Flooding and Heavy Snow in California, December 22 to 24, 2019

Name: Flooding and Heavy Snow in California, December 22 to 24, 2019
Start: 2019-12-22T03:27
End: 2019-12-24T08:00
Location: California

December 22 to 24, 2019 · NWS HNX · 12 events in 7 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: $2,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 12

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 frontal system slowly moved east across central California on December 22 and 23. Strong winds ahead of the system impacted the Fort Tejon area as well as the west side hills of the San Joaquin Valley and the Bakersfield area where there were a few reports of minor wind damage. Widespread gusts of 50 mph or higher were reported in the foothill and mountain areas with a couple of stations near Lebec reporting gusts exceeding 75 mph. After the winds diminished during the afternoon of December 22, widespread precipitation spread across the area with several reports of 1 to 1.5 inches of liquid precipitation in the Sierra Nevada and adjacent foothills. Rain shadowing generally kept precipitation totals down in the San Joaquin Valley where most locations picked up between a quarter and half and inch of rainfall. A swath of moderate to locally heavy rainfall was observed in central Tulare County during the evening of December 22 as the main low pressure center tracked north through the area and impacted Porterville, Lindsay and Exeter. The precipitation mainly fell as snow above 5000 feet and several stations in the higher Sierra picked up between 10 and 15 inches of new snowfall.

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, 3:37 PM PST, 11 hours 50 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 21, 3:37 PM PST, 11 hours 50 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Hanford CA
337 PM PST Sat Dec 21 2019

Updated Air Quality Issues section

.SYNOPSIS...An increase in clouds tonight will be followed by
rain and mountain snow Sunday through Monday along with colder
temperatures and gusty southeast winds at times in some
locations. Precipitation will linger over the mountains Tuesday
while much of the district gets a break from wet weather. Another
storm will bring a return of rain and mountain snow to the region
Christmas Day into Thursday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Mid and high level cloud cover with mild
temperatures and occasional gusty east/southeast winds near the
Grapevine are occurring at this time. The next precipitation
event is expected to begin by Sunday morning in the central
California interior. Main concerns during the next 48 hours
include gusty winds through Sunday and precipitation chances for
Sunday through Monday. The initial band of precipitation is
progged to move onshore late tonight and pass over the Central San
Joaquin Valley beginning early Sunday morning. Precipitation
chances spread further inland by the late morning hours and south
towards Kern County by Sunday afternoon. Latest updated high
resolution guidance is showing an increase in winds even into
portions of the western San Joaquin Valley. So, we have added a
Wind Advisory for these areas, as gusty winds could spread near
Lemoore NAS and impact travel along Interstate 5 and other nearby
highways, starting late this afternoon or early this evening and
continuing until Sunday afternoon. Winds are expected to continue
to increase in the hills along the west side of the San Joaquin
Valley, although the direction will be mainly from the
south/southwest in these areas. In the meantime, expect gusty east
to southeast winds to increase below the Grapevine and over the
Tehachapi Mountains by this evening. Also, gusty winds will spread
into portions of the San Joaquin Valley, including the western
and southern end, and also continue into Sunday.

In addition, we issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the
Grapevine area for elevations mainly above 5,000 feet where
several inches of snow is expected starting late Sunday afternoon.
It is conceivable that some snow may accumulate at the pass
levels along Interstate 5 in Kern County by Monday morning.
Otherwise, snow is expected to begin Sunday morning in the Sierra
Nevada from Yosemite NP to the Tulare County mountains. Snow
levels could briefly rise to above 6,000 feet on Sunday morning
and afternoon in the Sierra and will then lower the following
evening into Monday morning. Precipitation amounts in the lower
elevations will be generally light to moderate during Sunday and
Monday, although some brief heavy rain is possible at times when
the initial precipitation band passes through the day on Sunday.

Lingering showers will continue through at least Monday evening
and possibly into Tuesday morning in the mountain areas.
Persistent cloud cover is also likely in much of Central
California for Tuesday and Christmas Eve, as the next system will
arrive by Christmas Day. More precipitation will begin over the
Sierra during the morning hours and spread into much of the region
by the afternoon. This system is expected to bring precipitation
to Central California until at least Thursday. This storm will be
colder, and snow is expected around 3500 feet, and possibly lower
at times. This will likely impact travel through the Grapevine
once again, as well as through the Sierra foothills and the
Tehachapi Pass for mainly during Wednesday evening into Thursday.
Cloud cover over the region will linger, along with a slight
chance for showers in the mountains, until Friday morning.

It appears we will get a break from storms for next weekend as a
ridge of high pressure moves over the West Coast and further
inland. However, dense fog will likely return to the San Joaquin
Valley.

&&

.AVIATION...
Brisk southeast to southwest winds of 35 knots or greater can be
expected over the Kern County mountains, the north facing slopes
of the Tehachapi Mountains, portions of the west side of the San
Joaquin Valley, and adjacent hills through at least Sunday
morning. Expect MVFR ceilings and visibility due to rain by 15Z
Sunday in the San Joaquin Valley. IFR conditions due to mountain
obscurations with precipitation are likely by 18Z Sunday in the
Sierra Nevada. Otherwise, VFR conditions will prevail over the
central California interior during the next 24 hours.

&&

.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.html for additional information and/or
to provide feedback.

&&

.HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Weather Advisory from 7 AM Sunday to 10 AM PST Monday for
CAZ192>194.

Wind Advisory until 4 PM PST Sunday for CAZ179-182.

