A strong low pressure system slowly moved across central California on December 10 and 11 providing the area with moderate to heavy precipitation. The precipitation fell as snow above 5000 feet with several SNOTEL stations picking up between 18 and 30 inches of estimated new snowfall.
Every event with a place to put it; 17 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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 HNX wrote it up.
A strong low pressure system slowly moved across central California on December 10 and 11 providing the area with moderate to heavy precipitation. The precipitation fell as snow above 5000 feet with several SNOTEL stations picking up between 18 and 30 inches of estimated new snowfall. The snow level lowered to near 3000 feet by the afternoon of December 11 with some stations in the Sierra Nevada and higher foothills picking up between 3 and 6 inches of new snowfall. Many stations in the Sierra Nevada received between 3 and 5 inches of liquid precipitation while the adjacent foothills picked up between 1.5 and 3 inches of rainfall and much of the San Joaquin Valley and Tehachapi Mountains received between half an inch and an inch of rainfall. The precipitation did change over the snow in the Tehachapi Mountains above 4000 feet, but snowfall amounts were generally light. Rain shadowing effects limited precipitation across the Kern County Deserts with most stations receiving between a tenth of an inch and a quarter inch of rainfall. The precipitation tapered off during the evening of December 11 and ended by midday on December 12.
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 10, 3:36 AM PST, 6 hours 24 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 336 AM PST Sat Dec 10 2022 .SYNOPSIS... A strong storm system will bring rain and mountain snow to Central California this weekend. Freezing temperatures are likely in the San Joaquin Valley for much of next week. Another storm system is forecast for late next week and into the following weekend. && .DISCUSSION... Central California is currently ahead of the next storm system to affect the region as the atmosphere begins to mix. This mixing has allow the region to remain mostly fog-free as clouds increase from the north. The main area of energy associated with the next storm system is affecting Northern California as areas near the Oregon border have observed 12 hour precipitation totals of between a half to almost one and a half inches of precipitation. The latest timing of having the precipitation enter the district this morning before day-break and mainly over the mountains. This will be followed by more widespread precipitation that includes the Valley an hour or so after sunrise. The main area of energy will move over Central California later tonight as precipitation becomes heavier along with increases in surface winds that will enhance orographic precipitation and warrant the current winter storm warning. This first storm will provide the area with much needed precipitation before exiting the region on Monday. Short-range High Resolution Ensemble Analysis has a very good handle on the current progressive pattern over the West. Even with slight differences in the track of the upper jet, the precipitation projects have remained relatively unchanged for several days now. Therefore, confidence is high on the possible unsettled weather pattern with generally light to moderate precipitation across the lower elevations. The orientation and position of the upper jet will support enhanced orographic precipitation across Central California with the main focus later sunset tonight and early Sunday morning. While some clearing may be observed, instability indices show the most unstable air closer to the cold front as it moves through Central California near the sunset hour. Therefore, will expect minimal convective activity today. Convection potential may be slightly high on Sunday in a post cold front environment. Yet, at the same time, precipitation intensity may also begin diminishing and drop below warning criteria. Will evaluate winter storm on late Sunday to adjust ending time if needed. Longer range ensemble analysis still looking at a brief low in the weather activity on Monday. Yet, this low in the weather may also allow for better fog development for the start of the work week. In addition, the disturbance and cold frontal passage will allow for cold air to surge into the area as the air-mass over Central California remains cold. Afterward, uncertainty remains high in how the atmosphere will evolve in the long term. Will mention a chance of precipitation going into late Thursday and Friday, but will remain pessimistic until ensemble show better consensus as the system approaches the short-term. Yet, these storm remain continue the cold temperatures over the region going toward the end of the seven day forecast. && .AVIATION... MVFR conditions expected after 15Z Saturday due to showers at MCE and MER, spreading southward to FAT & VIS after 18Z Saturday, and to BFL by 00Z Sunday. Gusty winds with gusts around 35-45 kts expected over the Coastal Ranges along the west side of the San Joaquin Valley after 18Z Saturday. Also expect IFR conditions due to rain, snow, and mountain obscurations over the Sierra Nevada after 12Z Saturday. Otherwise, VFR conditions expected across central California for the next 24 hours. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES... On Saturday December 10 2022,Fireplace/Wood Stove Burning Status is: No Burning Unless Registered in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, and Tulare Counties. Burning Discouraged in Merced County, and Kern (Greater Frazier Park Area) and Sequoia National Park and Forest. && .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... Wind Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 4 PM PST this afternoon for CAZ300-304-308. Wind Advisory from 2 PM this afternoon to 4 AM PST Sunday for CAZ313-335-336. Winter Storm Warning until 4 AM PST Monday for CAZ318-323-324- 326. Winter Storm Warning from 10 AM this morning to 4 AM PST Monday for CAZ325-327>331. && Public/Aviation/Fire Wx...Molina IDSS/PIO/Social Media.....JDB weather.gov/hanford
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
17 heavy snow, 8 flood, 7 debris flow. Local standard time, as filed.
