild in Fern Valley. Snow ended in the area around 1730 PST.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in California, February 2009
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: 153650, 153649, 153651.