Winter Weather, S Sierra Mtns
- When
- March 29, 7:00 PM PST to March 30, 5:00 AM PST
- Where
- S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
Winter Weather in California, March 29 to 30, 2014
After a brief break in the precipitation, the next storm arrived during the afternoon of March 31st. This was the first of two systems rotating around an upper-level low west of Oregon, and moved through interior central California relatively quickly.
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 2
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.
After a brief break in the precipitation, the next storm arrived during the afternoon of March 31st. This was the first of two systems rotating around an upper-level low west of Oregon, and moved through interior central California relatively quickly. (The second storm arrived on April 1st.) As a result of the faster movement, rainfall amounts were a bit less than from the storm on March 29th-30th, although the central and southern San Joaquin Valley saw up to half an inch of rain.
By mid-afternoon of the 31st, thunderstorms had developed over Merced County. Thunderstorms moved into the Southern Sierra Nevada foothills during the late afternoon, and the cold air associated with the storm dropped the snow level to around 5000 feet. The snow level continued to fall through the evening of the 31st, with snow being reported down to 3000 feet. Bass Lake received 2 inches of snow at 3800 feet.
Winds gusted to near 50 mph over parts of the San Joaquin Valley during the afternoon of March 31st as the cold front moved through. The deserts of Kern County saw similar winds during the evening hours as the cold front arrived there; these winds continued overnight into the early morning hours of April 1st.
The cold air associated with the storms of March 29th-31st dropped temperatures to below normal after almost three weeks of above-normal high temperatures. The high temperature at Fresno on March 29th was 76 degrees; the high the next day was 10 degrees cooler. At the south end of the San Joaquin Valley, Bakersfield saw much stronger cooling, falling from a high of 82 on the 29th to only 64 on the 30th, a drop of 18 degrees.
The month concluded with well below average precipitation and much above average temperatures. The average temperature for the month in Fresno reached 62.4 degrees for the 3rd warmest March on record, while the average monthly temperature in Bakersfield was 62.2 degrees, or the 7th warmest March on record. The total precipitation for this month was 0.62 inch (1.41 inches below normal) in Fresno, and 0.36 inch (0.85 inch below normal) fell in Bakersfield. Snowpack in the Sierra was about 31 percent of normal as of the 31st.
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 Mar 29, 6:40 PM PST, 20 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 29, 6:40 PM PST, 20 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA
740 PM PDT SAT MAR 29 2014
.UPDATE...
ADDED AREAS OF BLOWING DUST TO THIS EVENING AND DELAYED ONSET OF
THE HEAVIER RAIN UNTIL AFTER MIDNIGHT FOR FRESNO COUNTY SOUTH.
&&
.SYNOPSIS...
A MOISTURE LADEN PACIFIC FRONTAL SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO AND ACROSS
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INTERIOR LATE TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT. HIGH
PRESSURE WILL BRIEFLY REBUILD SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY BEFORE AN
EVEN WETTER AND COLDER PACIFIC STORM MOVES INTO THE REGION MONDAY
NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL THEN RETURN FOR DRYING
AND WARMING CONDITIONS BY MIDWEEK.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
AT 02Z /1900 PDT/...THE RAIN BAND WAS SLOWLY MOVING INTO MERCED
COUNTY. MEASURABLE RAIN HAD ALREADY FALLEN AT PACHECO PASS...LOS
BANOS...GUSTINE AND HILMAR. THE BAND WILL CONTINUE TO DROP THROUGH
THE CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS ALTHOUGH A
100+ KT JET PARALLEL TO THE FRONTAL BAND WILL KEEP THE SOUTHWARD
PROGRESS SLOW.
