Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in California, February 20 to 22, 2019

Name: Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in California, February 20 to 22, 2019
Start: 2019-02-20T00:00
End: 2019-02-22T13:00
Location: California

February 20 to 22, 2019 · NWS SGX · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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: $220,000
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 SGX wrote it up.

A cold upper level low moved into Southern California on February 21st and brought heavy snow, rain and hail. Top snowfall totals were above 8000 feet at locations such as Green Valley Lake, Barton Flats, and Running Springs. These locations received 18-23 inches of snow. Wrightwood received less snow, around 3 to 7 inches. Big Bear Lake received 12-18 inches and Julian received 8-12 inches. An unusual 3 to 7 inches fell in Lucerne Valley. Thundersnow occurred in the San Bernardino Mountains. Snow levels went down to 1000 feet in the Orange County foothills, and snow levels went down to 2000 ft in the San Diego County Mountains. Reports of small hail in the coastal and valley areas.

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 San Diego, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 19, 9:30 PM PST, 2 hours 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 19, 9:30 PM PST, 2 hours 30 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Diego CA
930 PM PST Tue Feb 19 2019

.SYNOPSIS...
Dry weather will continue through Wednesday morning with a cold
night tonight and areas of frost in the valleys and lower deserts.
From Wednesday afternoon through Thursday night, another cold low
pressure system from the north will bring showers with low snow
levels and strong and gusty westerly winds in the mountains and
deserts. Heavy snowfall is possible in the mountains. Dry and a
little warmer weather will occur this weekend. Small chances of
light precipitation could return for Sunday night and Monday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA INCLUDING ORANGE...
SAN DIEGO...WESTERN RIVERSIDE AND SOUTHWESTERN SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTIES...

Forecast looks on track with the next system currently elongated
from SE Alaska to off the Washington coast but clear dry conditions
over So-Cal. Winds were mostly light this evening, and temperatures
were generally near or slightly warmer than 24 hours ago, so more
frost is expected in the valleys and lower deserts overnight. Model
guidance continues to place the beginning of light precipitation
around or a little below noon Wednesday with more substantial
precipitation developing late Wednesday afternoon and evening. More
details are in the previous AFD below, but best precipitaiton will
be in San Diego County due to the better over-the-water trajectory,
with enough northwesterly flow for lighter precipitation to occur
farther north. Substantial snow in the mountains is most likely from
Big Bear south through the Riverside County and San Diego County
Mountains, with heaviest snow Thursday when the 700-500 MB layer
will be mostly saturated and below -10 C for dendritic snow crystal
growth. Right now, it looks like precipitation should mostly end
Thursday night. Don't look for warm weather anytime soon as
temperatures will remain below normal through next Tuesday, with
next Wednesday (Feb 27) being the first possibility of temperatures
at seasonal normals.

From previous discussion...

A cold, upper-level low will dive down across the West mid to late
this week, with precipitation developing across our area by
Wednesday afternoon and continuing through early Friday.
Preliminary precipitation amounts are 0.10-0.20 inches in the
deserts, 0.10-0.50 inches for Coastal Orange County and the
Inland Empire, 0.50-0.75 inches for the San Diego County Coast and
Santa Ana Mountains, 0.75-1.50 inches for the San Diego County
Valleys and the Riverside/San Bernardino County Mountains and
1.50-2.00 inches for the San Diego County Mountains. Isolated
thunderstorms are possible Thursday as the cold airmass moves into
place, which could create locally higher precipiation where
storms develop.

Snow levels will be quite low, ranging from 3000-3500 ft
Wednesday, to 1500-2500 ft Thursday and 1000-2000 ft Friday
morning, with lowest levels in San Bernardino County and highest
in San Diego County. Total snow accumulations of 1-3 inches from
2500-3500 ft, 3-5 inches from 3500-4500 ft, 5-10 inches from
4500-5500 ft and 12-16 inches above 5500 ft, with localized
amounts up to 20 inches, are expected. A Winter Storm Warning has
been issued for the mountains from 1 PM Wednesday through 1 AM
Friday for heavy snow and gusty winds. Snow may be more
infrequent Thursday afternoon for the San Bernardino County
Mountains. A dusting is possible down to 2000 ft in the mountains,
with a dusting to around an inch is possible in the High Deserts.
The Cajon, San Gorgonio and I-8 mountain passes are likely to be
affected by accumulating snow, which would create travels hazards
during the period. Westerly wind gusts of 50-60 mph are also
expected across the mountains into adjacent deserts as the system
moves across the area, mainly affecting San Diego and Riverside
Counties. A Wind Advisory has been issued for the high deserts
from 10 AM Wednesday through midnight.

