Tornado in California, February 25, 2011

Name: Tornado in California, February 25, 2011
Start: 2011-02-25T15:00
End: 2011-02-25T15:04
Location: California

February 25, 2011 · NWS STO · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A tornado touched down near Mather Industrial Park in Sacramento County.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
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Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $18,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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 STO wrote it up.

A tornado touched down near Mather Industrial Park in Sacramento County.

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 Sacramento, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 25, 9:50 AM PST, 5 hours 10 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 25, 9:50 AM PST, 5 hours 10 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
950 AM PST FRI FEB 25 2011

.MID MORNING UPDATE...
A GOOD MIX OF WINTER WEATHER ACROSS THE CWA THIS MORNING AND THE
FORECAST PACKAGE IS ON TRACK.  WINDS KICKED UP ENOUGH THIS MORNING
TO RESULT IN A WIND ADVISORY ISSUED FOR PARTS OF THE SACRAMENTO
VALLEY AND FOR THE NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY.  WINDS SHOULD
SUBSIDE QUICKLY FOLLOWING THE FRONTAL PASSAGE SO EAST SIDE OF THE
REGION WILL KEEP THE ELEVATED AND GUSTY WINDS LONGER THAN THE OTHER
PPARTS OF THE ZONES.

SNOW HAS BEEN REPORTED DOWN INTO THE FOOTHILLS EVEN WITH THE STRONG
SOUTHERLY WINDS WHICH BODES WELL FOR A VALLEY FLOOR SNOW EVENT
OVERNIGHT TONIGHT.  DEEP SNOWFALLS AROUND THE AREA HAVE LED TO MANY
POWER OUTAGES AND THIS SHOULD CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY AND OVERNIGHT.

EXPECT THE HARD FREEZE WATCH TO BE UPGRADED TO A WARNING WITH THE
AFTERNOON PACKAGE.

.SHORT TERM DISCUSSION (TODAY THROUGH MONDAY)...
THE LOW CENTER IS CURRENTLY NEAR 130W ABOUT 300 MILES WEST OF EUREKA
AND MOVING SOUTH AT 25 MPH.  A VORT MAX IS SPINNING AROUND THIS LOW
AND NOW NEAR THE NRN CAL COAST.  THIS HAS ENHANCED CLOUDS AND
GENERATED MORE WIDESPREAD PRECIP WITH MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW FALL IN
THE SIERRA CASCADES DUE TO OROGRAPHIC EFFECTS.  WE RECEIVED INPUT
FROM A SPOTTER NEAR HAT CREEK IN EASTERN SHASTA COUNTY (NOT FAR FROM
OLD STATION) THAT RECEIVED 11 INCHES OF HEAVY, WEST SNOW IN 10 HOURS
BEGINNING AT 6 PM LAST NIGHT.  WE HAD ANOTHER SPOTTER JUST RECENTLY
REPORT 15 INCHES OF SNOW IN 12 HRS NEAR GRASS VALLEY.  WE THANK OUR
SPOTTERS, AS YOU ARE VALUABLE ASSETS, ESPECIALLY IN DATA SPARSE
REGIONS.  IN LIGHT OF THIS, WE UPGRADED THE WINTER ADVISORY TO A
WINTER STORM WARNING FOR EASTERN SHASTA COUNTY AND THE BURNEY
BASIN.  TRAVELING MAY BE DIFFICULT AS THE SNOW IS RATHER HEAVY AND
WET...AND ACCORDING TO SPOTTER REPORTS AND THE CA HIGHWAY PATROL
WEBPAGE, MANY TREE LIMBS ARE DOWN WITH SOME POWER OUTAGES.

