Flash Flood and Winter Storm in California, December 21 to 22, 2015

Name: Flash Flood and Winter Storm in California, December 21 to 22, 2015
Start: 2015-12-21T10:00
End: 2015-12-22T20:00
Location: California

December 21 to 22, 2015 · NWS HNX · 11 events in 4 counties and zones

Where it happened

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

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 11

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.

A strong upper level jet and associated trough moved through the area, bringing heavy rain and snow showers. This system also had a good moisture tap which enhanced the precipitation rates and amounts. The strong jet with this system also brought gusty winds as the system began to exit the region.

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 Dec 21, 3:15 AM PST, 6 hours 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 21, 3:15 AM PST, 6 hours 45 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA
315 AM PST MON DEC 21 2015

.SYNOPSIS...
A SERIES OF WEATHER SYSTEMS WILL IMPACT THE REGION THROUGH MOST OF
NEXT WEEK WITH RAIN TO THE SAN JOAQUIN AND SNOW TO THE SIERRA
NEVADA. TEMPERATURES WILL BE AT OR JUST ABOVE NORMAL.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
PRECIPITATION AT OUR DOOR-STEPS AS A SERIES OF WINTER WEATHER
DISTURBANCES MOVE THROUGH THE REGION. WHILE THE LATEST STORM IS
ONLY EXPECTED TO BRUSH CENTRAL CALIFORNIA WITH LIGHT RAIN AND
SNOW...THE NEXT STORM WILL BE MORE SIGNIFICANT. SURFACE ANALYSIS
DOES SHOW THE CHARACTERISTIC SOUTHERLY WIND FLOW AHEAD OF THE COLD
FRONTAL PASSAGE...BUT WITH MUCH WEAKER WIND SPEEDS. THEREFORE...
WILL STILL EXPECT THE COLD FRONT TO DIE BEFORE CROSSING THE
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INTERIOR IN THE NEXT 12 TO 18 HOURS.
FURTHERMORE...THE JET MAX SUPPORT OVER THE CURRENT DISTURBANCE IS
WEAK PROVIDING ONLY SO MUCH UPPER LEVEL DYNAMICS THAT WILL SHIFT
OUT SHORTLY. IN THE MEANWHILE...CLOUDS WILL CONTINUE TO ADVANCE
INTO THE REGION AHEAD OF THE SECOND STRONGER STORM.

THE SECOND DISTURBANCE...MOVING IN RIGHT BEHIND THE FIRST...WILL
MOVE INTO CENTRAL CALIFORNIA LATER IN THE DAY ON MONDAY. WHILE
THIS FIRST DISTURBANCE WILL ONLY GIVE THE HIGH SIERRA A FEW INCHES
OF SNOW ...THE SECOND DISTURBANCE HAS THE POTENTIAL OF PRODUCING
ONE TO ALMOST TWO FEET OF SNOW. THIS HIGHER SNOW PRODUCTION WILL
BE SUPPORTED BY THE FRONT LEFT QUAD OF A MUCH STRONG JET MAX
DRIVING INTO CALIFORNIA AND THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST LATER ON MONDAY.
DUE TO NO REAL BREAKS IN EACH STORM...COMBINING THE STORMS WILL
ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY THAT DANGEROUS MOUNTAIN CONDITIONS WILL EXIST
FOR THE NEXT 24 TO 36 HOURS. WITH THIS...A WINTER STORM WARNING
IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON
AND A SNOW ADVISORY FOR SEQUOIA.

MODEL STILL EXPECTING TO TERMINATE THE STORM LATER TUESDAY BEFORE
YET ANOTHER STORM APPROACHES THE WEST COAST. UNCERTAINTY IS STILL
HIGH WITH THE CHRISTMAS EVE STORM EVENT. MODEL TIMING HAS THE
STORM MOVING INTO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DURING THE MORNING ON
THURSDAY WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF ENTERING MERCED COUNTY/YOSEMITE
BY MID- DAY. THE BULK OF THE STORM IS ANTICIPATED TO HIT CENTRAL
CALIFORNIA LATER IN THE DAY ON THURSDAY AND CONTINUE INTO THE
EVENING. THE CHRISTMAS EVE STORM WILL BE MUCH COLDER WITH FREEZING
LEVELS LOWERING TO NEAR 4000 FEET THURSDAY AFTERNOON. BY THURSDAY
NIGHT...SNOW LEVELS COULD DROP BELOW THE HEIGHT OF TEJON PASS...
WITH SNOW POSSIBLE ON THE GRAPEVINE. HOWEVER...WILL HAVE TO SEE OF
ENOUGH MOISTURE IS TRANSPORTED INTO THE REGION AT LEVELS SIMILAR
TO THE MONDAY AFTERNOON/TUESDAY MORNING STORM.

&&

.AVIATION...
MTN OBSCURING IFR CONDITIONS ACROSS THE SIERRA NEVADA THROUGH 12Z
TUESDAY DUE TO CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION. AREAS MVFR/LOCAL IFR IN
MIST/FOG IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY THROUGH 21Z TODAY. POSSIBLE MVFR
IN -SHRA NEAR MCE THROUGH 12Z TUESDAY. OTHERWISE...VFR CONDITIONS
WILL PREVAIL ACROSS THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA FOR THE NEXT 24 HRS.

