A fairly strong upper low pressure system moved eastward across northern California on February 5 with precipitation from this system extending southward into central California between the evening of February 4 and the evening of February 5. 5 inches of liquid precipitation to the Sierra Nevada with the snow level running around 6500 feet during the evening of February 4 lowering to around 4000…
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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 fairly strong upper low pressure system moved eastward across northern California on February 5 with precipitation from this system extending southward into central California between the evening of February 4 and the evening of February 5. This system brought 0.75 to 1.5 inches of liquid precipitation to the Sierra Nevada with the snow level running around 6500 feet during the evening of February 4 lowering to around 4000 feet by time the precipitation tapered off during the evening of February 5. SNOTEL estimates indicated between 9 and 15 inches of new snow fell above 6500 feet from Fresno County northward. Between 0.25 to 0.75 inches of rain fell in the Sierra foothills and 0.10 to 0.25 inches of rain fell in the San Joaquin Valley. Precipitation in the Tehachapi Mountains varied due to the showery nature of the precipitation by the time it arrived in Kern County, but many stations picked up between 1 and 3 tenths of an inch of liquid precipitation. Traffic was paced along Interstate 5 by the evening a February 5 as light snow began to accumulate along the Tejon Pass. This system also brought some strong wind gusts to the Mohave Desert slopes with several stations reporting gusts exceeding 45 mph and a few low impact indicator sites briefly measuring gusts above 60 mph. As the colder post-frontal airmass pushed into the area during the afternoon of February 5, scattered thunderstorms broke out over the San Joaquin Valley with a few reports of trees being knocked down by strong thunderstorm wind gusts and pea sized hail being reported.
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 4, 5:17 PM PST, 1 hour 43 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 517 PM PST Sat Feb 4 2023 .UPDATE... Air Quality Issues Section Updated. && .SYNOPSIS... A disturbance will move through the area tonight through Sunday bringing rain to the San Joaquin Valley and snow to the Sierra Nevada. Dry conditions return on Monday with frost and fog possible in the San Joaquin Valley Tuesday morning. && .DISCUSSION... Fog from this morning has burned off for most locations. The focus will now be placed on the next storm this weekend and the impacts from subtropical moisture and the dynamics from a jet- streak that will combine to produce a significant weather event. Ensemble solutions remain consistent in showing a more organized storm hitting Central California starting tonight. Ensemble moisture analysis is still showing high confidence in placing a good fetch of subtropical moisture over Central California tonight and Sunday. Therefore, will expect enhanced precipitation rates as models also place good jet-streak dynamics over Central California during the time when deeper moisture is transported through the region. Presently, models place the heaviest precipitation over Central California on Sunday morning as orographic effects allow for values to reach over one inch of liquid water. Total precipitation values could reach 1 to almost 3 inches of liquid while the lower elevations will see around a half to almost one inch of rain. Ensembles are expecting a well defined weak atmospheric river. Some rain shadowing is also expected which will lead to precipitation totals closer to a tenth of an inch or less. The lower values will be due to the orientation of the southwesterly flow during the event. Based on the precipitation totals, models are still placing snow levels at 6500 feet around the start of the event. Yet, with the frontal passage still expected to occur early Sunday, will see snow level lower to near 4000 feet by Sunday afternoon. This will allow some lower elevations to see snow while the higher terrain observed as much as two feet of new snow. Hopefully, the lower snow levels will limit the threat of more water on an already saturated ground. In addition, the track of better dynamics will favor convective activity over Northern California on Sunday. While some convective potential could bleed into Central California, will follow the Storm Prediction Centers guidance and mention thunderstorms from Fresno County northward later today and on Sunday. Longer range Ensemble Cluster Analysis show a very good signal toward ridging after the exit of the disturbance on Monday. Therefore, a dry period will return during the longer term forecast ahead of yet another disturbance that may hit the area around day seven (Saturday to Sunday). Uncertainty is too high to define the event next weekend. Yet, will mention possible precipitation on the seventh day. && .AVIATION... In the San Joaquin Valley, areas of MVFR in haze/mist with local IFR in fog until 18Z today. Mountain obscuring IFR across the higher terrain of the Sierra Nevada starting this evening. Otherwise, VFR conditions will prevail across the Central CA Interior for the next 24 hours. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES... ISSUED: 02/04/2023 14:15 EXPIRES: 02/05/2023 23:59 On Sunday February 5 2023, Fireplace/Wood Stove Burning Status is: No Burning Unless Registered in Fresno, Kern, Kings, and Madera Counties. Burning Discouraged in Merced and Tulare Counties, 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 midnight tonight to midnight PST Sunday night for CAZ332>334-337>339. Winter Storm Warning until 10 PM PST Sunday for CAZ323>331. && JMC weather.gov/hanford
The San Joaquin Valley radar (KHNX), 146 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 10:01 UTC.
5 winter weather, 4 high wind, 3 thunderstorm wind, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Several SNOTEL reports of an estimated 9 to 15 inches of new snowfall.
Several SNOTEL reports of an estimated 9 to 15 inches of new snowfall.
Several SNOTEL reports of an estimated 9 to 15 inches of new snowfall.
Several SNOTEL reports of an estimated 9 to 15 inches of new snowfall.
California Highway Patrol reported a tree and large rocks washed up in the roadway on SR 140 and the Ferguson Slide Bridge.
The Bird Springs Pass RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 63 mph.
The Blue Max RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 66 mph.
California Highway Patrol reported a tree blown down into the roadway on southbound SR 99 just north of the Merritt Dr. offramp in Traver.
California Highway Patrol reported a tree blown down onto the roadway near the intersection of Usry and Central Avenues.
California Highway Patrol reported a downed tree on the roadway on E. Vino Ave.
California Highway Patrol reported that traffic along Interstate 5 was paced along the Tejon pass overnight due to light snowfall accumulation.
The Southern California Edison station at Cottonwood Creek West measured a peak wind gust of 64 mph.
The Southern California Edison station at Little Oak Canyon measured a peak wind gust of 58 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in California, February 2023
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: 1068551, 1068552, 1068553, 1068554, 1069121, 1068555, 1068556, 1069122, 1069123, 1069124, 1068563, 1068557, 1068558.