DUE TO THE RELATIVELY WARM AIR ADVECTION AHEAD OF THE FRONT, SNOW
LEVELS ARE STILL NEAR 2000 FEET THIS MORNING.  AS A RESULT, WE
CANCELLED THE SNOW ADVISORY FOR THE NRN SAC VALLEY.  IT IS POSSIBLE
THAT THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF REDDING COULD SEE SOME LIGHT SNOW
TONIGHT WITH THE COLD AIR, BUT THE SHOWERY PRECIP WILL BE RAPIDLY
SCALING BACK IN COVERAGE.  THE MOSAIC RADAR IMAGERY SHOWS THE
ENHANCE CU SHOWERS IN THE MORE COLD, UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE ARE MAKING
THEIR WAY TO THE COAST NOW.  THEREFORE WE DON'T EXPECT THE SNOW
LEVELS TO DROP UNTIL MID MORN (8-9 AM) UP NORTH AND AND NOT UNTIL
LATER THIS AFTN FARTHER SOUTH.  OTHER PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL VALLEY
COULD SEE SOME FLURRIES TONIGHT.

BEHIND THE CURRENT COLD WEATHER SYSTEM TEMPERATURES FOR MOST
LOCATIONS WILL DROP BELOW FREEZING BOTH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY MORNINGS
WITH RECORD AND NEAR RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES EXPECTED.
A HARD FREEZE WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER THE NORTH END OF THE SACRAMENTO
VALLEY AND FOOTHILLS BOTH MORNINGS WHILE A HARD FREEZE WILL BE
POSSIBLE FOR A NUMBER OF LOCATIONS OVER THE SOUTHERN SACRAMENTO AND
NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEYS AND DELTA ON SUNDAY.   JCLAPP

.EXTENDED DISCUSSION (TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY)...
PRETTY GOOD MODEL AGREEMENT THROUGH THE EXTENDED PERIOD...LENDING
CONFIDENCE TO THE FORECAST. NEARLY ZONAL FLOW ALOFT IS EXPECTED ON
TUESDAY ACROSS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. WITH A WEAK SHORTWAVE MOVING
THROUGH THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TUE...WOULDNT BE SURPRISED TO SEE A
FEW LIGHT SHOWERS ACROSS THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS BUT BY AND LARGE THE
AREA WILL BE DRY. THIS WILL CHANGE BY TUESDAY NIGHT AS A SERIES OF
FRONTAL SYSTEMS MOVE THROUGH THE AREA. THESE SYSTEMS WILL TAP INTO
MORE SUBTROPICAL MOISTURE THAN THE CURRENT SYSTEM. THIS WILL LIKELY
MEAN HIGHER SNOW LEVELS...PERHAPS ON THE ORDER OF 4500-6000 FEET.
DRYING IS EXPECTED BY FRIDAY AS THE EASTERN PACIFIC RIDGE BEGINS TO
AMPLIFY ALONG THE WEST COAST. DANG

&&

.AVIATION...
A STORM SYSTEM IS MOVING NORTH TO SOUTH ACROSS INTERIOR NORCAL
TODAY. FOR THE VALLEY...GENERALLY VFR/MVFR CONDITIONS THE NEXT 24
HOURS. THE MOUNTAINS WILL SEE WIDESPREAD IFR/LIFR CONDITIONS.
PRECIPITATION WILL DECREASE IN COVERAGE AFTER 21Z...THOUGH ISOLATED
SHOWERS MAY LINGER TONIGHT. FREEZING LEVELS WILL LOWER TO NEAR
CENTRAL VALLEY LEVEL THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. SOUTH WINDS 10-20
KT WITH LOCAL GUSTS TO 30 KT WILL WEAKEN AND BECOME LIGHT NORTHERLY
THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

&&

.STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM THROUGH 4 AM PST SATURDAY ABOVE 2000 FEET
FOR THE NORTHEAST FOOTHILLS/SACRAMENTO VALLEY...MOTHERLODE...WEST
SLOPE NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA...WESTERN PLUMAS COUNTY/LASSEN PARK.

