Dense Fog and Winter Weather in California, November 20 to 22, 2011

The next in the series of storms arrived two days later. The storm brought a reinforcing push of cold air into the San Joaquin Valley, plunging high temperatures into the 50s. The high temperature at Bakersfield on November 20th was only 53 degrees, only 4 degrees warmer than the record low maximum temperature for the date of 49 degrees, set in 1922. Fresno had a high of 55 on the 20th, again only 4 degrees warmer than the record low maximum of 51 degrees, set in 1972. For both cities, this was the coldest high temperature for the month.

The upper-level low stayed off the California coast, spinning moisture into the state from the south. As a result, this storm brought more rain to the Southern San Joaquin Valley than to the central Valley. Even so, there was sufficient rain over most of the Valley floor to recharge the ground moisture. Areas of dense fog developed over the central and southern San Joaquin Valley during the morning of November 21st, persisting into the late morning hours in some locations. Morning fog also developed the next two mornings. Fog also developed in the Kern County deserts during the night of November 20th-21st, with the visibility at Edwards Air Force Base falling to less than a quarter mile shortly after midnight.

Snowfall in the mountains was moderate with this storm. The heaviest snow totals were reported at Agnew Pass, Tamarack Summit, Quacking Aspen, and Blackcap Basin, where around 10 inches accumulated.