Another weekend storm delivered widespread rain, mountain snow and gusty winds to interior NorCal. Localized flooding, downed trees, and mountain travel impacts were observed starting on 12/9/22 through early 12/12/22.
Every event with a place to put it. 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 STO wrote it up.
Another weekend storm delivered widespread rain, mountain snow and gusty winds to interior NorCal. Localized flooding, downed trees, and mountain travel impacts were observed starting on 12/9/22 through early 12/12/22.
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 Dec 9, 2:39 PM PST, 1 hour 21 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Sacramento CA 239 PM PST Fri Dec 9 2022 .SYNOPSIS... A major winter storm will bring dangerous and near impossible mountain travel due to heavy snow and widespread Valley rain this afternoon through early Monday. Strong southerly winds will develop tonight into Saturday. Dry conditions return early next week with near freezing Valley low temperatures. && .DISCUSSION... The forecast remains on track with the next winter storm beginning to move into the northern counties (Plumas County and north) this afternoon. Lighter showers are expected through the afternoon hours before heavier precipitation begins tonight, spreading from northwest to southeast through the overnight hours. An upper- level low in the Gulf of Alaska will phase with a southern stream shortwave off the west coast by this afternoon, bringing with it a fetch of moisture (weak AR). A strong shortwave off of an upper-level low in the Gulf of Alaska is approaching the West Coast this afternoon, tapping into Pacific moisture as it deepens (weak to moderate AR). Anomalous PWAT's (2+ sigma/180-200% of Normal), strong SW- NE oriented jet streak, and added enhancement from orographic lift will lead to very heavy snowfall across the mountains for elevations mainly above 3500-4500 feet late tonight into early Monday morning, especially tomorrow as the front with the main heft of moisture moves through Northern California. HREF and other hi-res models continue to indicate snowfall rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour through the majority of the tomorrow for all of the Northern California mountains, with moderate to heavy snowfall continuing through Sunday over the Sierra. This will produce significant snowfall totals of 2 to 5 feet over the mountains. Dangerous to near impossible mountain travel is expected, with chain controls, travel delays, and road closures likely. A strong jet streak (50-70 knot at 700mb) is expected to move across NorCal late tonight through Saturday, producing strong southerly surface winds with gusts of 40 to 50 mph across the Sacramento and Northern San Joaquin Valleys. Similar, but slightly stronger winds are expected across the higher terrain with gusts to 60 mph possible. Strong winds plus heavy snow on Saturday will create near whiteout conditions, making mountain travel near impossible. In addition to heavy mountain snow and gusty winds, widespread moderate rainfall will result in rainfall totals in the Valley of 1 to 2 inches, up to 3 to 4 inches in the foothills below the snow line. Impacts expected from the long-duration rain include minor roadway ponding and urban flooding of poor drainage areas, as well as longer than normal travel. Rainfall rates are not currently expected to be a concern for burn scars. Strong dynamics will be overhead late Saturday afternoon through the evening, which may allow for some embedded lightning strikes with heavier showers. As the low center moves overhead by Sunday afternoon, instability increases slightly which will create slightly better chances for seeing isolated thunderstorms, especially south of I-80. Given the strong south to southeasterly flow ahead of the low, significant bulk shear, and 200-300 0-1km SRH, funnel clouds cannot be ruled out. To put this weather system into perspective, this upcoming system will be exponentially stronger than last night's system, and it is expected to be even more impactful than last weekend's system. Avoid mountain travel if possible. By Monday, the low center will be centered over northern Nevada, with light showers lingering through the early morning hours for the Sierra and Valley locations south of I-80. Mountain travel impacts could continue through Monday morning. Dry, northerly flow will return to the region, along with colder temperatures. //Peters/HEC && .EXTENDED DISCUSSION (Tuesday THROUGH Friday)... Upper-level ridging then builds off the CA coast following this weekend's storm, keeping weather quiet through at least Tuesday. Cluster Analysis and the latest ensembles are advertising another trough may impact the region sometime mid to late next week, but significant differences exist in the timing, strength, and impacts with this system. Temperatures are forecast to remain around 5 to 10 degrees cooler through next week, with EFI highlighting this trend. Before the next weather system moves in (with cloud cover that will limit cooling), Valley low temperatures will fall to near to below freezing each morning. Fog will also be a concern most nights/mornings with limited cloud cover. //Peters/HEC && .AVIATION... MVFR conditions return this afternoon into the evening from north to south as ceilings lower. A strong system will bring widespread precipitation mainly after 00z Saturday, bringing MVFR/IFR conditions to the Valley and IFR/LIFR conditions to the mountains. South to southwest wind gusts increase after 06z-12z Saturday with gusts up to 35-45 kts in the Valley, and gusts up 40-55 knots over the mountains. && .STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Warning until 4 AM PST Sunday for Burney Basin / Eastern Shasta County-Motherlode-Mountains Southwestern Shasta County to Western Colusa County-Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley-Shasta Lake Area / Northern Shasta County-West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada-Western Plumas County/Lassen Park. Wind Advisory from midnight tonight to 3 PM PST Saturday for Carquinez Strait and Delta-Central Sacramento Valley-Motherlode- Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley-Northern Sacramento Valley- Northern San Joaquin Valley-Southern Sacramento Valley. &&
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
113 PM PST FRI DEC 9 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0500 AM SNOW 2 N BEAR VALLEY 38.49N 120.04W
12/09/2022 E2.0 INCH ALPINE CA PUBLIC
2 INCHES OF SNOW REPORTED AT BEAR VALLEY
MOUNTAIN RESORT IN 24 HOURS.