WINTER STORM WARNING THROUGH 4 PM PST TODAY FOR BURNEY BASIN /
EASTERN SHASTA COUNTY.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM THROUGH 4 AM PST SATURDAY FROM 1000
FEET TO 2000 FEET NORTHEAST FOOTHILLS/SACRAMENTO VALLEY.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM FROM 9 AM TODAY TO 4 AM PST SATURDAY
FROM 1000 FEET TO 2000 FEET FOR THE MOTHERLODE.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM THROUGH 4 PM PST TODAY FOR CLEAR
LAKE/SOUTHERN LAKE COUNTY...MOUNTAINS SOUTHWESTERN SHASTA COUNTY TO
NORTHERN LAKE COUNTY...SHASTA LAKE AREA / NORTHERN SHASTA COUNTY.

HARD FREEZE WATCH FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THOUGH SUNDAY MORNING FOR
ALL AREAS BELOW 2000 FEET.

WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 1 PM PST TODAY FOR THE SOUTHERN SACRAMENTO
VALLEY AND FOR THE NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY.

&&

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 25, 9:15 AM PST, 5 hours 45 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
915 AM PST FRI FEB 25 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0852 AM     SNOW             5 WNW DANA              41.14N 121.64W
02/25/2011  E12.00           SHASTA             CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            12" NEW SNOW- STORM TOTAL

0848 AM     SNOW             PACIFIC HOUSE
02/25/2011  E7.80            EL DORADO          CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            7.8" NEW SNOW (24 HOUR). 22" SNOW ON GROUND. 0.81" PRECIP
            (24 HR TOTAL). TEMPS 39/32/34.
            3450 FEET ELEVATION.

0844 AM     SNOW
02/25/2011  E8.00            ALPINE             CA   COUNTY OFFICIAL

            7-8" SNOW ON GROUND AT 2200 FEET SINCE IT BEGAN AT
            1:30AM. CURRENTLY SNOWING BELOW 1500 FEET.
            COUNTY OFFICIAL OBSERVATION.

0810 AM     SNOW             8 NW MIDDLETOWN         38.84N 122.72W
02/25/2011  E10.00           LAKE               CA   PUBLIC

            24 INCHES ON GROUND.
            2870 FEET ELEVATION.

0807 AM     SNOW             2 NE PARADISE           39.77N 121.58W
02/25/2011  E6.00            BUTTE              CA   PUBLIC

            2000 FEET ELEVATION. SNOW STARTED TO ACCUMUATE AFTER 10
            PM YESTERDAY.

0752 AM     SNOW             10 NNE GRASS VALLEY     39.37N 121.01W
02/25/2011  E12.00           NEVADA             CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SNOWING FAIRLY HEAVY. 10" OVER NIGHT, STORM TOTAL 12"
            SNOW. NO SIGNIFICANT WIND.

0700 AM     SNOW             SHINGLETOWN
02/25/2011  E14.50           SHASTA             CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            12.5 INCHES IN PAST 12 HRS.

0652 AM     SNOW             9 E PLACERVILLE         38.72N 120.64W
02/25/2011  E12.00           EL DORADO          CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SNOW STARTED 6 PM LAST NIGHT, 24 FEB

0649 AM     SNOW             17 SSW DANA             40.88N 121.66W
02/25/2011  E12.00           SHASTA             CA   PUBLIC

0649 AM     SNOW             5 ESE PLACERVILLE       38.70N 120.70W
02/25/2011  E2.00            EL DORADO          CA   PUBLIC

0648 AM     SNOW             4 ENE GRASS VALLEY      39.23N 120.98W
02/25/2011  E23.00           NEVADA             CA   PUBLIC

0646 AM     SNOW             2 NNE GRASS VALLEY      39.25N 121.04W
02/25/2011  E15.00           NEVADA             CA   PUBLIC

            LIMBS DOWN. POWER OUT.

