California, 2023Heavy Snow and Strong Wind in California, February 24, 2023
February 24, 2023 · NWS MTR · 4 events in 3 counties and zones
A strong occluded front arrived in the bay Area on February 24, causing widespread precipitation and unusually low snow levels. Accumulating snow was seen at elevations as low as 1,000 feet, and graupel fell at the Santa Cruz beach.
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.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $30
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 4
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.
A strong occluded front arrived in the bay Area on February 24, causing widespread precipitation and unusually low snow levels. Accumulating snow was seen at elevations as low as 1,000 feet, and graupel fell at the Santa Cruz beach.
Event by event
2 heavy snow, 1 strong wind, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy Snow, Santa Cruz Mountains
- When
- February 24, 3:40 AM PST to 5:00 PM PST
- Where
- Santa Cruz Mountains forecast zone
- Property damage
- $10
- Reported by
- Broadcast Media
- Coordinates
- 37.230, -122.021 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Highway 17 was closed from Granite Creek Road in Scotts Valley to the Santa Cruz/Santa Clara county line for over 12 hours because of heavy snow. Multiple trees were down on the roadway, a jackknifed truck and trailer blocked the road at the summit, and heavy snow up to 10-12 inches deep covered the road. Northbound lanes were opened at 3 PM with one southbound lane opened north of Summit Road by 5 PM.
Strong Wind, Santa Lucia Mountains and Los Padres National Forest
- When
- February 24, 7:37 AM PST
- Where
- Santa Lucia Mountains and Los Padres National Forest forecast zone
- Measured
- 9 kt (10 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $10
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 36.240, -121.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Trees were down on the roadway on Carmel Valley Road at the eastern Cachagua Road intersection. Wind was suspected to be a factor, with the weight of the snow also a potential factor.
Heavy Rain, Alameda
- When
- February 24, 7:42 AM PST
- Where
- Alameda County, 0.83 mi NE of Alvarado
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 37.607, -122.067
One lane was flooded on Whipple Road near the Interstate 880 overpass.
Heavy Snow, Santa Cruz Mountains
- When
- February 24, 11:23 AM PST to 1:23 PM PST
- Where
- Santa Cruz Mountains forecast zone
- Property damage
- $10
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 37.230, -122.021 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
California Highway 84 in San Mateo County was closed between California Highway 1 and Four Corners due to accumulating snow on the road. The snow was 6 inches high.
- Heavy Snow
- Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
- Strong Wind
- Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.
- Heavy Rain
- Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Flooding and Heavy Snow in California, February 24 to 26, 2023$7,000 · 65 kt wind · 71 events
- Extreme Cold in South Dakota, February 24, 202324 events
- Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Alaska, February 24 to 25, 202311 events
- Winter Storm and High Wind in Montana, February 24 to 26, 202363 kt wind · 7 events
- Flood and Heavy Snow in California, February 24 to 25, 2023$2,000 · 5 events
- High Wind in Wyoming, February 24 to 25, 202361 kt wind · 4 events
- Marine High Wind in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, February 24, 202355 kt wind · 3 events
- Flash Flood and Heavy Rain in Arkansas, February 24, 20233 events
- Heavy Snow in Nevada, February 24 to 25, 20233 events
- Heavy Snow and High Wind in Nevada, February 24 to 25, 202350 kt wind · 3 events
- Extreme Cold in Minnesota, February 24, 20232 events
- Blizzard in Alaska, February 24, 20232 events
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: 1083358, 1083368, 1081552, 1083363.