THE AIRMASS BEHIND THE COLD FRONT HAS BEEN VERY UNSTABLE WITH
THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY. THE LATEST DAY ONE
CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK FROM THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS A GENERAL
RISK OF THUNDERSTORMS AS FAR SOUTH AS CORCORAN AND EARLIMART THROUGH
12Z /0500 PDT/ SUNDAY. ANY CONVECTION THAT STARTS THIS EVENING MAY
CONTINUE OVERNIGHT IN THE UNSTABLE AIRMASS...SO HAVE ADDED A SLIGHT
CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TO THE 06-12Z SUNDAY /2300 PDT SATURDAY-
0500 PDT SUNDAY/ PERIOD.
THE OTHER FORECAST CONCERN THIS EVENING IS GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS
THAT HAVE DEVELOPED AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. WINDS HAVE GUSTED TO 30
KTS AT FRESNO-YOSEMITE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT /KFAT/ AND TO 34 KTS AT
N.A.S. LEMOORE. A SPOTTER IN CLOVIS REPORTED LOW VISIBILITIES IN
BLOWING DUST...AND THE KFAT TOWER REPORTED BLOWING DUST TO THE
SOUTHEAST OF THEIR LOCATION. HAVE ADDED AREAS OF BLOWING DUST IN
THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY SOUTH THROUGH KINGS AND TULARE COUNTIES
THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY.
&&
.AVIATION...
IFR CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP FROM NORTH TO SOUTH OVER THE SIERRA
BETWEEN 02Z AND 08Z SUNDAY...WHILE MVFR CONDITIONS SPREAD SOUTH
OVER THE SIERRA FOOTHILLS AND ALONG THE NORTH FACING SLOPES OF THE
TEHACHAPI MOUNTAINS...AS PRECIPITATION MOVES INTO THE REGION.
WIDESPREAD IFR WITH MOUNTAIN OBSCURATIONS CAN BE EXPECTED OVER THE
SIERRA THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY. IMPROVING CONDITIONS EXPECTED AFTER 18Z
SUNDAY AS THE WEATHER SYSTEM EXITS THE REGION. LOCAL MVFR CIGS AND
VSBY IN SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY BETWEEN 03Z
AND 12Z SUNDAY. VFR CONDITIONS CAN OTHERWISE BE EXPECTED OVER
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
ADDITIONALLY...STRONG WINDS OF 35 KNOTS OR GREATER WILL OCCUR
ALONG THE SIERRA CREST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. WIND GUSTS OF 35
KNOTS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH AND BELOW THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAIN PASSES
AFTER 06Z SUNDAY.
&&
.AIR QUALITY ISSUES...
NONE.
&&
.CERTAINTY...
THE LEVEL OF CERTAINTY FOR DAYS 1 AND 2 IS HIGH.
THE LEVEL OF CERTAINTY FOR DAYS 3 THROUGH 7 IS MEDIUM.
THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED AS PART OF A TRIAL PROJECT CONDUCTED
BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD.
CERTAINTY LEVELS INCLUDE LOW...MEDIUM...AND HIGH. PLEASE VISIT
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/HNX/CERTAINTY.PHP /ALL LOWER CASE/ FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND/OR TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK.
&&
.CLIMATE...
RECORDS
SITE DATE HI_MAX:YEAR LO_MAX:YEAR HI_MIN:YEAR LO_MIN:YEAR
KFAT 03-29 87:1969 47:1982 59:1986 32:1891
KFAT 03-30 85:2003 52:1936 58:1978 31:1897
KFAT 03-31 89:1966 50:1967 58:1986 31:1905
KBFL 03-29 94:2004 55:1998 58:1978 23:1907
KBFL 03-30 88:1923 57:1904 59:1978 30:1907
KBFL 03-31 90:2003 50:1925 60:1969 32:1908
&&
.HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 8 AM PDT SUNDAY FOR THE SOUTHERN
SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO THE KERN COUNTY LINE /CAZ096-097/.
WINTER STORM WATCH FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING
ABOVE 5000 FEET FOR THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO
THE KERN COUNTY LINE /CAZ096-097/.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 11 PM PDT SUNDAY FOR THE
KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS /CAZ095-098-099/.
