California, 2023

Flash Flood and Heavy Snow in California, January 14 to 16, 2023

January 14 to 16, 2023 · NWS VEF · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

Two waves of rain and snow affected the region, the first as Pacific low pressure directed an atmospheric river inland, and the second as the low pressure itself passed by. This resulted in heavy mountain snow and isolated road flooding.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$2,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS VEF wrote it up.

Two waves of rain and snow affected the region, the first as Pacific low pressure directed an atmospheric river inland, and the second as the low pressure itself passed by. This resulted in heavy mountain snow and isolated road flooding.

What forecasters said that day

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 Las Vegas, NV wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 13, 1:06 PM PST, 20 hours 54 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 13, 1:06 PM PST, 20 hours 54 minutes before
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The radar

The Edwards AFB radar (KEYX), 158 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:31 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 heavy snow, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Eastern Sierra Slopes of Inyo County

When
January 14, 10:00 AM PST to January 16, 6:00 AM PST
Where
Eastern Sierra Slopes of Inyo County forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
36.511, -117.411 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A spotter in Aspendell measured 35.2 inches of snow.

Flash Flood, San Bernardino

When
January 16, 9:30 AM PST to 12:00 PM PST
Where
San Bernardino County, 0.18 mi S of Morongo Lodge to 0.1 mi S of Morongo Lodge
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
34.047, -116.581

Highway 62 was flooded with water and debris from Senilis Avenue to Park Avenue.

What these are

Heavy Snow
Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in California in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in California, January 2023

Sources

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1078933, 1078934.