Winter Storm and Heavy Rain in California, March 1 to 4, 2018

Name: Winter Storm and Heavy Rain in California, March 1 to 4, 2018
Start: 2018-03-01T00:00
End: 2018-03-04T17:00
Location: California

March 1 to 4, 2018 · NWS STO · 5 events in 4 counties and zones

Mountain snow continued into early March, with storm totals up to around 5 feet. There were also periods of heavy rain in the Central Valley and foothills.

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

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The toll

Deaths: 2
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 5

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 STO wrote it up.

Mountain snow continued into early March, with storm totals up to around 5 feet. There were also periods of heavy rain in the Central Valley and foothills.

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 Sacramento, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 28, 1:57 PM PST, 10 hours 3 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 28, 1:57 PM PST, 10 hours 3 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Sacramento CA
157 PM PST Wed Feb 28 2018

.SYNOPSIS...
Heavy snow and gusty winds will impact the foothills and
mountains with heavy rain showers and isolated thunderstorms over
the valley later today into the weekend. A brief drying out
period Monday and Tuesday will be followed by another shot of
precipitation mid week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
All eyes on major winter storm that will move into the area later
today. Snow will begin this afternoon, reaching the Interstate 80
and Highway 50 corridors by the evening commute. Snow levels will
begin between 3000-4000 feet as snow picks up in intensity tonight
into Thursday. By Thursday morning, blizzard conditions are
possible in the Sierra as strong winds will combine with blowing
snow to create whiteout conditions. This will likely continue
until the cold front passes through during the evening hours.
Still a bit of uncertainty, but snow levels may temporarily drop
down into portions of the northern Sacramento Valley, including
Redding, behind the cold front Thursday night into Friday morning.
Some light accumulations possible but confidence in that remains
low. Another wave will rotate through on Friday, with snow
becoming more showery, before picking up again Friday evening into
Saturday as third wave moves though. Snow levels generally in the
1500-2500 foot range during this period. When all is said and
done, 3 to 5 feet of snow is possible above 3500 feet. Locations
at highest elevations may see in excess of 6-7 feet with a foot
or more across some foothill locations. Travel over the mountains
is highly discouraged, as conditions will be extremely hazardous.
There will be a major travel impact with this storm, due to the
large extent of mountain roads covered by snow and extent into
foothill communities.

Down at in the Valley, light to moderate rainfall possible
tonight into Saturday. It won't be raining the entire time as
precipitation becomes more showery Thursday evening into Saturday.
Totals generally in the one-half to two inch range. Not expecting
much in the way of impacts from the rain, though could see some
localized minor flooding in areas of poor drainage. Thunderstorms
may fire up Thursday and Friday afternoons, though coverage will
likely be spotty. Any storm will have the possibility of localized
downpours and accumulating small hail. In addition, breezy winds
expected on Thursday as cold front moves through so will be
hoisting a wind advisory. Sustained winds of 25-30 mph with gusts
of 40 to 55 mph during the day.

Storm finally begins to wind down Saturday night as trough shifts
to the east. Travel impacts may linger depending on how fast crews
can get the roads back in shape.

CEO

&&

.EXTENDED DISCUSSION (Sunday THROUGH Wednesday)
A weak ridge builds in for the start of the extended period and
that will bring quiet dry weather. Come mid weak we will see the
ridge push to the east and an upper level low drop south into the
region. There is model disagreement at this time as the Euro keeps
this system off to the west over the Pacific while the GFS pushes
it right over NorCal. The system will be warmer than the current
one moving in but snow still would fall at pass levels with snow
levels 4000 to 5500 feet.

-CJM

&&

.AVIATION...
Conditions will deteriorate quickly this evening as rain pushes
into the Valley and snow over the higher elevations. Cigs will be
1500 to 3000 feet. Rain with low cig continue into Thursday
afternoon along with the chances for scattered t-storms. Strong
southerly winds develop this evening and will be 15-25 knots
gusting to 35 knots. MVFR/IFR conditions expected after 6z
Thursday.

-CJM

&&

.STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Storm Warning until 10 PM PST Saturday for Burney Basin /
Eastern Shasta County-Clear Lake/Southern Lake County-Motherlode-
Mountains Southwestern Shasta County to Northern Lake County-
Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley-Shasta Lake Area /
Northern Shasta County-West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada-Western
Plumas County/Lassen Park.

Wind Advisory from 7 AM to 8 PM PST Thursday for Carquinez
Strait and Delta-Central Sacramento Valley-Northern Sacramento
Valley-Northern San Joaquin Valley-Southern Sacramento Valley.

&&

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 heavy rain, 2 winter storm, 1 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, Butte

When: March 1, 12:00 AM PST to March 2, 7:00 PM PST
Where: Butte County, 1.07 mi W of South Oroville
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 39.500, -121.570

Heavy rain fell. The 24 hour total rainfall was 1.63.

Heavy Rain, Plumas

When: March 1, 12:00 AM PST to 8:00 PM PST
Where: Plumas County, 1.27 mi WSW of East Quincy
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 39.920, -120.920

The 24 hour total rainfall was 1.60. Some wet snow mixed in at times.

Winter Storm, West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada

When: March 1, 12:00 AM PST to March 4, 7:00 AM PST
Where: West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways

Major travel disruptions occurred from very heavy snow coupled with gusty winds. Whiteout conditions prompted the closure of a 70-mile stretch of I80 in both directions, from around noon to 3 pm on March 1. Highway 88 near the Kirkwood ski resort was also shut down for several hours. Caltrans road sensors also recorded significant delays and major slow downs on I80 on March 4th. Highway 50 and other mountain highways were also heavily impacted with chain controls and slowdowns.

Caltrans reported the following 24 hour snow totals at Donner Summit (elevation 7,239 feet) on I80: 8 on March 1, 18 on March 2, 8 on March 3, 8 on March 4, for a storm total of 62. There was a storm total of 58 measured at Kingvale, elevation 6100 feet.

Accumulating snow was reported down into the lower Sierra, with a storm total of 13 at Camino (3100 feet).

Winter Storm, Mt Shasta/Western Plumas County

When: March 1, 12:00 AM PST to March 4, 7:00 AM PST
Where: Mt Shasta/Western Plumas County forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways

Travel disruptions occurred from periods of heavy snow, with chain controls and slowdowns. Plumas County schools were closed. Lower Lassen Peak reported 28 of new snow on March 2, Quincy 5.

Winter Weather, West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada

When: March 4, 4:30 PM PST to 5:00 PM PST
Where: West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada forecast zone
Deaths: 0 direct, 2 indirect
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A mother and son died after returning from a day of skiing to their vacation condominium in Kirkwood. A chunk of snow about the size of a trailer fell from the roof of their vacation condominium, burying them under about 3 feet of snow.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Winter Weather, West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada	2018-03-04	50	Female	Outside/Open Areas	Indirect
Winter Weather, West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada	2018-03-04	7	Male	Outside/Open Areas	Indirect

What these are

Heavy Rain: Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
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

Every storm in California in 2018 Every state in 2018 This day in weather history Warnings in California, March 2018

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: 741532, 741533, 741534, 741536, 747142.