Low elevation snow caused significant travel problems as well as school delays and closures in the foothills. Snow also resulted in chain controls and travel slowdowns in the mountains.
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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.
Low elevation snow caused significant travel problems as well as school delays and closures in the foothills. Snow also resulted in chain controls and travel slowdowns in the mountains. The snow continued into early March, bringing additional impacts.
Thunderstorms with large amounts of small hail blanketed portions of the Sacramento, causing major travel problems. Funnel clouds were also reported in the Sacramento area, but no tornado touchdowns observed.
The Sacramento radar (KDAX), 22 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:16 UTC.
2 winter weather, 2 funnel cloud, 1 heavy snow, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A spotter at Quincy observed 11.5 of new snow, elevation 3600 feet. Chain controls and travel delays were reported in the area.
A spotter reported 14 of snow at Kingvale, with .85 liquid equivalent. Caltrans reported 20 of snow at Castle Peak. Chain controls and significant delays were experienced on mountain highways such as I80 and Highway 50. Kyburz had 4 of new snow.
At least one funnel cloud was reported near Sacramento International Airport. No touchdown or damage was observed.
A funnel cloud was reported near Plumas Lake. No touchdown was observed.
Large amounts of small hail blanketed downtown and northern Sacramento, Natomas, and adjacent portions of I5, causing major traffic problems during the afternoon commute. Hail fell 2 to 4 inches deep in portions of north Sacramento and Natomas. Snow plows were required to remove hail in some areas. |Some damage was done to awnings and parking lot covers. The California State Library roof suffered damage and leaked, with hundreds of rare books soaked with water.
A weather spotter at Sims reported 3 of snow, elevation 2500 feet. A trace of snow was also reported at Lakehead, elevation 1600 feet. This caused minor delays on I5 and mountain roads.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in California, February 2018
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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 741521, 741522, 741517, 741518, 741516, 741526.