0643 AM     SNOW             6 ESE GRASS VALLEY      39.17N 120.97W
02/25/2011  E11.00           NEVADA             CA   PUBLIC

0642 AM     SNOW             13 SW DOWNIEVILLE       39.42N 121.00W
02/25/2011  E18.00           SIERRA             CA   PUBLIC

0556 AM     SNOW             9 NW MIDDLETOWN         38.84N 122.73W
02/25/2011  E8.00            LAKE               CA   PUBLIC

            8 INCHES NEW SNOW SINCE 4PM THURSDAY. STILL SNOWING
            HEAVILY

&&

Local storm report, Feb 25, 9:24 AM PST, 5 hours 36 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
924 AM PST FRI FEB 25 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0852 AM     SNOW             2 ENE KIRKWOOD          38.71N 120.04W
02/25/2011  E10.30           ALPINE             CA   OTHER FEDERAL

            SNOTEL OBSERVATION.

0852 AM     SNOW             7 SSE CARSON PASS       38.61N 119.92W
02/25/2011  E10.00           ALPINE             CA   OTHER FEDERAL

            SNOTEL OBSERVATION.

0852 AM     SNOW             BLUE CANYON             39.28N 120.71W
02/25/2011  E24.40           PLACER             CA   OTHER FEDERAL

            SNOTEL OBSERVATION.

0700 AM     SNOW             BEAR VALLEY SKI RESORT  38.46N 120.02W
02/25/2011  E12.00           ALPINE             CA   PUBLIC

            SKIRESORT OBSERVATION.

0700 AM     SNOW             SIERRA-AT-TAHOE SKI RES 38.84N 120.19W
02/25/2011  E14.00           EL DORADO          CA   PUBLIC

            SKIRESORT OBSERVATION.

0700 AM     SNOW             BOREAL SKI RESORT       39.34N 120.34W
02/25/2011  E25.00           PLACER             CA   PUBLIC

            SKIRESORT OBSERVATION.

0700 AM     SNOW             SUGAR BOWL SKI RESORT   39.31N 120.33W
02/25/2011  E21.00           PLACER             CA   PUBLIC

            SKIRESORT OBSERVATION.

0700 AM     SNOW             SODA SPRINGS SKI RESORT 39.12N 119.90W
02/25/2011  E30.00           PLACER             CA   PUBLIC

            SKIRESORT OBSERVATION.

0700 AM     SNOW             1 S STATELINE           38.94N 119.94W
02/25/2011  E12.00           EL DORADO          CA   PUBLIC

            SKIRESORT OBSERVATION.

0700 AM     SNOW             1 W SQUAW VALLEY        39.20N 120.24W
02/25/2011  E27.00           PLACER             CA   PUBLIC

            SKIRESORT OBSERVATION.

&&

Local storm report, Feb 25, 9:35 AM PST, 5 hours 25 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
935 AM PST FRI FEB 25 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0900 AM     HIGH SUST WINDS  5 SE STOCKTON           37.91N 121.25W
02/25/2011  M26 MPH          SAN JOAQUIN        CA   ASOS

            ASOS OBSERVATION.

0800 AM     HIGH SUST WINDS  9 NW ROCKLIN            38.90N 121.35W
02/25/2011  M27 MPH          PLACER             CA   AWOS

            AWOS OBSERVATION.

0800 AM     HIGH SUST WINDS  BLUE CANYON             39.28N 120.71W
02/25/2011  M31 MPH          PLACER             CA   ASOS

            ASOS OBSERVATION.

0700 AM     HIGH SUST WINDS  4 N AUBURN              38.95N 121.08W
02/25/2011  M25 MPH          PLACER             CA   AWOS

            AWOS OBSERVATION.

0600 AM     HIGH SUST WINDS  9 E WOODLAND            38.70N 121.59W
02/25/2011  M27 MPH          SACRAMENTO         CA   ASOS

            ASOS OBSERVATION.

