A quick moving upper level trough dug into the Pacific Northwest and far northern portion of California. Brought light Valley rain to the region in addition to some mountain snow.
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.
A quick moving upper level trough dug into the Pacific Northwest and far northern portion of California. Brought light Valley rain to the region in addition to some mountain snow. Snow levels with this system started off around mountain pass levels in the Sierra and fell to roughly 4000 to 5000 feet for the morning of Dec 17. Difficult travel occurred as chain controls were hoisted due to slick roads from snow.
4 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Storm total snow reports from ski resorts peppered across the Sierra ranged from 3 to 7 inches of fresh snow accumulation.
Caltrans reported 6 inches of new snow accumulation at Kingvale and Soda Springs maintenance yards and 4 inches of snow at Donner Summit.
The COOP station in Chester, CA reported 3 inches of new snow.
A CoCoRaHS station in Meadow Valley, CA reported 1 inch of new snow.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in California, December 2020
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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 934836, 934837, 934842, 934845.