California, 2024Flooding and Dust Storm in California, December 24, 2024
December 24, 2024 · NWS HNX · 23 events in 14 counties and zones
A large upper trough pushed across California on December 24 producing a period of moderate to locally heavy precipitation as well as a period of strong winds during the late morning and early afternoon. Much of the San Joaquin Valley picked up a quarter to half an inch of rainfall during the day which resulted in a few reports of nuisance flooding.
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.
- 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
- $25,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 23
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 large upper trough pushed across California on December 24 producing a period of moderate to locally heavy precipitation as well as a period of strong winds during the late morning and early afternoon. Much of the San Joaquin Valley picked up a quarter to half an inch of rainfall during the day which resulted in a few reports of nuisance flooding. Much of the Sierra Nevada and adjacent foothills picked up between four tenths and eight tenths of an inch of liquid precipitation with snow above 6500 feet. Several SNOTELs in the higher Sierra Nevada picked up an estimated 4 to 8 inches of new snowfall. Eastern Kern County was mainly impacted by strong winds as several stations reported gusts exceeding 50 mph. The Tehachapi Mountains generally picked up between two and four tenths of an inch of rainfall while the Deserts picked up a tenth of an inch or less due to rain shadowing. The trough moved to the east of the area by late afternoon and winds diminished during the evening.
Event by event
10 high wind, 7 winter weather, 4 flood, 1 strong wind, 1 dust storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Winter Weather, Yosemite Np Outside of the Valley
- When
- December 24, 7:00 AM PST to 3:00 PM PST
- Where
- Yosemite Np Outside of the Valley forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
- Coordinates
- 37.609, -119.874 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Several SNOTELs picked up an estimated 4 to 8 inches of new snowfall.
Winter Weather, Upper San Joaquin River
- When
- December 24, 7:00 AM PST to 3:00 PM PST
- Where
- Upper San Joaquin River forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
- Coordinates
- 36.988, -119.706 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Several SNOTELs picked up an estimated 4 to 8 inches of new snowfall.
Winter Weather, Kaiser to Rodgers Ridge
- When
- December 24, 7:00 AM PST to 3:00 PM PST
- Where
- Kaiser to Rodgers Ridge forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
- Coordinates
- 36.758, -119.649 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Several SNOTELs picked up an estimated 4 to 8 inches of new snowfall.
Winter Weather, Kings Canyon Np
- When
- December 24, 7:00 AM PST to 3:00 PM PST
- Where
- Kings Canyon Np forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
- Coordinates
- 36.489, -119.224 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Several SNOTELs picked up an estimated 4 to 8 inches of new snowfall.
Winter Weather, Grant Grove Area
- When
- December 24, 7:00 AM PST to 3:00 PM PST
- Where
- Grant Grove Area forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
- Coordinates
- 36.489, -119.224 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Several SNOTELs picked up an estimated 4 to 8 inches of new snowfall.
Winter Weather, Sequoia Np
- When
- December 24, 7:00 AM PST to 3:00 PM PST
- Where
- Sequoia Np forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
- Coordinates
- 36.220, -118.800 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Several SNOTELs picked up an estimated 4 to 8 inches of new snowfall.
Winter Weather, South End of the Upper Sierra
- When
- December 24, 7:00 AM PST to 3:00 PM PST
- Where
- South End of the Upper Sierra forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
- Coordinates
- 35.782, -118.765 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Several SNOTELs picked up an estimated 4 to 8 inches of new snowfall.
Flood, Fresno
- When
- December 24, 9:23 AM PST to 11:23 AM PST
- Where
- Fresno County, 0.45 mi N of Prather to 0.46 mi N of Prather
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 37.037, -119.520
California Highway Patrol reported a tree blocking both lanes of Auberry Rd. near the intersection of Spearhead Rd.
Flood, Tulare
- When
- December 24, 9:34 AM PST to 11:34 AM PST
- Where
- Tulare County, 0.85 mi S of Monson to 0.96 mi S of Monson
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 36.488, -119.330
California Highway Patrol reported large branches covering the roadway at the intersection of Rd. 108 and Ave. 384.
Strong Wind, Visalia - Porterville - Reedley
- When
- December 24, 9:46 AM PST
- Where
- Visalia - Porterville - Reedley forecast zone
- Measured
- 39 kt (45 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $25,000
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 36.489, -119.224 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
California Highway Patrol reported a power pole and power lines downed at the intersection of SR 63 and El Monte Way in Orosi.
Flood, Tulare
- When
- December 24, 11:20 AM PST to 1:20 PM PST
- Where
- Tulare County, 1.95 mi N of Exeter to 2 mi NNW of Exeter
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 36.328, -119.137
California Highway Patrol reported water over one lane of SR 198 near the intersection of Rd. 196.
