A series of winter storms kept interior Northern California wet for most of a week. It was the first notable winter storms in the region since October 2011.
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 STO wrote it up.
A series of winter storms kept interior Northern California wet for most of a week. It was the first notable winter storms in the region since October 2011.
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 Jan 18, 9:33 AM PST, 57 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA 933 AM PST WED JAN 18 2012 .SHORT TERM DISCUSSION... LONG-AWAITED PATTERN CHANGE IS FINALLY UNDERWAY AS THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF STORM SYSTEMS MOVES THROUGH THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. THE TAIL END OF THIS STORM IS BRUSHING BY NORTHERN CALIFORNIA... GENERALLY NORTH OF HIGHWAY 299 NEAR REDDING. WEBCAMS ALONG I5 SUGGEST THE SNOW LEVEL IS AROUND OR SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN 1000 FT. A SPOTTER IN THE SIMS AREA (1500 FT) HAS REPORTED NEARLY HALF A FOOT OF SNOW IN SHASTA COUNTY SINCE EARLY MORNING. WITH THIS HEAVY SNOWFALL...NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC ALONG I5 HAS BEEN CLOSED NORTH OF REDDING AND CHAIN CONTROLS ARE IN EFFECT. ELSEWHERE...MID AND HIGH CLOUDS ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA HAVE HAD A MODERATING EFFECT ON OVERNIGHT LOWS. TEMPS ARE NOW RUNNING ANYWHERE FROM 5 TO 20 DEGREES WARMER THAN 24 HOURS AGO. PRECIPITATION WILL PRIMARILY REMAIN CONFINED WELL TO THE NORTH THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. SNOW LEVELS WILL RISE A BIT TO AROUND 2000 FT THIS AFTERNOON...BUT CANT RULE OUT A STRAY SNOW SHOWER IN NORTH REDDING THIS MORNING. SHOWERS WILL SAG SOUTHWARD ALONG THE MOUNTAINS A BIT TONIGHT...BUT STILL REMAIN NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80. A SECOND AND MORE POTENT STORM WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA THURSDAY. THIS SYSTEM WILL BRING PRECIPITATION CWA-WIDE. MOST AREAS SHOULD SEE PRECIPITATION BEGIN IN THE LATE MORNING OR EARLY AFTERNOON...AND CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING HOURS. FORECAST PRECIPITATION TOTALS WILL GENERALLY RUN IN THE 0.25 TO 0.50 INCH RANGE...THOUGH LOCALLY HIGHER TOTALS ARE EXPECTED IN THE NORTHERN SAC VALLEY. SOUTHEAST VALLEY WINDS COULD RANGE IN THE 15-25 MPH RANGE WITH LOCAL GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH. SNOW ADVISORIES ARE ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THIS STORM... BUT WILL NEED TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS WITH THE AFTERNOON PACKAGE. SNOW LEVELS ARE LOOKING LOWER THAN PRIOR FORECAST MODELS...WHICH COULD TRANSLATE TO HIGHER SNOW TOTALS AND GREATER IMPACT ALONG THE TRANS-SIERRA ROADWAYS. A BRIEF DRY PERIOD IS EXPECTED LATE THURSDAY INTO EARLY FRIDAY BEFORE THE THIRD SYSTEM COMES THROUGH. THIS FRIDAY SYSTEM LOOKS THE MOST IMPRESSIVE OF THE BUNCH WITH GOOD JET SUPPORT...A NEGATIVELY TILTED UPPER TROUGH...AND STRONG LOW LEVEL WARM AIR ADVECTION. LATEST FORECAST MODELS SUGGEST THAT THIS SYSTEM COULD ALSO BRING SNOW BELOW THE MAJOR SIERRA PASSES. THE WEEKEND WILL BEGIN DRY AS A SHORTWAVE RIDGE BUILDS INTO THE REGION SATURDAY. DANG .EXTENDED DISCUSSION (SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY) WET PATTERN CONTINUES INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER PACIFIC FRONTAL SYSTEM FORECAST TO MOVE INTO NORCAL LATE SUNDAY. MODEL TIMING VARIES WITH ECMWF BRINGING THE SYSTEM IN THE FASTEST WITH GEM/GFS RUNNING A LITTLE SLOWER BRINGING THE MAIN FRONTAL BAND INTO NORCAL SUNDAY NIGHT OR EARLY MONDAY. EITHER WAY...INCH PLUS PRECIPITABLE WATER TAP OFFSHORE WILL BAKE THIS ANOTHER MODERATE PRECIP PRODUCER ALTHOUGH MAYBE NOT AS GOOD AS THE SYSTEM EARLIER IN THE WEEKEND. SNOW LEVELS WITH THIS PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM SHOULD BE WELL BELOW SIERRA PASS LEVELS BUT NOT OVERLY LOW BASED ON 1000 TO 500 MB THICKNESS PROGS. ONCE THIS SYSTEM PASSES TO THE EAST MONDAY...EXTENDED MODELS TRENDING TOWARDS A RIDGING PATTERN OVER THE WEST COAST BUT SIGNIFICANT MODEL DIFFERENCES EXIST. GFS WANTS TO DEVELOP A HIGHER AMPLITUDE RIDGE OVER THE WEST COAST WHICH WOULD BRING DRYING TO AT LEAST THE SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE CWA. GEM AND ECMWF PRODUCE A FLATTER DIRTIER RIDGE PATTERN LEAVING MUCH OF THE CWA IN A CONTINUED WET PATTERN. FOR NOW...HAVE KEPT WITH THE WETTER ECMWF AND GEM BUT WILL NEED TO WATCH HOW MODELS DEVELOP RIDGE TO DECIDE WHETHER A BACK OFF IN POPS FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK WILL BE NEEDED. && .AVIATION... WARM FRONT SLIDING OVER NORCAL WILL BRING RA AND MOUNTAIN SN TODAY AND TONIGHT NORTH OF ABOUT KMYV WITH MIFR/IFR OVER SHASTA MOUNTAINS AND OCNL IFR LOWER ELEVATIONS MAINLY AFTER 18Z. MAINLY VFR SOUTH OF KMYV TODAY. SNOW LEVELS BLO010 POSSIBLE THIS MORNING OVER SHASTA COUNTY CLIMBING TO 010-020 THIS AFTERNOON. MVFR LATE TONIGHT IN FOG SOUTHERN SACRAMENTO AND NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEYS. GENERALLY LIGHT SOUTH WINDS TO 10 MPH. && .STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 10 AM TO 10 PM PST THURSDAY ABOVE 6000 FEET FOR THE WEST SLOPE NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA...WESTERN PLUMAS COUNTY/LASSEN PARK. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON ABOVE 2000 FEET FOR THE MOUNTAINS SOUTHWESTERN SHASTA COUNTY TO NORTHERN LAKE COUNTY. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM PST THURSDAY BURNEY BASIN / EASTERN SHASTA COUNTY. WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 4 PM PST THURSDAY SHASTA LAKE AREA / NORTHERN SHASTA COUNTY. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA 700 AM PST WED JAN 18 2012 CAZ013>019-063-064-066>069-191500- SHASTA LAKE AREA/NORTHERN SHASTA COUNTY- BURNEY BASIN/EASTERN SHASTA COUNTY-NORTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY- CENTRAL SACRAMENTO VALLEY-SOUTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY- CARQUINEZ STRAIT AND DELTA-NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY- MOUNTAINS SOUTHWESTERN SHASTA TO NORTHERN LAKE COUNTIES- CLEAR LAKE/SOUTHERN LAKE COUNTY-MOTHERLODE- EAST FOOTHILLS/NORTH SACRAMENTO VALLEY- WESTERN PLUMAS COUNTY/LASSEN PARK-WEST SLOPE NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA- 700 AM PST WED JAN 18 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR INTERIOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY COLD MORNING LOWS IN THE NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY WHILE THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF STORMS MAKES ITS WAY INTO INTERIOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. SOME SNOW POSSIBLE AT LOWER ELEVATIONS WITH GUSTY WINDS OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS AND PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN FOR THE LOWEST ELEVATIONS. * WINTER STORM WARNING.......SEE WWUS46 KSTO - WSWSTO FOR DETAILS * * FREEZE WARNING.............SEE WWUS76 KSTO - NPWSTO FOR DETAILS * * WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY....SEE WWUS46 KSTO - WSWSTO FOR DETAILS * .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THE SERIES OF STORMS CONTINUES WITH INCREASING SNOW LEVELS AND WINDS. THE STRONGEST WAVES COME THURSDAY...FRIDAY AND AGAIN SUNDAY INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. SOME SIGNIFICANT SNOW POSSIBLE WITH GUSTY WINDS OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS AND PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN FOR THE LOWER ELEVATIONS. * WINTER STORM WARNING.......SEE WWUS46 KSTO - WSWSTO FOR DETAILS * * WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY....SEE WWUS46 KSTO - WSWSTO FOR DETAILS * .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS TO THEIR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE. THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT (LOWER CASE): HTTP://WWW.WRH.NOAA.GOV/STO JCLAPP