High Wind Warning from 9 PM this evening to 4 PM PST Sunday for
CAZ197.

Winter Weather Advisory from 4 PM Sunday to 10 PM PST Monday for
CAZ197.

Wind Advisory until 9 PM PST this evening for CAZ197.

Wind Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 10 AM PST Sunday for
CAZ189.

&&

public/aviation/fw...BSO
PIO/IDSS....Meadows

weather.gov/hanford

In the hours before

Local storm report, Dec 21, 10:56 PM PST, 4 hours 31 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
1056 PM PST SAT DEC 21 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1040 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 3 SSW GRAPEVINE         34.90N 118.95W
12/21/2019  M68 MPH          KERN               CA   MESONET

            MESONET STATION PG654 LEBEC 5NW DIGIER RD
            HILLTOP.

&&

Local storm report, Dec 22, 2:11 AM PST, 1 hour 16 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
211 AM PST SUN DEC 22 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0150 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 3 SSW GRAPEVINE         34.90N 118.94W
12/22/2019  U70 MPH          KERN               CA   MESONET

            SUSTAINED WIND SPEED OF 53 MPH.

&&

KD

Local storm report, Dec 22, 2:17 AM PST, 1 hour 10 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
217 AM PST SUN DEC 22 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0138 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 1 NNW GRAPEVINE         34.96N 118.94W
12/22/2019  M48 MPH          KERN               CA   MESONET

            SUSTAINED WIND SPEED OF 37 MPH AT CHP
            AUTOMATED GAGE.

&&

KD

Local storm report, Dec 22, 2:27 AM PST, 1 hour before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
227 AM PST SUN DEC 22 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0120 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 8 WNW COALINGA          36.18N 120.50W
12/22/2019  M42 MPH          FRESNO             CA   MESONET

&&

KD

Local storm report, Dec 22, 2:32 AM PST, 55 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
232 AM PST SUN DEC 22 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0220 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 7 WSW KEENE             35.20N 118.68W
12/22/2019  M45 MPH          KERN               CA   UTILITY COMPANY

&&

KD

Local storm report, Dec 22, 2:35 AM PST, 52 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
235 AM PST SUN DEC 22 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0220 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 3 SSW GRAPEVINE         34.90N 118.94W
12/22/2019  M76 MPH          KERN               CA   MESONET

            SUSTAINED WIND SPEED OF 56 MPH.

&&

KD

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 high wind, 3 strong wind, 2 flood, 1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, West Side Hills

When: December 22, 3:27 AM PST
Where: West Side Hills forecast zone
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS

The Panoche Road RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 61 mph.

Strong Wind, Bakersfield

When: December 22, 7:39 AM PST
Where: Bakersfield forecast zone
Measured: 35 kt (40 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $500
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported a tree down on the roadway on Kilmer St. between Renfro Rd. and Rosedale Hwy.

High Wind, Fort Tejon

When: December 22, 9:32 AM PST
Where: Fort Tejon forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

The Grapevine CHP station measured a peak wind gust of 64 mph.

High Wind, Central Sierra

When: December 22, 10:00 AM PST
Where: Central Sierra forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS

The Crane Flat RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 64 mph.

High Wind, Fort Tejon

When: December 22, 10:40 AM PST
Where: Fort Tejon forecast zone
Measured: 75 kt (86 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Utility Company

The PG&E station at Digier Road Hilltop (Lebec 5NW) measured a peak wind gust of 86 mph.

High Wind, Bakersfield

When: December 22, 10:50 AM PST
Where: Bakersfield forecast zone
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Utility Company

The PG&E station at Tejon Creek (Arvin 8S) measured a peak wind gust of 66 mph.

Strong Wind, Bakersfield

When: December 22, 11:00 AM PST
Where: Bakersfield forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Kern County Emergency Manager reported David Rd. was closed from Wheeler Ridge Rd. to SR 99 due to downed power lines.

High Wind, Fort Tejon

When: December 22, 11:10 AM PST
Where: Fort Tejon forecast zone
Measured: 67 kt (77 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Utility Company

The PG&E station at Beartrap Road measured a peak wind gust of 77 mph.

Strong Wind, Bakersfield

When: December 22, 1:32 PM PST
Where: Bakersfield forecast zone
Measured: 35 kt (40 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $500
Reported by: Law Enforcement

California Highway Patrol reported a tree down in the roadway on Delight Ave. at San Emidio St. in Lamont.

Flood, Fresno

When: December 22, 6:00 PM PST to 8:00 PM PST
Where: Fresno County, 1.95 mi N of Malaga to 1.94 mi N of Malaga
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 36.708, -119.728

Fresno Police reported roadway flooding at the intersection of Jansen Ave. and Willow Ave. in Fresno.

Heavy Snow, Sequoia Kings

When: December 22, 8:00 PM PST to December 24, 8:00 AM PST
Where: Sequoia Kings forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Big Meadows SNOTEL (7600 feet) picked up an estimated 18 inches of new snow.

Flood, Kern

When: December 23, 11:30 AM PST to 1:00 PM PST
Where: Kern County, 1.36 mi WSW of Garlock to 0.86 mi SW of Garlock
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.394, -117.803

Kern County Emergency Manager reported Redrock-Randsburg Road was closed due to flooding.

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
Strong Wind: Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in California in 2019 Every state in 2019 This day in weather history Warnings in California, December 2019

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: 861824, 861830, 861829, 861825, 861827, 861826, 861831, 861828, 861832, 861994, 862044, 861995.