A low pressure system which moved through northern California brought another round of light to moderate precipitation along with strong winds gusts to the between the evening of January 7 and the early afternoon of January 8. While the strong winds were not as prevalent as they were during the January 4 and 5 storm, several stations did measure brief gusts exceeding 60 mph.
Every event with a place to put it; 19 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 low pressure system which moved through northern California brought another round of light to moderate precipitation along with strong winds gusts to the between the evening of January 7 and the early afternoon of January 8. While the strong winds were not as prevalent as they were during the January 4 and 5 storm, several stations did measure brief gusts exceeding 60 mph. Precipitation amounts were generally not as significant as they had been with the previous storm, but a half an inch to an inch of liquid precipitation was received Sierra Nevada near Yosemite Park with a quarter to a half inch further south between Yosemite Park and Kings Canyon. Amounts were generally a tenth of an inch or less south of Kings Canyon. The snow level was around 5000 feet for much of this event with several higher elevation stations in Yosemite Park picking up between 5 and 10 inches of new snowfall. Rainfall in the San Joaquin Valley was generally aa quarter to a half an inch north of Fresno with a tenth to a quarter inch further south. Much of the south end of the valley in Kern County picked up a tenth of an inch or less.
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 Jan 7, 2:54 PM PST, 3 hours 33 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 254 PM PST Sat Jan 7 2023 .SYNOPSIS... A storm system will arrive this evening bringing light to moderate precipitation through Sunday afternoon. A much stronger Atmospheric River event will push in Monday through Tuesday bringing moderate to heavy precipitation and windy conditions. Dry weather is likely next Wednesday and Thursday but dense fog may become widespread in the San Joaquin Valley. More wet weather is possible by the end of next week. && .DISCUSSION... Lots of mid and high level clouds across central California today as the next storm system begins to make inroads. Regional radar imagery shows precipitation over northern California extending to the southwest offshore from the SF Bay down to Point Conception. Hi-resolution models shift this band south and east this evening bringing light o moderate precipitation into the district. Most of the activity is expected to occur overnight through early Sunday morning with mainly just some upslope showers over the Sierra by the afternoon. Rainfall amounts in the SJ Valley are expected to range from around one half of an inch in Merced to one quarter of an inch in Fresno to one tenth of an inch in Bakersfield. The snow level will be around 5000 feet tonight then rise to around 6000 feet on Sunday. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for the Sierra Nevada from Yosemite NP to Sequoia NP beginning at 1 AM Sunday, with 6 to 18 inches snow accumulation possible above 6000 feet. Southerly winds will increase later this afternoon and evening with gusts to around 45 mph along the west side hills and from Fresno County north in the SJ Valley. A Wind Advisory is in effect for these areas from 4 PM today through 1 PM Sunday. A much stronger storm system will begin to impact the district by late Sunday night. This system will tap into subtropical moisture and bring periods of moderate to heavy precipitation from Monday through Tuesday. Favorable southwest flow will enhance orographic lift over the Sierra Nevada. This will be a warmer storm system with snow levels rising to around 8000 feet on Monday afternoon then lowering to around 5000 feet as things begin to wind down on Tuesday afternoon. Winter Storm Warning remains in effect through late Tuesday night with 3 to 6 feet of snow accumulation possible above 8000 feet. A Flood Watch is in effect through late Tuesday night with the ground already saturated from recent heavy rains. 3 to 6 inches of rainfall is expected in the Sierra Foothills and below the snow line. Travel is not recommended as rocks, mud, and debris will be likely along mountain roads. Rainfall amounts for the SJ Valley are expected to range from around 3 inches in Merced and Fresno to 2 inches in Hanford to around 1 inch in Bakersfield. Ponding of water on valley roads is likely leading to hazardous travel conditions, especially in low lying and poor drainage areas. Model ensembles favor dry conditions on Wednesday and Thursday with a ridge over the west. But the ground will be very saturated leading to favorable conditions for dense fog development in the SJ Valley. Yet another strong Pacific storm system is possible by next weekend. && .AVIATION... Precipitation spreading south this evening resulting in areas of MVFR conditions across the San Joaquin Valley from 06Z through 18Z. Areas of mountain obscuring IFR conditions in the southern Sierra Nevada and Tehachapi Mountains from 06Z Sunday through 00Z Monday. Otherwise, VFR conditions will prevail for the next 24 hours. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES... On Sunday January 8 2023,Fireplace/Wood Stove Burning Status is: No Burning Unless Registered in Fresno and Kern Counties. Burning Discouraged in Kings, Madera, 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... Flood Watch from midnight PST tonight through late Tuesday night for CAZ300>325-327-329>336-338. Wind Advisory until 1 PM PST Sunday for CAZ300>308-311>313- 317>320. Winter Storm Warning from 1 AM Sunday to 4 AM PST Wednesday for CAZ323-326>330. && Public/Aviation/Fire Weather...DCH PIO/DSS........................JDB weather.gov/hanford
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
11 high wind, 8 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Catheys Valley RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 58 mph.
The Smith Peak RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 59 mph.
The PG&E station at Joaquin Ridge measured a peak wind gust of 66 mph.
California Highway Patrol reported a tree in the roadway on N. Arthur Ave. in Fresno.
California Highway Patrol reported a tree across the roadway on W. Keats Ave. in Fresno.
California Highway Patrol reported a tree in the roadway in north Merced.
California Highway Patrol reported a tree in the roadway at Sierra Ave near Van Ness Ave. and Herndon Ave. in Fresno.
California Highway Patrol reported a tree in the roadway on E. Gettysburg Ave. at N. College Ave. in Fresno.
The PG&E station at Yosemite 49 measured a peak wind gust of 65 mph.
The PG&E station at Pelato Peak measured a peak wind gust of 59 mph.
The PG&E station at Bear Valley Road measured a peak wind gust of 59 mph.
The Panoche Road RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 64 mph.
The PG&E station at Miami Mountain measured a peak wind gust of 62 mph.
The Grapevine Peak RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 69 mph.
A Fresno television station reported a large tree branch took down a powerline in Madera.
The PG&E station at Penon Blanco measured a peak wind gust of 74 mph.
The PG&E station at Yosemite Pilot Peak measured a peak wind gust of 60 mph.
Public report of a tree downed across the roadway on S. Fork Dr. in Three Rivers.
Public report of low hanging wires over Huntsman Ave. near the Bethel Ave. exchange in Fresno.
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, January 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: 1063379, 1063378, 1063370, 1063382, 1063383, 1063384, 1063385, 1063386, 1063375, 1063373, 1063380, 1063371, 1063376, 1063372, 1063389, 1063374, 1063377, 1063387, 1063388.