Winter Storm and High Wind in California, January 3 to 5, 2016

Name: Winter Storm and High Wind in California, January 3 to 5, 2016
Start: 2016-01-03T11:32
End: 2016-01-05T20:00
Location: California

January 3 to 5, 2016 · NWS HNX · 10 events in 3 counties and zones

Beginning on the January 3rd a series of upper level systems moved through the area. On the 3rd the resultant pressure gradient lead to some severe wind gust across Kern County.

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 10

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.

Beginning on the January 3rd a series of upper level systems moved through the area. On the 3rd the resultant pressure gradient lead to some severe wind gust across Kern County. Then by the 4th things transitioned to a winter storm event, with most of the higher elevations receiving snowfall. The series of storms continued to parade into the area until 8th.

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 Jan 3, 4:23 AM PST, 7 hours 9 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 3, 4:23 AM PST, 7 hours 9 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA
423 AM PST SUN JAN 3 2016

.SYNOPSIS...
DRY WEATHER WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEKEND WITH
SEASONABLY COOL TEMPERATURES. A SUCCESSION OF STORM SYSTEMS TRACKING
EASTWARD FROM THE PACIFIC WILL BRING WET WEATHER TO MUCH OF THE
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INTERIOR NEXT WEEK. AN INITIAL WEATHER SYSTEM
WILL MOVE INTO THE DISTRICT EARLY MONDAY.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
 A FEW LIGHT SHOWERS TOWARDS THE YOSEMITE HIGH COUNTRY WITH
CLOUDY SKIES ACROSS MUCH OF THE DISTRICT DUE A SURGE OF SUBTROPICAL
MOISTURE AHEAD OF AN OFFSHORE WEATHER SYSTEM. STRONG OFFSHORE
GRADIENTS ACROSS CENTRAL CALIFORNIA DUE TO A SURFACE HIGH OVER THE
GREAT BASIN AND LOW PRESSURE WITH APPROACHING FRONTAL SYSTEM OFF
THE CALIFORNIA COAST. STRONG GUSTY SE WINDS WILL LIKELY CONTINUE
TODAY AT THE SOUTH END OF THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AND MOUNTAIN
PASSES OF THE TEHACHAPIS. MODELS WEAKEN THE GRADIENTS AROUND 06Z
MONDAY AS THE FRONT MOVES INTO THE CALIFORNIA COAST.

THE REX BLOCK PATTERN THAT KEPT DRY AND STABLE CONDITIONS ACROSS
MUCH OF CA HAS BROKEN DOWN AS THE UPPER LOW OF THE BLOCK LIFTED
NORTHWARD OVER THE PAC NW. THIS HAS ALLOWED FOR UNDERCUTTING
SUBTROPICAL MOISTURE TO PUSH INTO CENTRAL CA. THIS HAS MITIGATED
FREEZING TEMPERATURES AND FOG THREAT IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY.

SATELLITE IMAGES SHOW N-S ORIENTED FETCH OF SUBTROPICAL MOISTURE
OFF THE CALIFORNIA COAST WITH TWO UPPER LEVEL CENTERS BEHIND
THE MOISTURE AXIS. MODELS FORECASTING THE OFFSHORE SYSTEM WILL
SPLIT WITH THE MAIN ENERGY PUSHING THROUGH NORTHERN BAJA SUNDAY
NIGHT WHILE THE NORTHERN PORTIONS LIFTS INTO NORCAL. MODELS BRING
THE FRONT AND PRECIPITATION ONSHORE OVER THE CENTRAL COAST DURING
THE EVENING AND INTO THE WEST SIDE OF THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY LATE
SUNDAY NIGHT. EXPECT MORE WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION MONDAY MORNING
ACROSS THE SJV. RAIN SHOULD DIMINISH MONDAY AFTERNOON IN THE SJV
BUT FOCUS OVER THE SIERRA AS THE TROUGH AXIS MOVES EAST.

MODELS IN FAIR AGREEMENT INDICATING A MUCH STRONGER SYSTEM WILL
QUICKLY FOLLOW INTO CA TUESDAY. THE SYSTEM SHOULD LIKELY PROVIDE
SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION ACROSS OUR AREA EARLY TUESDAY MORNING
THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING. QPF PROGS ARE INDICATING 0.4 TO 0.8
INCHES OF RAINFALL FOR THE CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY ON TUESDAY
AND 0.25 TO 0.5 INCHES OF RAINFALL IN THE SOUTH VALLEY WITH HIGHER
AMOUNTS PROGGED FOR THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA AND ADJACENT
FOOTHILLS. SNOW LEVELS WILL RANGE BETWEEN 6000 AND 6500 FEET FOR
MOST OF THIS EVENT WITH HEAVY SNOW LIKELY IN ELEVATIONS ABOVE
7000 FEET.