High Wind, Mojave Desert Slope(S)
- When
- December 24, 11:50 AM PST
- Where
- Mojave Desert Slope(S) forecast zone
- Measured
- 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Utility Company
- Coordinates
- 35.343, -118.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Southern California Edison Station at Little Oak Canyon measured a peak wind gust of 62 mph.
High Wind, Mojave Desert Slope(S)
- When
- December 24, 11:50 AM PST
- Where
- Mojave Desert Slope(S) forecast zone
- Measured
- 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Utility Company
- Coordinates
- 35.343, -118.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Southern California Edison Station at Cottonwood Canyon measured a peak wind gust of 59 mph.
Dust Storm, Mojave Desert
- When
- December 24, 12:20 PM PST
- Where
- Mojave Desert forecast zone
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 35.343, -118.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Public report of blowing dust reducing visibility to near zero in Rosamond.
High Wind, Mojave Desert Slope(S)
- When
- December 24, 12:30 PM PST
- Where
- Mojave Desert Slope(S) forecast zone
- Measured
- 63 kt (72 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Utility Company
- Coordinates
- 35.343, -118.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Southern California Edison Station at Cottonwood Creek West measured a peak wind gust of 73 mph.
High Wind, Mojave Desert Slope(S)
- When
- December 24, 1:00 PM PST
- Where
- Mojave Desert Slope(S) forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- AWOS
- Coordinates
- 35.343, -118.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Mojave Airport AWOS measured a peak wind gust of 58 mph.
Flood, Kern
- When
- December 24, 1:00 PM PST to 3:00 PM PST
- Where
- Kern County, 4.44 mi ENE of Delano Airport to 4.56 mi ENE of Delano Airport
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
- Coordinates
- 35.780, -119.160
Kern County Emergency Manager reported Reed Rd. was closed between Cecil Ave. and County Line Rd. due to flooding.
High Wind, Mojave Desert Slope(S)
- When
- December 24, 1:26 PM PST
- Where
- Mojave Desert Slope(S) forecast zone
- Measured
- 58 kt (67 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- RAWS
- Coordinates
- 35.343, -118.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Indian Wells Canyon RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 67 mph.
High Wind, Mojave Desert Slope(S)
- When
- December 24, 3:32 PM PST
- Where
- Mojave Desert Slope(S) forecast zone
- Measured
- 62 kt (71 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- RAWS
- Coordinates
- 35.343, -118.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Blue Max RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 71 mph.
High Wind, South End of the Upper Sierra
- When
- December 24, 4:00 PM PST
- Where
- South End of the Upper Sierra forecast zone
- Measured
- 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- RAWS
- Coordinates
- 35.782, -118.765 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Walker Pass RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 59 mph.
High Wind, South End of the Upper Sierra
- When
- December 24, 4:10 PM PST
- Where
- South End of the Upper Sierra forecast zone
- Measured
- 55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- RAWS
- Coordinates
- 35.782, -118.765 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Bear Peak RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 63 mph.
High Wind, South End of the Upper Sierra
- When
- December 24, 7:27 PM PST
- Where
- South End of the Upper Sierra forecast zone
- Measured
- 64 kt (74 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- RAWS
- Coordinates
- 35.782, -118.765 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Bird Springs Pass RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 74 mph.
High Wind, Tehachapi
- When
- December 24, 9:14 PM PST
- Where
- Tehachapi forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- RAWS
- Coordinates
- 35.343, -118.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Jawbone Canyon RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 58 mph.
- Winter Weather
- Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
- Flood
- Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
- Strong Wind
- Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.
- High Wind
- Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
- Dust Storm
- Blowing dust that reduced visibility to a quarter mile or less.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in Texas, December 24, 20242 deaths · $115,000 · EF0 · 15 events
- Winter Weather in Virginia, December 24, 202416 events
- High Wind in California, December 24, 2024$20,000 · 57 kt wind · 1 event
- Debris Flow and Flooding in California, December 24 to 28, 202415 events
- Winter Weather in Maryland, December 24, 202412 events
- Winter Weather in New Jersey, December 24, 20248 events
- Hail in Texas, December 24 to 25, 20242 in hail · 7 events
- Hail in Texas, December 24, 20242.75 in hail · 7 events
- Flooding and High Wind in California, December 24 to 27, 202457 kt wind · 4 events
- Winter Weather in West Virginia, December 24, 20243 events
- Winter Weather in Maryland, December 24, 20243 events
- Drought in Texas, December 24 to 31, 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1221358, 1221359, 1221360, 1221361, 1221362, 1221363, 1221364, 1221322, 1221323, 1221325, 1221324, 1221328, 1221329, 1221326, 1221327, 1221331, 1221357, 1221330, 1221356, 1221355, 1221354, 1221353, 1221352.