A cold low pressure system dropped southeast through California on February 15 which ended a period of several days with much above normal temperatures across the area in which several new daily records were set. Temperatures lowers to near seasonal normals by February 15 as colder air pushed into the are behind a cold front which was associated with this system.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 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 cold low pressure system dropped southeast through California on February 15 which ended a period of several days with much above normal temperatures across the area in which several new daily records were set. Temperatures lowers to near seasonal normals by February 15 as colder air pushed into the are behind a cold front which was associated with this system. Since this system was moisture deficient, precipitation was minimal and much of the Sierra Nevada picked up a tenth of an inch of less of liquid precipitation while the lower elevations picked up trace amounts at most. This main impact from this system; however, was a period a strong wind gusts over the Kern County Mountains and Deserts as several stations measured gusts exceeding 45 mph and a few low impact indicator sites had gusts exceeding 60 mph. A brief period of gusty Mono-type northeast winds occurred over the Sierra Nevada between the evening of February 15 and the early morning of February 16 as an offshore gradient developed. Impacts from the winds were minimal, however.
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 Feb 15, 1:20 AM PST, 5 hours 7 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 120 AM PST Tue Feb 15 2022 .SYNOPSIS... A storm system will move southward over Eastern California today into tonight, resulting in strong, gusty winds, much cooler weather, and relatively light mountain precipitation. A warming trend is expected Wednesday through Friday. By Friday afternoon, high temperatures will be five to seven degrees above normal for this time of year. && .DISCUSSION... A dramatic change in weather is expected today as a low pressure system progresses southward across Eastern California. High temperatures this afternoon will be sixteen to eighteen degrees cooler than yesterday. A High Wind Watch is in effect for higher elevations in the Sierra Nevada this afternoon through late tonight. Damaging wind gusts may blow down compromised trees. Northeast wind gusts should peak at about 45 mph in Shaver Lake and Wawona this evening. Northeast wind gusts should peak at around 50 mph in Yosemite Valley this evening. Be that as it may, northeast wind gusts will be closer to 60 mph in the higher elevations of Yosemite National Park and at Huntington Lake this evening. Wind Advisories are also in effect for the northwest portion of the San Joaquin Valley, Coastal Range, and Kern County mountains and desert today through this evening. Blowing dust may reduce visibilities in some locations, causing difficult travel. The vast majority of precipitation associated with the aforementioned low pressure system will be confined to the Sierra Nevada today into tonight. There is a chance of light rain is the Sierra Nevada foothills today into tonight. There is a slight chance of rain in the eastern and southern portions of the San Joaquin Valley today into tonight due to upslope flow. Snow levels will fall to around 4,000 feet this morning. Snow amounts in the Sierra Nevada should be an inch or less from 4,000 feet to 5,000 feet, one to three inches from 5,000 feet to 6,000 feet, and three to six inches above 6,000 feet. There may be an inch or less of snow along Interstate 5 over Tejon Pass and along Highway 58 over Tehachapi Pass this afternoon. Travel delays are possible. An Eastern Pacific ridge of high pressure will slowly build eastward Wednesday through Friday, resulting in a warming trend. By Friday afternoon, maximum temperatures will be five to seven degrees above their typical values for the latter half of February. A trough of low pressure will dig southward over the Pacific Northwest Saturday and Saturday night. A cold front should move southward through Northern California Sunday. This cold front may pass through Central California Sunday night or Monday. At this time, it looks as if any precipitation associated with this cold front should remain over the Sierra Nevada. A cooling trend is expected Saturday through Monday. By Monday afternoon, high temperatures will be a couple of degrees below normal for this time of year. && .AVIATION... Northwest winds gusts near 25 knots are expected at our terminal sites today into early this evening. MVFR conditions, with localized IFR conditions, are likely in the Sierra Nevada and Kern County mountain from late this morning into early tonight. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES... On Tuesday, February 15th, 2022, fireplace/wood stove burning status is: no burning For all in Fresno, Kern, Kings, and Madera Counties. Further information is available at Valleyair.org. && .CERTAINTY... The level of certainty for days 1 and 2 is medium. 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 7 AM this morning to 10 PM PST this evening for CAZ337>339. High Wind Warning from 2 PM this afternoon to 4 AM PST Wednesday for CAZ323-325>328. Wind Advisory from 7 AM this morning to 7 PM PST this evening for CAZ300>302-304>306-308. && Public/Aviation/Fire Weather...BS PIO/DSS........................CMC weather.gov/hanford
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Bird Springs Pass RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 61 mph.
The Blue Max RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 76 mph.
A private weather station 2E North Fork had an estimated peak wind gust of 62 mph.
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, February 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: 997826, 997824, 997827.