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA 533 AM PST WED JAN 18 2012 ...RAIN AND SNOW RETURN TO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TODAY INTO THE WEEKEND... SEVERAL SYSTEMS WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA ALONG WITH A MOISTURE PLUME BRINGING MODERATE TO HEAVY PRECIPITATION AT TIMES TO INTERIOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA LATER WEDNESDAY INTO THE WEEKEND. CAZ015>019-064-190100- NORTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY-CENTRAL SACRAMENTO VALLEY- SOUTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY-CARQUINEZ STRAIT AND DELTA- NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-CLEAR LAKE/SOUTHERN LAKE COUNTY- 533 AM PST WED JAN 18 2012 TIMING: PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO START OVER THE NORTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY TODAY AND INCREASE AND SPREAD SOUTH DURING THE DAY. PRECIPITATION WILL REACH THE INTERSTATE 80 CORRIDOR THIS EVENING. MODERATE TO HEAVY PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AND POSSIBLY AGAIN ON SUNDAY. AMOUNTS: AROUND 0.7 INCHES IN THE REDDING AREA TO LESS THAN A TENTH OF AN INCH AROUND SACRAMENTO IS EXPECTED THROUGH THIS EVENING. FROM 0.25 TO 1 INCH IS EXPECTED OVER LAKE COUNTY THROUGH THIS EVENING WITH THE MOST IN THE NORTH. LIGHT SNOW IS POSSIBLE IN REDDING THIS MORNING WITH LITTLE TO NO ACCUMULATION EXPECTED. OVER TWO INCHES AROUND REDDING TO AROUND 0.75 INCHES IN THE NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY ARE EXPECTED THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. ADDITIONAL SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED AGAIN ON SUNDAY. WINDS: SOUTHEAST TO SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED TO ACCOMPANY THE PRECIPITATION...WITH THE STRONGEST WINDS EXPECTED ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND LATE FRIDAY AND SUNDAY. IMPACTS: SNOW IS POSSIBLE AROUND REDDING...INCLUDING INTERSTATE 5 NORTH OF REDDING. MOTORISTS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS IN THE VALLEY. THE WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN MAY CAUSE DOWNED TREE BRANCHES POSSIBLY CAUSING POWER OUTAGES. CAZ066-067-190100- NORTHEAST FOOTHILLS/SACRAMENTO VALLEY-MOTHERLODE- 533 AM PST WED JAN 18 2012 TIMING: PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO START OVER THE NORTHEAST FOOTHILLS OF THE SACRAMENTO LATER THIS MORNING AND INCREASE AND SPREAD SOUTH INTO THE MOTHER LODE BY LATE TODAY. MODERATE TO HEAVY PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED IN THE FOOTHILLS ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AND POSSIBLY AGAIN ON SUNDAY. AMOUNTS: AROUND 1 INCH IN THE FAR NORTH TO AROUND A QUARTER OF AN INCH AROUND THE INTERSTATE 80 CORRIDOR TO LESS THAN A TENTH OF AN INCH SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 88 IS EXPECTED THROUGH THIS EVENING. SNOW IS POSSIBLE IN THE NORTHEAST FOOTHILLS TODAY WITH UP TO 3 INCHES OF ACCUMULATIONS ABOVE 2000 FEET AND LITTLE TO NO ACCUMULATIONS EXPECTED AROUND 1000 FEET IN THE NORTHEAST FOOTHILLS. ADDITIONAL SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED FRIDAY INTO THE WEEKEND WITH MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN ON FRIDAY AND POSSIBLY SUNDAY. WINDS: SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS OF 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED TO ACCOMPANY THE PRECIPITATION...WITH THE STRONGEST WINDS EXPECTED ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND LATE FRIDAY AND SUNDAY. IMPACTS: WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE IN THE NORTHEAST FOOTHILLS ON WEDNESDAY MORNING. MOTORISTS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS IN THE FOOTHILLS. THE WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN MAY CAUSE DOWNED TREE BRANCHES POSSIBLY CAUSING POWER OUTAGES. JCLAPP