Tuolumne Meadows (8600 feet) Park Rangers measured 42 inches of new snowfall.
The Ostrander Lake SNOTEL (8200 feet) picked up an estimated 26 inches of new snowfall.
The Tenaya Lake SNOTEL (8150 feet) picked up an estimated 21 inches of new snowfall.
The Paradise Meadow SNOTEL (7676 feet) picked up an estimated 27 inches of new snowfall.
The Lower Kibbie Ridge SNOTEL (6479 feet) picked up an estimated 22 inches of new snowfall.
The Kaiser Point SNOTEL (9131 feet) picked up an estimated 18 inches of new snowfall.
The Devil's Postpile SNOTEL (8004 feet) picked up an estimated 26 inches of new snowfall.
The Green Mountain SNOTEL (7900 feet) picked up an estimated 25 inches of new snowfall.
The Chilkoot Meadow SNOTEL (7150 feet) picked up an estimated 23 inches of new snowfall.
The Poison Ridge SNOTEL (6988 feet) picked up an estimated 19 inches of new snowfall.
The Graveyard Meadows SNOTEL (6897 feet) picked up an estimated 19 inches of new snowfall.
The Upper Burnt Corral SNOTEL (9700 feet) picked up an estimated 19 inches of new snowfall.
The West Woodchuck Meadow SNOTEL (9209 feet) picked up an estimated 19 inches of new snowfall.
The Volcanic Knob SNOTEL (10050 feet) picked up an estimated 25 inches of new snowfall.
The Big Meadows SNOTEL (7599 feet) picked up an estimated 23 inches of new snowfall.
The Crabtree Meadow SNOTEL (10700 feet) picked up an estimated 18 inches of new snowfall.
The Wet Meadows SNOTEL (9019 feet) picked up an estimated 23 inches of new snowfall.
California Highway Patrol reported a debris flow with boulders on the roadway on SR 140 5NNW Midpines.
California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding on SR J59 in Snelling.
California Highway Patrol reported a tree in the roadway on Jerseydale Rd. 5E Midpines.
Report on MPING of Dry Creek overflowing in Clovis flooding nearby basements.
California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding on northbound SR 99 in Atwater.
California Highway Patrol reported a mudslide on SR 41 in Oakhurst.
California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding at the intersection of N. Fox and W. Cardella in Atwater.
California Highway Patrol reported falling rocks with regards to a collision 5SW Coalinga on SR 198.
California Highway Patrol reported a tree in the roadway near Cuddy Valley.
California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding at the intersection of Westside and Lincoln Boulevards in Livingston.
California Highway Patrol reported a large boulder and trees on the roadway near the intersection of Bear Valley Rd. and Hunters Valley Rd.
California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding at the intersection of interstate 5 and Manning Ave 16SW Mendota.
California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding on Interstate 5 just north of the intersection with SR 33 north of Coalinga.
California Highway Patrol reported a 500 pound boulder on the roadway just east of Huntington Lake.
California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding near the intersection of Lee and Bradbury Roads.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in California, December 2022
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: 1060479, 1060480, 1060481, 1060482, 1060483, 1060484, 1060485, 1060486, 1060487, 1060488, 1060489, 1060490, 1060491, 1060492, 1060493, 1060494, 1060495, 1060472, 1060464, 1060473, 1060465, 1060466, 1060474, 1060467, 1060475, 1060476, 1060468, 1060477, 1060469, 1060470, 1060478, 1060471.