THE MEDIUM RANGE MODELS ARE IN FAIRLY GOOD AGREEMENT ON A WEAKER
SYSTEM PUSHING THROUGH OUR AREA ON WEDNESDAY WHICH WILL BRING
ANOTHER PERIOD OF PRECIPITATION TO THE CENTRAL CA FOLLOWED BY A
COLD STORM THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING WHICH WILL BRING COLDER
TEMPERATURES TO OUR AREA AND PRODUCE SNOW IN THE SOUTHERN SIERRA
NEVADA FOOTHILLS AND OVER THE MOUNTAIN PASSES OF THE KERN COUNTY
MOUNTAINS.

&&

.AVIATION...
AREAS OF MVFR CONDITIONS WITH LOCAL IFR THROUGH 18Z WILL PREVAIL
ACROSS THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY. ELSEWHERE...VFR CONDITIONS WILL
PREVAIL ACROSS THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INTERIOR DURING THE NEXT 24
HOURS.

&&

.AIR QUALITY ISSUES...
ON SUNDAY JANUARY 3 2016... FIREPLACE/WOOD STOVE BURNING STATUS
IS: NO BURNING UNLESS REGISTERED IN FRESNO... KINGS AND TULARE
COUNTIES.
FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT VALLEYAIR.ORG

&&

.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 01-03       72:1948     35:1961     55:1900     23:1976
KFAT 01-04       71:1948     35:1961     53:1986     22:1976
KFAT 01-05       71:1927     35:1961     53:1986     20:1949

KBFL 01-03       75:1930     40:1983     50:1978     23:1930
KBFL 01-04       70:2012     39:1983     53:1986     14:1908
KBFL 01-05       74:1921     37:1947     53:1986     21:1949
&&

.HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 AM PST MONDAY CAZ092-095.

&&

PUBLIC...MV
AVN/FW...DUDLEY
PREV DISCUSSION...DS
SYNOPSIS...BSO

WEATHER.GOV/HANFORD

Event by event

8 winter storm, 2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Kern Cty Mtns

When: January 3, 11:32 AM PST to January 4, 3:13 AM PST
Where: Kern Cty Mtns forecast zone
Measured: 71 kt (82 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS

Grapevine Peak RAWS reported a 82 MPH wind gust at 1132 PST.

High Wind, Kern Cty Mtns

When: January 3, 12:18 PM PST to January 4, 3:13 AM PST
Where: Kern Cty Mtns forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Bear Valley Springs station reported a 60 MPH wind gust.

Winter Storm, S Sierra Mtns

When: January 4, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 8:00 PM PST
Where: S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

Yosemite Valley reported 17 inches of snowfall.

Winter Storm, S Sierra Mtns

When: January 4, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 8:00 PM PST
Where: S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
Reported by: Public

Shaver Lake reported 16 inches of snowfall.

Winter Storm, S Sierra Mtns

When: January 4, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 8:00 PM PST
Where: S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
Reported by: Public

Bass Lake reported 15 inches of snowfall.

Winter Storm, S Sierra Mtns

When: January 4, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 8:00 PM PST
Where: S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
Reported by: Public

Florence Lake reported 14 inches of snowfall.

Winter Storm, S Sierra Mtns

When: January 4, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 8:00 PM PST
Where: S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
Reported by: Public

Lake Wishon reported 14 inches of snowfall.

Winter Storm, S Sierra Mtns

When: January 4, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 8:00 PM PST
Where: S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
Reported by: Public

Cedar Grove reported 14 inches of snowfall.

Winter Storm, Tulare Cty Mtns

When: January 4, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 8:00 PM PST
Where: Tulare Cty Mtns forecast zone
Reported by: Public

Grant Grove reported 17 inches of snowfall.

Winter Storm, Tulare Cty Mtns

When: January 4, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 8:00 PM PST
Where: Tulare Cty Mtns forecast zone
Reported by: Public

Camp Nelson reported 16 inches of snowfall.

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in California in 2016 Every state in 2016 This day in weather history Warnings in California, January 2016

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: 616980, 616983, 616985, 616986, 616987, 616989, 616991, 616992, 616993, 616994.