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
654 AM PST WED JAN 18 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0652 AM SNOW 4 WSW CASTLE CRAG 41.06N 122.36W
01/18/2012 M3.0 INCH SHASTA CA TRAINED SPOTTER
3 INCHES ON THE GROUND AT SIMS NORTH OF REDDING
&&
JPOWELLPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
700 AM PST WED JAN 18 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0400 AM SNOW 8 E LAKEHEAD 40.89N 122.23W
01/18/2012 M1.0 INCH SHASTA CA TRAINED SPOTTER
ONE INCH OF NEW SNOW ON THE GROUND.
&&
JPOWELLPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
736 AM PST WED JAN 18 2012
...TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
...DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0630 AM SNOW 1 SSW SIMS 41.06N 122.36W
01/18/2012 M3.0 INCH SHASTA CA TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
IRIS SYSTEMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
740 AM PST WED JAN 18 2012
...TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
...DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0400 AM SNOW 7 NE O'BRIEN 40.89N 122.23W
01/18/2012 M1.0 INCH SHASTA CA TRAINED SPOTTER
REPORT FROM LAKEHEAD
&&
IRIS SYSTEMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
816 AM PST WED JAN 18 2012
...TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
...DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0815 AM SNOW 1 SSW SIMS 41.06N 122.36W
01/18/2012 M5.0 INCH SHASTA CA TRAINED SPOTTER
REPORTED BY SPOTTER SH09 2 INCHES HAVE
FALLEN IN LAST TWO HOURS AND STILL COMING
DOWN GOOD. 1650 FT ELEVATION
&&
IRIS SYSTEM8 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
A relatively weak winter storm brought 3-6 inches of snow to elevations above 1500 feet and one to two feet of snow to elevations above 3000 feet. The heaviest snow fell on the morning of Thursday, January 19th and impacted Hwy 299, I-5, and Shasta Lake. Winds were light, with local gusts only to 30 mph.
A relatively weak winter storm brought six to twelve inches of snow to elevations between 5000 and 7000 feet and up to two feet of snow to elevations above 7000 feet, including 14 inches to Lassen Volcanic National Park. Winds were 20-35 mph sustained with gusts 50-70 mph over ridgetops.
A relatively weak winter storm brought six to twelve inches of snow to elevations between 5000 and 7000 feet and up to two feet of snow to elevations above 7000 feet, including thirteen inches to Kirkwood Ski Resort and fifteen inches near Donner Summit along I-80. Winds were 20-35 mph sustained with gusts 60-80 mph over ridgetops.
A moderate winter storm brought up to a foot of snow to elevations above 3500 feet. High winds made visibilities poor in some locations.
A moderate winter storm brought up to a foot of snow to elevations above 3500 feet. High winds made visibilities poor in some locations.
A moderate winter storm brought up to a foot of snow to elevations above 3500 feet. High winds made visibilities poor in some locations.
A moderate winter storm brought six to eight inches of snow down to 4500 feet and eighteen inches of snow to elevations above 6500 feet. Winds gusted to 30-40 mph along the ridgetops.
A moderate winter storm brought up to a foot of snow down to 4000 feet and up to two feet of snow to elevations above 7000 feet. Winds gusted to 50 mph along the ridgetops.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in California, January 2012
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: 358852, 358853, 358854, 358855, 358857, 358856, 358858, 358859.