&&
KHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
115 PM PST FRI DEC 9 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0545 AM SNOW 1 SSE KIRKWOOD MEADOWS 38.68N 120.07W
12/09/2022 E2.0 INCH ALPINE CA PUBLIC
2 INCHES OF SNOW REPORTED AT KIRKWOOD
MOUNTAIN RESORT IN 24 HOURS.
&&
KHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
116 PM PST FRI DEC 9 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0545 AM SNOW 2 ESE TWIN BRIDGES 38.80N 120.08W
12/09/2022 E3.0 INCH EL DORADO CA PUBLIC
3 INCHES OF SNOW REPORTED AT SIERRA-AT-TAHOE
IN 24 HOURS.
&&
KHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
118 PM PST FRI DEC 9 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0530 AM SNOW 1 W DONNER PEAK 39.31N 120.33W
12/09/2022 E2.0 INCH PLACER CA PUBLIC
2 INCHES REPORTED AT SUGAR BOWL SKI RESORT
IN 24 HOURS.
&&
KHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
122 PM PST FRI DEC 9 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0120 PM SNOW 3 SSE LASSEN NATIONAL P 40.47N 121.51W
12/09/2022 M3.5 INCH SHASTA CA OFFICIAL NWS OBS
3.5 INCHES REPORTED AT LOWER LASSEN PEAK
SNOW COURSE NEAR MINERAL IN 24 HOURS,
ELEVATION 8234 FEET.
&&
KHThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
10 flood, 5 heavy snow, 3 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Storm total snow of 8 to 24 inches were estimated by the National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center.
Storm total snow ranged from 4 to 24 inches, estimated by the National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center.
Storm total snow ranged from 8 to 24 inches, estimated by the National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center.
Lower Lassen Peak reported 25 inches for storm total snow. The National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center estimated 8 to 36 inches across the area.
Caltrans reported storm total snow amounts of 34 inches at Kingvale and 54 inches at Castle Peak. UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab reported 54.5 inches of snow. Sierra at Tahoe ski resort reported 70 inches, Kirkwood resort reported 51 inches, Soda Springs resort reported 60 inches, and Sugar Bowl resort reported 52 inches. Caltrans reported the closure of Interstate 80 for approximately 17 hours, and intermittently at Highway 50. Other Sierra highway closures include highway 49, 89, 88, 4 and 108.
Sacramento International Airport reported a max gust of 52 mph. California Highway Patrol reported multiple downed trees and power lines across the Sacramento Area, resulting in 32,431 customers across the Sacramento region without power according to broadcast media.
California Highway Patrol reported numerous downed trees across the motherlode area due to strong winds on 12/10/2022.
Roadway flooding on the onramp to Highway 244 from Auburn Boulevard.
Roadway flooding reported on Business 80 around Cal Expo. Approximately 1 foot of water in lanes.
Redding Municipal Airport reported a max gust of 41 mph. Law enforcement reported a large tree fell on a vehicle and blocked the entire roadway of Old 44.
Roadway flooding at Highway 99 and Kansas Avenue off ramp with 6 to 8 inches of water in the slow lane and right hand side of the road.
Roadway flooding on the onramp to Highway 50 reported at Zinfandel Drive with additional flooding in the lane.
Flooding reported near the Highway 99 and State Route 26 off ramp, and in the second and third lanes.
Roadway flooding reported near State Route 120/108 and Kennedy Road.
Multiple reports of roadway flooding by California Highway Patrol in and near San Andreas, including State Route 49.
Roadway flooding reported at Montpellier Road and Whitmore Road near Foster Farms.
Second and third lanes completely flooded with 2 feet of water on Highway 99 and Tuolumne Boulevard off ramp.
Roadway flooding with several inches of water reported at Via Este Road and State Route 108.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Wind, Northern Sacramento Valley | 2022-12-10 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
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: 1073422, 1073424, 1073423, 1073428, 1073434, 1073465, 1073675, 1073329, 1073339, 1073676, 1073340, 1073341, 1073347, 1073348, 1073358, 1073361, 1073363, 1073365.