&&

.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.

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 12-21       71:1955     34:1998     54:1964     23:1897
KFAT 12-22       70:1964     35:1998     57:1955     19:1990
KFAT 12-23       68:1964     37:1928     60:1964     18:1990

KBFL 12-21       78:1919     36:1998     59:1977     23:1905
KBFL 12-22       76:2005     34:1998     56:1977     20:1990
KBFL 12-23       73:1964     36:1928     63:1955     14:1905
&&

.HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 4 PM PST TUESDAY
ABOVE 7000 FEET FOR THE SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS
CANYON /CAZ096/.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 4 PM PST
TUESDAY ABOVE 7000 FEET FOR THE TULARE COUNTY MOUNTAINS /CAZ097/.

&&

PUBLIC...MOLINA
AVN/FW...JDB
SYNOPSIS...MOLINA

WEATHER.GOV/HANFORD

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 21, 8:57 AM PST, 1 hour 3 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA
857 AM PST MON DEC 21 2015

CAZ096-221700-
SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON-
857 AM PST MON DEC 21 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA
FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON.

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST TUESDAY...

...SERIES OF PACIFIC WEATHER SYSTEMS TO IMPACT THE SOUTHERN SIERRA
THROUGH FRIDAY...

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 1 TO 2 FEET NEAR YOSEMITE WITH 6 TO 12
  INCHES SOUTHWARD TO KINGS CANYON THROUGH TUESDAY.

* ELEVATION: ABOVE 7000 FEET.

* WINDS: MAY GUST UP TO 50 MPH AT TIMES...ESPECIALLY IN THE
  HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

* TIMING: SNOW IS EXPECTED TO RETURN TODAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH
  TUESDAY.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK,
  SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK MONDAY AND
  TUESDAY.

* IMPACTS: SNOW COVERED ROADS...BLOWING SNOW...AND HEAVY SNOW AT
  TIMES WILL MAKE TRAVEL IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS DIFFICULT. SNOW
  AND WIND MAY CAUSE FALLING TREE BRANCHES OR LIMBS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM TUESDAY. THERE WILL
BE A BREAK ON WEDNESDAY BEFORE ANOTHER COLD SYSTEM MOVES IN ON
THURSDAY AND ENDS ON FRIDAY. THIS SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO BE A
COLDER BUT DRIER SYSTEM.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 1 TO 2 FEET NEAR YOSEMITE WITH 6 TO 12
  INCHES SOUTHWARD TO KINGS CANYON THROUGH TUESDAY. LITTLE OR NO
  ACCUMULATION ON WEDNESDAY. IT STILL REMAINS UNCERTAIN HOW MUCH
  SNOW WILL FALL ON THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY...THE GUIDANCE IS
  TRENDING DRIER.

* ELEVATION: ABOVE 7000 FEET TUESDAY. SNOW LEVELS WITH THE
  THURSDAY AND FRIDAY SYSTEM WILL START AROUND 3000 FT
  THURSDAY...LOWERING TO NEAR 1500 FEET FRIDAY MORNING.

* WINDS: MAY GUST UP TO 50 MPH AT TIMES ON TUESDAY...ESPECIALLY IN
  THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

* TIMING: TUESDAY FOR SNOW AND WINDS. ANOTHER ROUND OF
  PRECIPITATION WILL RETURN THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK,
  SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK ON TUESDAY.

* IMPACTS: SNOW COVERED ROADS...BLOWING SNOW...AND HEAVY SNOW AT
  TIMES ON TUESDAY. SNOW AND WIND MAY CAUSE FALLING TREE BRANCHES
  OR LIMBS.

* 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.

CAZ097-221700-
TULARE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
857 AM PST MON DEC 21 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE TULARE COUNTY
MOUNTAINS.

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
4 PM PST TUESDAY...

ANOTHER WEATHER SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE REGION THIS
AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY WITH HEAVY SNOW POSSIBLE.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 6 TO 10 INCHES THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH
  TUESDAY.

* TIMING: TODAY AND TONIGHT.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK
  AND SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST.

* ELEVATION: ABOVE 7000 FEET.

* WINDS: MAY GUST UP TO 50 MPH AT TIMES...ESPECIALLY IN THE
  HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

* IMPACTS: SNOW COVERED ROADS...BLOWING SNOW...AND HEAVY SNOW AT
  TIMES WILL MAKE TRAVEL IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS DIFFICULT. SNOW
  AND WIND MAY CAUSE FALLING TREE BRANCHES OR LIMBS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST TUESDAY. THERE
WILL BE A BREAK ON WEDNESDAY BEFORE ANOTHER COLD SYSTEM MOVES IN
ON THURSDAY AND ENDS ON FRIDAY. THIS SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO BE A
COLDER BUT DRIER SYSTEM.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 6 TO 10 INCHES MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY WITH
  LITTLE OR NO ACCUMULATION ON WEDNESDAY. IT STILL REMAINS
  UNCERTAIN HOW MUCH SNOW WILL FALL ON THURSDAY NIGHT AND
  FRIDAY...THE GUIDANCE IS TRENDING DRIER.