Dry and cool weather will develop over the weekend, with a small
chance of light precipitation Monday morning as a system moves by
to our north. High temperatures will remain below normal into
early next week.

&&

.AVIATION...
200430Z...Mostly clear with unrestricted vis through Wednesday
morning. Increasing SCT-BKN cloud layers with bases 3000-5000 ft MSL
late Wednesday morning, lowering to around 1500-2500 ft MSL with
tops to 9000 ft MSL in -SHRA Wednesday afternoon and evening. Local
vis 3-5 SM possible in heavier showers, mainly after 21/00Z.

SW to W winds will strengthen over the mountains and deserts
Wednesday afternoon and evening. Surface gusts 30-45 kt, STG UDDFS,
LLWS, and rotors likely over and NE/E of the mountains.

&&

.MARINE...
West-northwest winds and seas will increase Wednesday afternoon as
the next storm moves in, leading to hazardous boating conditions.
Winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts 25 to 30 kt and combined seas up to 10
feet will continue into Thursday night before diminishing. There is
also a slight chance of thunderstorms Thursday afternoon. A Small
Craft Advisory is in effect for the coastal waters from 1 PM
Wednesday through 10 PM Thursday.

&&

.SKYWARN...
Skywarn activation is not requested. However weather spotters are
encouraged to report significant weather conditions.

&&

.SGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...Winter Storm Warning from 1 PM Wednesday to 1 AM PST Friday for
     Riverside County Mountains-San Bernardino County Mountains-
     San Diego County Mountains.

     Frost Advisory from 10 PM this evening to 9 AM PST Wednesday for
     San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys-The Inland
     Empire-San Diego County Valleys.

     Frost Advisory from midnight tonight to 9 AM PST Wednesday for
     Coachella Valley-San Diego County Deserts.

     Wind Advisory from 10 AM Wednesday to midnight PST Wednesday
     night for Apple and Lucerne Valleys.

PZ...Small Craft Advisory from 1 PM Wednesday to 10 PM PST Thursday
     for Coastal Waters from San Mateo Point to the Mexican
     Border and out to 30 nm-Waters from San Mateo point to the
     Mexican Border Extending 30 to 60 nm out including San
     Clemente Island.

&&

PUBLIC...Maxwell
PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...JJT
AVIATION/MARINE...SS

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 heavy snow, 1 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, San Bernardino County Mountains

When: February 20, 12:00 AM PST to February 21, 11:00 PM PST
Where: San Bernardino County Mountains forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 34.841, -116.178 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy snowfall of 12 to 24 inches impacted the San Bernardino mountains. Highway 18 and 38 were closed February 21 to 23 leaving Big Bear city shut off from traffic (highway 18 was already closed west of Big Bear City). Several small avalanches and rockslides occurred on Highway 38 causing excessive snow removal. Motorists and those recreating in Big Bear did not have an exit route until Friday afternoon after 3 pm when highway 18 north of Big Bear city re-opened.

Heavy Snow, San Diego County Mountains

When: February 20, 12:00 AM PST to February 22, 8:00 AM PST
Where: San Diego County Mountains forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy snowfall of 4 to 11 inches impacted the town of Julian and up to 22 inches along Sunrise Highway in the San Diego County mountains near Lake Cuyamaca. Snowfall caused accidents and road closures. Highways 78 and 79 were greatly affected. Snowfall of up to 1 inch occurred down to Alpine near 2500 feet elevation.

Heavy Snow, Apple and Lucerne Valleys

When: February 21, 12:00 AM PST to 5:00 PM PST
Where: Apple and Lucerne Valleys forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 34.841, -116.178 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall of 3 to as much as 10 inches occurred in Landers (High Desert) during the morning hours associated with thundersnow. As much as 12 inches reported in Yucca Valley.

Heavy Snow, Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills

When: February 21, 10:00 AM PST to 6:00 PM PST
Where: Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 33.483, -116.847 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow was reported down to 1000 feet at the end of the storm. Highway 74 was closed to 2 hours due to a burst of heavy snow (Ortega Highway) across the Santa Ana mountains.

Winter Storm, San Diego County Valleys

When: February 22, 12:00 AM PST to 1:00 PM PST
Where: San Diego County Valleys forecast zone
Property damage: $40,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Intestate 8 was closed for 12 hours due to snow covered and icy roads. Numerous accidents including at Willows road at 2600 fee where video capture a school bus sliding into the hillside.

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
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 2019 Every state in 2019 This day in weather history Warnings in California, February 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: 810281, 810290, 811064, 811065, 811063.