A winter storm mid-February brought several days of continued heavy snow, rain, and gusty winds. Periods of chain controls were observed in the mountains with local reports of flooding and minor wind damage.
Every event with a place to put it. 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 STO wrote it up.
A winter storm mid-February brought several days of continued heavy snow, rain, and gusty winds. Periods of chain controls were observed in the mountains with local reports of flooding and minor wind damage.
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 Sacramento, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 17, 1:51 PM PST, 5 hours 11 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Sacramento CA 151 PM PST Sat Feb 17 2024 .Synopsis... Active weather returns today into next week. Rain, isolated thunderstorms, moderate to heavy mountain snow, and gusty winds are expected at times throughout the holiday weekend. Heaviest precipitation Sunday night into Monday. && .Discussion... Storm 1 is ongoing with widespread light rain moving in from the west. The heaviest portion of this rain will be this evening with isolated chances of thunderstorms (10-20% chance) this afternoon and evening. Impacts with this will be small hail, lightning, brief heavy rain, and gusty winds. This will be the weaker of the two systems with only minor rain impacts expected. Snow with this system will also be meager with only 4-8 inches above 6000 feet and up to foot in higher elevations. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the Sierra through 10 AM Sunday morning as periods of difficult travel is expected. Additionally, there will be gusty south winds up to 30 to 40 MPH in the Valley this afternoon and evening. A Wind Advisory is in effect from 2PM this afternoon through 10 PM this evening for the Sacramento and Northern San Joaquin Valleys, northeast foothills, and Motherlode areas. There will be brief lull in conditions late tonight through early Sunday morning with only light mountain snowfall. Conditions become more active again Sunday afternoon as rain and mountain snow returns with periods of moderate to heavy rain and snow through Tuesday night. This will be a stronger system bringing heavy snow, moderate to heavy rain, isolated thunderstorms, and gusty winds into early next week. Upper levels show a closed low moving off the coast of NW California that will help support active weather through Tuesday with troughing projected to remain along the coast into Wednesday morning. With that being said, a Winter Storm Warning has been issued for Western Plumas County/Lassen Park and West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada including Interstate 80 over Donner Pass, Highway 50 over Echo Summit and Highway 88 over Carson Pass from 4 PM Sunday to 10 AM Wednesday. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 2 feet above 5500 feet expected with up to 3 to 4 feet at higher elevations. Snow levels will initially be 6500 to 7500 feet, but lowering to 5000 to 6000 feet by Monday morning. NBM probabilities show a 30-60% chance of amounts greater than 2 feet, up to 90% in the highest elevations. Concurrently, gusty winds up to 55 MPH will occur over the mountains leading to reduced visibility and difficult to impossible travel conditions. Mountain travel is discouraged with snow covered roads, chain controls and road closures possible. Widespread moderate to heavy precipitation will bring concerns for minor flooding of urban and poor drainage areas, slick roads, longer than normal travel times, and moderate rises on rivers and streams. A Flood Watch has been issued from Sunday afternoon through Wednesday morning for much of the Valley, foothills and Coast Range. From Sacramento to Redding, there is a 40-75% chance of seeing 2 inches or greater, increasing as you move northward up the Valley. In the foothills, there is a 50-90% chance of 3 inches or more with highest chances northwest of I-80 to Chico. Thunderstorms look to enhance this threat with models continue to suggest an active convective afternoon and evening on Sunday and Monday with Sunday afternoon to Monday afternoon showing the strongest convective signal. NBM probability shows 20-40% chances of thunderstorm development during this period so be sure to remain weather aware each afternoon and evening. Periods of gusty southerly winds are expected stronger than today for Sunday, and winds are trending stronger for the second storm compared to the first one. The NBM shows a 50-90% probability of wind gusts greater than 40 mph on Sunday and Monday, with a 40-80% probability of wind gusts greater than 47 mph on Monday. The most susceptible area with recent forecast runs are areas along and east of I-5 from Sacramento to Modesto and portions of the foothills northeast of Chico. Gusty southerly winds may cause loose objects to blow around, create difficult driving conditions for high profile vehicles, and bring down tree branches. Plan ahead for impactful weather over the next several days, and always check the weather forecast and road conditions before heading out the door! DA/DR && .EXTENDED DISCUSSION (Wednesday THROUGH Saturday)... Ensembles and clusters depict the area of upper-level troughing moving across the state on Wednesday as it weakens resulting in a few early morning showers over the western