California, 2024High Wind and Winter Weather in California, December 16 to 17, 2024
December 16 to 17, 2024 · NWS REV · 3 events in 2 counties and zones
After a brief lull on the 15th, this third in the ongoing trio of storm systems pushed quickly through the region on the 16th and early on the 17th. This storm system reached northeast California early morning on the 16th, impacted the Tahoe Basin by mid-late morning through the afternoon of that same date, and diminished as it tracked south into Mono County that evening.
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
Open the live radar over this ground
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 3
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.
After a brief lull on the 15th, this third in the ongoing trio of storm systems pushed quickly through the region on the 16th and early on the 17th. This storm system reached northeast California early morning on the 16th, impacted the Tahoe Basin by mid-late morning through the afternoon of that same date, and diminished as it tracked south into Mono County that evening. The primary impact with this storm were the gusty winds that increased to 80 mph over Sierra with projected gusts of 30-40 mph in the lower elevation Sierra valleys that mixed down into western Nevada. Snowfall was limited, however, due to its speed and timing during mostly daylight hours. But bursts of moderate to heavy snowfall with rates ranging 0.5-1.0 inch per hour between Lassen County south into the Tahoe Basin. Most snow impacts were concentrated over mountain passes as snow levels started at around 5000 to 6000 feet, then increased to 7000 feet.
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 Reno, NV wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 16, 2:39 AM PST, 5 hours 48 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Dec 16, 2:39 AM PST, 5 hours 48 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
239 AM PST Mon Dec 16 2024
.SYNOPSIS...
* A quick moving weather system will bring showers, mountain snow
and breezy winds today.
* Valley inversions and areas of fog may return Tuesday to
Friday.
* An active weather pattern will develop next weekend with a
potential for periods of gusty winds, rain, and snow through
Christmas.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Our next storm is knocking on our doorstep this morning. Current
radar from across the region shows the leading edge of the precip
approaching western Lassen County, and should arrive to the western
peaks of Tahoe around 6-7 AM PST. This storm is the type that
will drop a few inches of snow in the northern Sierra in a 12 hour
period then promptly move out.
Current snow totals for the Sierra crest above 7000' are ranging
from 6-10" at Lassen Volcanic Nat'l Park, 1-2" in northern Mono
County, and 2-4" on the western and 1-2" on the eastern slopes of
Tahoe. Sierra ridge gusts have started to increase this morning and
will peak around 90-100 mph. NV valleys will see gusts 25-40 mph
this afternoon.
Tuesday onward, another ridge sets up and we stay dry with light
winds. Valley inversions will likely take place, limiting smoke
dispersion for any planned pile burns and allowing pollutant
buildup in urban areas.
Ensembles are showing hints of our next storm showing up around
Saturday. At this time it's too far out to get into specifics, but
there is high confidence that there will be an active period from
Saturday through at least Christmas Day.
-Justin
&&
.AVIATION...
Quick moving weather system arrives early this morning with mountain
wave/turbulence and LLWS across the Sierra and western NV. Rain and
snow with MFR/IFR conditions reach western Lassen County by 12 UTC,
spreading south into the Tahoe Basin around 14-15 UTC. A burst of
heavy snow/rain showers may impact the Tahoe terminals between
21-23 UTC. For the western NV terminals including KRNO, there's a
30-40% chance of rain showers between 18-23 UTC.
Behind this system fog may redevelop in northern Sierra valleys
including KTRK Tuesday morning. High pressure will also strengthen
valley inversions for mid-week with daily chances for freezing fog
in some Sierra valleys.
-Brong/Justin
&&
.AVALANCHE...
A quick-moving storm will impact the Sierra today. The greatest
snowfall of 2-6" above 7000' will be north of Ebbetts Pass.
Showers will subside around 5-7 PM tonight. Ridgetops will see
gusts of 90-100 mph between 5 AM and 7 PM. Expect snow rates of
1"/hr or less, with snow levels around 6000-7000'.
-Justin
&&
.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...Winter Weather Advisory from 6 AM this morning to 10 PM PST this
evening NVZ002.
CA...Winter Weather Advisory until 10 PM PST this evening CAZ071.
Winter Weather Advisory from 6 AM this morning to 10 PM PST this
evening CAZ072.
&&High Wind, Mono
- When
- December 16, 8:27 AM PST to December 17, 6:25 PM PST
- Where
- Mono forecast zone
- Measured
- 83 kt (96 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 37.939, -118.887 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Mesonet station (MTH03) located 1.7 mi SE of Mammoth Mountain Ski Summit, mesonet station (XMPC1 Mean Peak) located 6.0 mi NNE of Leavitt Meadows, CA, and mesonet station (XMLC1 Mill Canyon) located 4.0 mi SSW of Walker, CA, reported peak wind gusts of 96 mph, 74 mph, and 65 mph respectively.
Winter Weather, Greater Lake Tahoe Area
- When
- December 16, 9:00 AM PST to December 17, 9:00 AM PST
- Where
- Greater Lake Tahoe Area forecast zone
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 38.935, -120.458 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The public located at the Tahoe-Donner Ski resort located 4.0 mi NW of Truckee, CA, a local Official located 6.0 mi W of Truckee at the Central Sierra Snow Lab, CA, and the public located at the Palisades Tahoe Ski Base, CA, reported 24 hour snowfall amounts of 10.0 inches, 7.4 inches, and 6.0 inches respectively.
High Wind, Greater Lake Tahoe Area
- When
- December 16, 2:00 PM PST to 5:00 PM PST
- Where
- Greater Lake Tahoe Area forecast zone
- Measured
- 136 kt (157 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 38.935, -120.458 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A mesonet station located Palisades Tahoe at Alpine Meadows summit, CA, and Mesonet station (HVRGM-Mid-Station Gondola Weather Station) located 1.0 mi ENE of the Heavenly Ski summit reported peak wind gusts of 156 mph, and 69 mph respectively.
- High Wind
- Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
- Winter Weather
- Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Rip Current in Guam, December 16, 20242 injured · 1 event
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Missouri, December 16, 202411 events
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- Winter Weather in Connecticut, December 16, 20242 events
- Hail in Texas, December 16, 20240.88 in hail · 2 events
- Flash Flooding in Arkansas, December 16, 20242 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1229660, 1229661, 1229659.