&&
PUBLIC...SANGER
AVN/FW...MOLINA
PREV DISCUSSION...MOLINA
SYNOPSIS...WP
WEATHER.GOV/HANFORDHazardous weather outlook, Mar 29, 11:31 AM PST, 7 hours 29 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA 1231 PM PDT SAT MAR 29 2014 CAZ095-098-099-301945- KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS-INDIAN WELLS VALLEY- SOUTHEASTERN KERN COUNTY DESERT- 1231 PM PDT SAT MAR 29 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS AND DESERT. WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 11 PM PDT SUNDAY. ...STRONG WINDS LIKELY MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING... .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER EXPECTED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY * WINDS: WEST 25 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 55 MPH OR HIGHER RIGHT BELOW THE MOUNTAIN PASSES. * VISIBILITY: LOCALLY 1/4 MILE OR LESS IN BLOWING DUST AND SAND. * TIMING: MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING. * LOCATIONS INCLUDE: HIGHWAY 58 THROUGH AND BELOW TEHACHAPI PASS INCLUDING THE CITY OF MOJAVE...HIGHWAY 178 THROUGH AND BELOW WALKER PASS...ROSAMOND...INYOKERN...CHINA LAKE NAS...EDWARDS AFB. * IMPACTS: TRAVEL DELAYS...STRONG CROSS WINDS FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES...DOWNED POWER LINES...AREAS OF BLOWING DUST WITH POOR VISIBILITY. * STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR YOUR FAVORITE NEWS SOURCE...FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY SIGNIFICANT OR UNUSUAL CONDITIONS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. CAZ091>094-301945- SOUTHWESTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-SOUTHEASTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY- MARIPOSA MADERA AND FRESNO COUNTY FOOTHILLS- TULARE COUNTY FOOTHILLS- 1231 PM PDT SAT MAR 29 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AND THE FOOTHILLS OF THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA. ...ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE TUESDAY AFTERNOON... .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER EXPECTED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WITH SMALL HAIL...POSSIBLE FUNNEL CLOUDS TUESDAY AFTERNOON. * TIMING: TUESDAY AFTERNOON * LOCATIONS INCLUDE: MERCED...LOS BANOS...MADERA...FRESNO...CLOVIS... HANFORD...LEMOORE...KERMAN...VISALIA...DELANO...BAKERSFIELD... COARSEGOLD...OAKHURST...THREE RIVERS. * IMPACTS: LOCALLY STRONG WINDS...CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING... SMALL HAIL...URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING. * STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR YOUR FAVORITE NEWS SOURCE...FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY SIGNIFICANT OR UNUSUAL CONDITIONS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. CAZ089-090-301945- WEST CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-EAST CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY- 1231 PM PDT SAT MAR 29 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY. ...AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE TODAY AND TUESDAY... .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT * TIMING: NOON UNTIL 7 PM PDT. * LOCATIONS INCLUDE: MERCED...LOS BANOS...MADERA...FRESNO...CLOVIS * IMPACTS: LOCALLY STRONG WINDS...CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING... SMALL HAIL...URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WITH SMALL HAIL...POSSIBLE FUNNEL CLOUDS TUESDAY AFTERNOON. * TIMING: TUESDAY AFTERNOON * LOCATIONS INCLUDE: MERCED...LOS BANOS...MADERA...FRESNO...CLOVIS... HANFORD...LEMOORE...KERMAN...VISALIA...DELANO...BAKERSFIELD... COARSEGOLD...OAKHURST...THREE RIVERS. * IMPACTS: LOCALLY STRONG WINDS...CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING... SMALL HAIL...URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING. * STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR YOUR FAVORITE NEWS SOURCE...FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NECESSARY FOR THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AND THE ADJACENT FOOTHILLS TUESDAY AFTERNOON. WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY SIGNIFICANT OR UNUSUAL CONDITIONS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. WP
Event by event
2 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Winter Weather, Tulare Cty Mtns
- When
- March 29, 7:00 PM PST to March 30, 5:00 AM PST
- Where
- Tulare 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.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Rip Current in U.S. Virgin Islands, March 29, 2014
- Wildfire in Texas, March 29, 2014
- Winter Storm in New York, March 29 to 30, 2014
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Florida, March 29, 2014
- Strong Wind in Massachusetts, March 29 to 30, 2014
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in New York, March 29 to 30, 2014
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Montana, March 29 to 31, 2014
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Gulf of Mexico, March 29, 2014
- High Wind in North Carolina, March 29 to 30, 2014
- Tornadoes in North Carolina, March 29, 2014
- Flooding in New Jersey, March 29 to 31, 2014
- Winter Storm and High Wind in Wyoming, March 29 to 30, 2014
More
Every storm in California in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in California, March 2014
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: 509469, 509470.