Heavy Snow, S Sierra Mtns
- When
- March 5, 4:00 PM PST to March 6, 9:30 AM PST
- Where
- S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
- Reported by
- Park/Forest Service
Yosemite National Park Service personnel measured 26.0 inches of snowfall for storm total.
Heavy Snow and High Wind in California, March 5 to 6, 2016
A series of low pressure systems moving around a large longwave low centered over the Gulf of Alaska moved on shore from the west into central and northern California. These systems had tapped into moisture from the sub tropical jet and were characterized as atmospheric river type storms.
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $100
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 7
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 series of low pressure systems moving around a large longwave low centered over the Gulf of Alaska moved on shore from the west into central and northern California. These systems had tapped into moisture from the sub tropical jet and were characterized as atmospheric river type storms. High elevation heavy snows and low elevation rains along with winds accompanied these systems.
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 5, 1:13 PM PST, 2 hours 47 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 5, 1:13 PM PST, 2 hours 47 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA 113 PM PST SAT MAR 5 2016 .SYNOPSIS... A SERIES OF STORM SYSTEMS WILL CONTINUE TO BRING WET WEATHER TO CENTRAL CALIFORNIA THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK. THESE STORM SYSTEMS WILL BRING SUBSTANTIAL VALLEY AND FOOTHILL RAIN...MOUNTAIN SNOW...BREEZY WINDS...AND POSSIBLE ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS. && .DISCUSSION...FIRST STORM HAS MOVED THROUGH THE REGION WITH RAINFALL AMOUNTS WELL OVER 1 INCH IN MERCED COUNTY. THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR ANTECEDENT SOIL MOISTURE AND RUN OFF AS WE TRANSITION TO STORMS TWO AND THREE OVER THE NEXT 48 HOURS. RADAR SHOWS CONTINUING BANDS OF LIGHT SHOWERS MOVING ACROSS THE AREA ON VERY MOIST AND STRONG SOUTHWEST TO WESTERLY FLOW. ENOUGH INSTABILITY EXISTS FOR SOME ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING AND RADAR IS SHOWING SOME ENHANCING CELLS AS MAX SUN HEATING IS OCCURRING. VISIBLE SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS THICKENING CLOUDS OFF THE COAST IN AGREEMENT WITH INFRARED COOLING CLOUD TOPS AS LIFT AND DYNAMICS INCREASE. WATER VAPOR IMAGERY INDICATES A WELL FORMED ATMOSPHERIC RIVER EXTENDING WELL BACK TO THE WEST WITH MORNING OAKLAND SOUNDING GIVING 1.25" PRECIPITABLE WATER. GIVEN THIS, THE STAGE IS SET FOR A VERY WET AND STORMY PERIOD OF WEATHER BEGINNING THIS EVENING AN CONTINUING INTO SUNDAY MORNING. FORECAST MODELS BRING A STRONG TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE INTO AND ACROSS THE AREA TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING WITH BRIEF BREAK OCCURRING FROM MID MORNING SUNDAY THROUGH LATER SUNDAY AFTERNOON BEFORE A SECOND TROUGH SWINGS INTO THE COAST. LATEST LIQUID PRECIPITATION OF UP TO 4 INCHES IN THE LOWER SIERRA SLOPES AND FOOTHILLS AND 1-2 INCHES IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY ARE LIKELY. FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT. WITH ESTIMATED SNOW AMOUNTS UP TO 62 INCHES IN THE YOSEMITE HIGH COUNTRY AND VALUES AS MUCH AS 45 INCHES IN SEQUOIA PARK...UPDATES TO THE WINTER STORM WARNING TO INCREASE SNOW AMOUNTS FROM 2-4 FEET TO 3-5 FEET ARE FORTHCOMING. WINDS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING WILL BE ON THE INCREASE OVER REGION AS THE TROUGH APPROACHES THE COAST AND FORECAST WINDS VALUES LOOK ON TRACK FOR THE ADVISORIES TO CONTINUE. MODELS CONTINUE TO BRING COLDER AIR INTO THE AREA SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY WITH THE SECOND TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE AND IN THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS, SNOW IS LIKELY DOWN TO PASS LEVELS. THE WINTER STORM WATCH WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT. THIS MAY NEED TO GET UPGRADED IF LATER MODEL DATA KEEPS THE FORECAST SNOW AMOUNTS IN PLACE. A BRIEF LOOK INTO THE FORECAST FOR NEXT WEEK SHOWS MODELS PROJECTING A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE TO REBUILD LATE MONDAY INTO WEDNESDAY THEN WEAKEN THURSDAY WITH NEW STORMS ARRIVING FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT. SO...2 MORE DAYS OF VERY WET TO BE FOLLOWED BY 3 DAYS OF DRY AND MORE WET LATE NEXT WEEK. && .AVIATION... IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AND FOOTHILLS...AREAS OF MVFR AND LOCAL IFR CONDITIONS IN SHOWERS...WITH ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE UNTIL 00Z SUN. IN THE SOUTHERN SIERRA AND TEHACHAPI MOUNTAINS... MOUNTAIN OBSCURATIONS WITH WIDESPREAD IFR CONDITIONS IN RAIN/SNOW SHOWERS. WIDESPREAD GUSTY WINDS AREA WIDE THROUGH 12Z 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 HIGH. CERTAINTY LEVELS INCLUDE LOW...MEDIUM...AND HIGH. PLEASE VISIT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/HNX/CERTAINTY.PHP FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AN/OR TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK. && .HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WIND ADVISORY FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 8 PM PST SUNDAY CAZ098-099. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT PST TONIGHT CAZ089>091-093. FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM 9 PM PST THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON CAZ093-094-096-097. WIND ADVISORY FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 AM PST SUNDAY CAZ092-094-095. WINTER STORM WATCH FROM SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON CAZ095. WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 PM PST MONDAY CAZ096-097. && PUBLIC...DUDLEY AVN/FW...MV SYNOPSIS...WP WEATHER.GOV/HANFORD
Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 5, 4:53 AM PST, 11 hours 7 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA 453 AM PST SAT MAR 5 2016 CAZ096-097-061300- SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON- TULARE COUNTY MOUNTAINS- 453 AM PST SAT MAR 5 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA. ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 PM PST MONDAY... ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON... ...WINTER STORM WITH HEAVY RAIN AND SNOW... .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT...SEE SFOWSWHNX FOR DETAILS. FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT...SEE SFOFFAHNX FOR DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON...SEE SFOWSWHNX FOR DETAILS. FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON...SEE SFOFFAHNX FOR DETAILS. * 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>091-061300- WEST CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-EAST CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY- SOUTHWESTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY- 453 AM PST SAT MAR 5 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHWESTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY. ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT PST TONIGHT... ...GUSTY WINDS AND THUNDERSTORMS... .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT...SEE SFONPWHNX FOR DETAILS. * TIMING: THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON. * LOCATIONS INCLUDE: THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY. * IMPACTS: DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAINFALL...SMALL HAIL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY * THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE SUNDAY AND MONDAY. STORMS COULD PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY DOWNPOURS...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. * 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. CAZ092-061300- SOUTHEASTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY- 453 AM PST SAT MAR 5 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE SOUTHEASTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY. ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 AM PST SUNDAY... ...GUSTY WINDS AND THUNDERSTORMS... .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT TONIGHT...SEE SFONPWHNX FOR DETAILS. * TIMING: THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON. * LOCATIONS INCLUDE: THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY. * IMPACTS: DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAINFALL...SMALL HAIL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY MORNING...SEE SFONPWHNX FOR DETAILS. * THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE SUNDAY AND MONDAY. STORMS COULD PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY DOWNPOURS...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. * 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. CAZ094-061300- TULARE COUNTY FOOTHILLS- 453 AM PST SAT MAR 5 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE TULARE COUNTY FOOTHILLS. ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 AM PST SUNDAY... ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON... ...GUSTY WINDS WITH HEAVY RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS... .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT TONIGHT...SEE SFONPWHNX FOR DETAILS. FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT...SEE SFOFFAHNX FOR DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY MORNING...SEE SFONPWHNX FOR DETAILS. FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON...SEE SFOFFAHNX FOR DETAILS. * THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE SUNDAY AND MONDAY. STORMS COULD PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY DOWNPOURS...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. * 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. CAZ093-061300- MARIPOSA MADERA AND FRESNO COUNTY FOOTHILLS- 453 AM PST SAT MAR 5 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE MARIPOSA MADERA AND FRESNO COUNTY FOOTHILLS. ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT PST TONIGHT... ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON... ...GUSTY WINDS WITH HEAVY RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS... .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT...SEE SFONPWHNX FOR DETAILS. FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT...SEE SFOFFAHNX FOR DETAILS. * TIMING: THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON. * LOCATIONS INCLUDE: MARIPOSA...MADERA AND FRESNO COUNTY FOOTHILLS. * IMPACTS: DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAINFALL...SMALL HAIL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON...SEE SFOFFAHNX FOR DETAILS. * THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE SUNDAY AND MONDAY. STORMS COULD PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY DOWNPOURS...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. * 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. CAZ095-061300- KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS- 453 AM PST SAT MAR 5 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS. ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 AM PST SUNDAY... ...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON... ...WINTER STORM WITH GUSTY WINDS AND SNOW DOWN TO PASS LEVELS... .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT TONIGHT...SEE SFONPWHNX FOR DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY MORNING...SEE SFONPWHNX FOR DETAILS. WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON. SEE SFOWSWHNX FOR DETAILS. * 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. CAZ098-099-061300- INDIAN WELLS VALLEY-SOUTHEASTERN KERN COUNTY DESERT- 453 AM PST SAT MAR 5 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE KERN COUNTY DESERT. ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 8 PM PST SUNDAY... ...GUSTY WINDS... .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT TONIGHT...SEE SFONPWHNX FOR DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING...SEE SFONPWHNX FOR DETAILS. * 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. DCH
Event by event
5 heavy snow, 1 strong wind, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy Snow, S Sierra Mtns
- When
- March 5, 4:00 PM PST to March 6, 9:30 AM PST
- Where
- S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
Estimated report from 7 SSE Florence Lake SNOTEL of 25.0 inches of snowfall for storm total.
Heavy Snow, S Sierra Mtns
- When
- March 5, 4:00 PM PST to March 6, 9:30 AM PST
- Where
- S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
Estimated report from 7NNW Devils Postpile SNOTEL of 22.0 inches of snowfall for storm total.
Heavy Snow, S Sierra Mtns
- When
- March 5, 4:00 PM PST to March 6, 9:30 AM PST
- Where
- S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
Estimated report from 12 ENE Lake Wishon SNOTEL of 21.0 inches of snowfall for storm total.
Heavy Snow, Tulare Cty Mtns
- When
- March 5, 4:00 PM PST to March 6, 9:30 AM PST
- Where
- Tulare Cty Mtns forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
Estimated report from 17 ESE Lodgepole SNOTEL of 21.0 inches of snowfall for storm total.
Strong Wind, W Central S.J. Valley
- When
- March 5, 8:45 PM PST to 8:50 PM PST
- Where
- W Central S.J. Valley forecast zone
- Measured
- 35 kt (40 mph) measured gust
- Property damage
- $100
- Reported by
- AWOS
Merced Castle Airport (KMER) AWOS report of wind gusts of 40 mph at 2045 PST. Nearby a tree was downed on Vine Street in Merced near garlic factory at approximately 2033 PST.
High Wind, S Sierra Mtns
- When
- March 6, 8:59 AM PST to 9:15 AM PST
- Where
- S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
- Measured
- 61 kt (70 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- RAWS
Reported gust of 70 mph at Minarets RAWS station at 0859 PST on March 6.
What these are
- Heavy Snow
- Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
- Strong Wind
- Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.
- High Wind
- Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- High Surf in Hawaii, March 5 to 6, 2016
- Debris Flow and Heavy Snow in California, March 5 to 7, 2016
- High Wind in Oregon, March 5, 2016
- Heavy Snow in California, March 5 to 7, 2016
- Heavy Snow and High Wind in California, March 5 to 6, 2016
- High Wind in Massachusetts, March 5, 2016
- High Wind in Washington, March 5, 2016
- High Wind in Oregon, March 5, 2016
- High Wind in California, March 5, 2016
- High Wind in Oregon, March 5, 2016
- High Wind in Oregon, March 5 to 6, 2016
- High Wind in Washington, March 5 to 6, 2016
More
Every storm in California in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in California, March 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: 627014, 627015, 627016, 627017, 627018, 627019, 627012.