0500 AM     HIGH SUST WINDS  8 E MARYSVILLE          39.14N 121.44W
02/25/2011  M25 MPH          YUBA               CA   ASOS

            ASOS OBSERVATION.

&&

Local storm report, Feb 25, 9:41 AM PST, 5 hours 19 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
941 AM PST FRI FEB 25 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0600 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 9 E WOODLAND            38.68N 121.60W
02/25/2011  M40.00 MPH       SACRAMENTO         CA   AWOS

0700 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST ROCKLIN                 38.80N 121.24W
02/25/2011  M40.00 MPH       PLACER             CA   AWOS

0800 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST BLUE CANYON             39.27N 120.71W
02/25/2011  M46.00 MPH       PLACER             CA   ASOS

&&

Local storm report, Feb 25, 10:57 AM PST, 4 hours 3 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
1057 AM PST FRI FEB 25 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1020 AM     HEAVY SNOW       MAGALIA                 39.83N 121.61W
02/25/2011  U0.0 INCH        BUTTE              CA   UTILITY COMPANY

            4 OUTAGES KNOCKING OUT ELECTRICAL POWER TO BETWEEN 500
            AND 4999 PEOPLE.

1020 AM     HEAVY SNOW       CHALLENGE               39.46N 121.26W
02/25/2011  U0.0 INCH        YUBA               CA   UTILITY COMPANY

            1 OUTAGE KNOCKING OUT ELECTRICITY TO BETWEEN 500 AND 4999
            PEOPLE.

1020 AM     HEAVY SNOW       FORESTHILL              39.00N 120.83W
02/25/2011  U0.0 INCH        PLACER             CA   UTILITY COMPANY

            2 OUTAGES KNOCKING OUT ELECTRICITY TO BETWEEN 500 AND
            4999 PEOPLE.

1020 AM     HEAVY SNOW       GEORGETOWN              38.91N 120.83W
02/25/2011  U0.0 INCH        EL DORADO          CA   UTILITY COMPANY

            5 OUTAGES KNOCKING OUT ELECTRICITY TO BETWEEN 500 AND
            4999 PEOPLE.

1020 AM     HEAVY SNOW       GRASS VALLEY            39.22N 121.06W
02/25/2011  U0.0 INCH        NEVADA             CA   UTILITY COMPANY

            6 OUTAGES KNOCKING OUT ELECTRICITY TO OVER 5000 PEOPLE.

1020 AM     HEAVY SNOW       PARADISE                39.76N 121.60W
02/25/2011  U0.0 INCH        BUTTE              CA   UTILITY COMPANY

            ESTIMATED 19 OUTAGES KNOCKING OUT ELECTRICITY TO OVER
            5000 PEOPLE.

&&

Local storm report, Feb 25, 2:59 PM PST, 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
259 PM PST FRI FEB 25 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0258 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     ARDEN-ARCADE            38.60N 121.38W
02/25/2011                   SACRAMENTO         CA   NWS EMPLOYEE

            FUNNEL CLOUD NEAR INTERSECTION OF WATT AND EL CAMINO.

&&

KJ

The radar

The Sacramento radar (KDAX), 34 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:59 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Sacramento

When: February 25, 3:00 PM PST to 3:04 PM PST
Where: Sacramento County, 0.42 mi SSE of (Mhr)mather Afb to 0.56 mi ESE of (Mhr)mather Afb
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.35 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Property damage: $18,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 38.565, -121.296

At approximately 3:05 pm an EF0 tornado touched down at the Mather Field Industrial Park, immediately north of Mather Field. The maximum wind speed of the tornado was estimated at 75 mph with a damage path of one third of a mile. The damage path was in a northeast direction. No injuries nor fatalities have been reported. Damage was to a few trees including a large evergreen tree, broken road signs, and broken windows to multiple cars.

What these are

Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in California in 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history The tornado archive for California, 2011 Warnings in California, February 2011

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: 299798.