* TIMING: TUESDAY FOR SNOW AND WINDS. ANOTHER ROUND OF
  PRECIPITATION WILL RETURN THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.

* ELEVATION: ABOVE 7000 FEET TUESDAY. SNOW LEVELS WITH THE
  THURSDAY AND FRIDAY SYSTEM WILL START AROUND 3000 FT
  THURSDAY...LOWERING TO NEAR 1500 FEET FRIDAY MORNING.

* WINDS: MAY GUST UP TO 50 MPH AT TIMES ON TUESDAY...ESPECIALLY IN
  THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

* IMPACTS: SNOW COVERED ROADS...BLOWING SNOW...AND HEAVY SNOW AT
  TIMES ON TUESDAY WILL MAKE TRAVEL IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS
  DIFFICULT. SNOW AND WIND MAY CAUSE FALLING TREE BRANCHES OR
  LIMBS.

* 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.

CAZ095-098-099-221700-
KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS-INDIAN WELLS VALLEY-
SOUTHEASTERN KERN COUNTY DESERT-
857 AM PST MON DEC 21 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS
AND DESERT.

...GUSTY WINDS TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT...

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER EXPECTED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

* WINDS: WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 55
  MPH THROUGH AND BELOW THE MOUNTAIN PASSES.

* TIMING: TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: HIGHWAY 58 THROUGH TEHACHAPI PASS...
  INTERSTATE 5 THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE...WALKER PASS...JAWBONE...
  MOJAVE...CACHE CREEK.

* IMPACTS: STRONG WINDS WILL MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT...ESPECIALLY
  FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. BLOWING SAND OR DUST CAN REDUCE
  VISIBILITIES AT TIMES.

* 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.

ANDERSEN

The radar

The Los Angeles radar (KVTX), 119 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:02 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 heavy snow, 1 winter storm, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, S Sierra Mtns

When: December 21, 10:00 AM PST to December 22, 4:00 PM PST
Where: S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

The SNOTEL station at Upper Burnt Corral reported a storm snowfall total of 20 inches.

Heavy Snow, S Sierra Mtns

When: December 21, 10:00 AM PST to December 22, 4:00 PM PST
Where: S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

The SNOTEL station at Tamarack Summit reported a storm snowfall total of 18 inches.

Heavy Snow, S Sierra Mtns

When: December 21, 10:00 AM PST to December 22, 4:00 PM PST
Where: S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

The SNOTEL station at Green Mountain reported a storm snowfall total of 18 inches.

Heavy Snow, S Sierra Mtns

When: December 21, 10:00 AM PST to December 22, 4:00 PM PST
Where: S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

The SNOTEL station at Tuolumne Meadows reported a storm snowfall total of 17 inches.

Heavy Snow, S Sierra Mtns

When: December 21, 10:00 AM PST to December 22, 4:00 PM PST
Where: S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

The SNOTEL station at Agnew Pass reported a storm snowfall total of 15 inches.

Heavy Snow, S Sierra Mtns

When: December 21, 10:00 AM PST to December 22, 4:00 PM PST
Where: S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

The SNOTEL station at Kaiser Pass reported a storm snowfall total of 15 inches.

Heavy Snow, S Sierra Mtns

When: December 21, 10:00 AM PST to December 22, 4:00 PM PST
Where: S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

The SNOTEL station at Devils Postpile reported a storm snowfall total of 15 inches.

Heavy Snow, S Sierra Mtns

When: December 21, 10:00 AM PST to December 22, 4:00 PM PST
Where: S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

The SNOTEL station at West Woodchuck Meadow reported a storm snowfall total of 14 inches.

Heavy Snow, Tulare Cty Mtns

When: December 21, 10:00 AM PST to December 22, 4:00 PM PST
Where: Tulare Cty Mtns forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

The SNOTEL station at Chagoopa plateau reported a storm snowfall total of 15 inches.

Winter Storm, Se Kern Cty Desert

When: December 21, 8:00 PM PST to December 22, 8:00 PM PST
Where: Se Kern Cty Desert forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet

Cache Creek reported a 64 MPH wind gust, while Mojave reported a 90 MPH gust. These winds resulted in multiple high profile vehicles turnovers which lead to temporary road restrictions and closures.

Flash Flood, Kern

When: December 22, 10:04 AM PST to 3:00 PM PST
Where: Kern County, 6.83 mi NE of Magunden to 3.82 mi NE of Edison
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 35.445, -118.821

California highway department reported a mudslide on highway 178 in the Kern Canyon at 1004 PST, which closed the roadway for several hours.

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in California in 2015 Every state in 2015 This day in weather history Warnings in California, December 2015

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: 613374, 613375, 613376, 613377, 613378, 613379, 613380, 613381, 613382, 613384, 613386.