half of the Valley and foothills, along with lingering mountain snow showers. These are expected to taper off by the afternoon with total precipitation amounts under a 0.25" and mountain snow amounts less than 1.00". Dry weather returns Thursday, Friday, and early Saturday as an area of upper- level ridging moves in early Thursday morning. Starting Thursday, we'll begin to see a gradual warming trend through the weekend. Valley high temperatures look to be in the mid 60s, with highs in the mid 50s to low 60s across the foothills and 40s-50s in the mountains. && .AVIATION... Widespread periods of MVFR/IFR conditions are expected today due to showers making their way across Northern California. Local areas of LIFR over the mountains are expected as well in associated with mountain snow showers through 18Z Sunday with precipitation in the Valley ending around 12Z Sunday. Snow levels will be between 5500-6500ft. South Valley winds sustained 15 to 20 kts with local gusts up to 35 kts through 10Z Sunday with gusts over the mountains up to 40 kts. Additionally, there is a 10-20% chance of isolated thunderstorms after 00Z Sunday. && .STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory from 4 PM to 10 PM PST this evening for Carquinez Strait and Delta-Central Sacramento Valley-Motherlode-Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley-Northern Sacramento Valley-Northern San Joaquin Valley-Southern Sacramento Valley. Flood Watch from Sunday evening through late Tuesday night for Carquinez Strait and Delta-Central Sacramento Valley-Motherlode- Mountains Southwestern Shasta County to Western Colusa County- Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley-Northern Sacramento Valley- Northern San Joaquin Valley-Southern Sacramento Valley. Winter Weather Advisory until 4 AM PST Sunday for West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada-Western Plumas County/Lassen Park. Winter Storm Warning from 4 PM Sunday to 10 AM PST Wednesday for West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada-Western Plumas County/Lassen Park. &&
The Beale AFB radar (KBBX), 63 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:04 UTC.
13 flood, 2 heavy snow, 1 hail, 1 debris flow. Local standard time, as filed.
California Highway Patrol reports roadway flooding along the Hall Road and Loleta Ave, approx. 5 inches of water across the roadway.
California Highway Patrol reports that Lane 1 on the US50 E and 15 Street offramp was flooded with approximately 4 inches of water, blocking the lane.
Lower Lassen Peak HADS station reported 12.3 inches of snow in 24 hours from February 19th into February 20th, at an elevation of 8234 ft. A CoCoRaHS in Chester reported 8.5 inches of snow from February 18 into February 20th. The National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center estimated 12 to 48 inches over 72 hours.
A CoCoRaHS reporter in Truckee reported 18.1 inches from February 18th into February 21st. A second CoCoRaHS reporter in South Lake Tahoe reported 13.0 inches from February 18th into February 21st. The National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center estimated 6 to over 48 inches over 72 hours. There was 30.7 inches of snow reported by the Central Sierra Snow Lab over 72 hours, station elevation 6894 ft. Ski Resorts reported 10 to 42 inches over 72 hours.
California Highway Patrol reports flooding in westbound lanes and #2 lane completely flooded.
The California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding in Diamond Springs.
CBS Sacramento published an article detailing a water rescue in El Dorado Hills after a person became trapped in a rising creek after heavy rain.
California Highway of Patrol reports roadway flooding at Flores Ave and Ashurst Street.
A member of the public reported 1.00 inch diameter hail from a thunderstorm around 530 pm PST.
California Highway Patrol reports the exit ramp off US50E and El Dorado Hills Blvd. is flooded.
California Highway Patrol reports Francisco Drive and Marina Park Drive roadway is flooded.
California Highway of Patrol reports road closures from flooding from CR22 from Woodland City Limits to Northbound I5.
California Highway of Patrol reports the Alpine Ave on-ramp to I-5 N is flooded.
The Ben Holt Offramp to March Lane is starting to pool and flood.
California Highway Patrol reports that Lane 5 on the US50 E and 15 Street offramp was flooded.
California Highway Patrol reports roadway flooding at 413 Southgate Drive.
At approximately 9:00 AM PST on Thursday, February, 22, 2024, Shasta County Sheriff's Office responded to a report that rocks and debris had broken away from a hillside, near a drainage culvert that leads to the Sacramento River. Two juveniles were caught in the debris, fell down the hillside and died. Heavy rainfall impacted the area from February 18-21, 2024, with observed rainfall totals of 3-8 inches near the site of the incident.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debris Flow, Shasta | 2024-02-22 | Male | Camping | Direct | |
| Debris Flow, Shasta | 2024-02-22 | Camping | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in California, February 2024
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: 1164558, 1165423, 1164387, 1164392, 1164395, 1165428, 1164556, 1164632, 1165416, 1164625, 1164626, 1164557, 1164552, 1164551, 1164631, 1164550, 1164549.