A storm system brought rain and wind to Northwest California a couple weeks following the major wind event on February 4th. This system was more convective and resulted in periodic wind gusts in excess of 58 mph on ridgetops across the region.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 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 EKA wrote it up.
A storm system brought rain and wind to Northwest California a couple weeks following the major wind event on February 4th. This system was more convective and resulted in periodic wind gusts in excess of 58 mph on ridgetops across the region.
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 Eureka, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 18, 6:10 AM PST, 8 hours 30 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Eureka CA
610 AM PST Sun Feb 18 2024
.SYNOPSIS...Unsettled weather conditions are expected to continue
today through Tuesday with a second strong storm systems moving
across Northern California. Periods of moderate to localized heavy
rainfall, mountain snow (NE Trinity County), and strong southerly
winds are forecast.
&&
.DISCUSSION...Saturday's storm ended up bringing moderate to
localize periods of rainfall, and strong gusty winds for the
highest elevations across Northern California. Lingering light
showers is tapering off, with a brief shortwave ridge moving over
the area this morning.
A second strong system is expected to bring another round of
moderate to heavy period of rain today as a cutoff low and
associated surface cyclogenesis approaches the area this afternoon
and evening. Several lightning strikes have been detected with
this storm, indicating the potential of convective showers to our
area later today. A much broader plume of subtropical moisture
ingested to the southwesterly flow will move toward the region
this afternoon, along to the occluded front. The local pressure
gradient combined with a 45 to 65 kt jet streak at 925-850mb will
developed quickly this morning and afternoon, with strengthening
southerly winds redeveloping in response. Another round of gusts
up to 60 MPH is expected over the coastal headland and higher
terrain late this morning through this evening. A Wind Advisory is
in effect from late this morning through this evening for
Humboldt, Trinity, Mendocino and Lake counties.
Convective allowing models (CAMs) has been consistently showing a
waving line of moderate to high reflectivity developing late this
morning offshore over the coastal waters and approaching the
coast early afternoon. The convective instability will also allow
stronger gusts to be mixed down with some of the heavier showers
and thunderstorms. Max hourly rates around 0.25 to 0.40 in/hr are
generally expected...though topographic forcing could yield in
locally higher rates around 0.50 to 0.70 in/hr, mainly in
Southern Humboldt, Mendocino and Lake counties.
In addition, snow levels are around 3,500 to 4,500 feet this
morning and are expected to rise around 4,500 to 5,500 late
morning. Convective showers will bring moderate to heavy snowfall
for elevation above 4,500 feet this afternoon through Tuesday. As
a result, more significant snow impacts are confined to over
Northeastern Trinity County with total snow amounts between 1 to 2
feet at Scott Mountain Pass on Highway 3. A Winter Storm Warning
is in effect from this afternoon through Tuesday afternoon.
Deterministic guidance indicates the closed low stalled offshore
of the California Coast through Monday night, and then will begin
to slowly move northward through Wednesday. During this
transition, a secondary wave from this storm will swing
northeastward with more unstable conditions with periods of
moderate to brief heavy rain. Strong winds are expected to mixed
down into the surface as result. Most likely wind gusts up to 55
MPH is expected from late tonight through late Monday, with
exceeds of 55MPH over the higher terrain across much of the
forecast area. NBM indicates there is a 20 to 40% chance for winds
exceeding 65 MPH over the higher terrain in Humboldt, Mendocino
and Lake counties on Monday. /ZVS
&&
.AVIATION...Southerly winds and generally VFR conditions continue
across the area this morning. Winds are expected to increase this
morning as a strong front approaches the area, especially above
2,000 to 4,000 feet above mean sea level. There is some uncertainty
on how much will mix down to the surface late this morning and
afternoon just ahead of the front so have increased the gusts at the
TAF sites. The stronger winds aloft will likely create some wind
shear as well. A strong band of showers and possibly a few
thunderstorms are expected with the front moving through the area
this afternoon. This will move through quickly this evening and then
showers are expected to continue behind the front. Winds will
diminish behind the front as well. MKK
&&
.MARINE...Winds and waves are starting to increase again as another
frontal boundary approaches the area. This front is expected to
bring near gale to gale force winds to the waters this morning and
into the afternoon. Gusty and erratic winds are likely and there may
be some thunderstorms associated with this front. A few storm force
gusts are possible, but they don't look widespread enough to warrant
a storm warning. The northern inner waters will likely get spared
from the strongest winds and waves due to the southeast winds coming
off the land, although they could certainly still see a few gale
force gusts.
Late tonight through Monday night the winds increase again ahead of
an area of low pressure that stalls off the coast. Winds are
expected to peak Monday afternoon with some gusts near storm force
off Cape Mendocino. This finally moves out of the area early on
Tuesday and quieter weather is expected through the remainder of the
week.
There is currently a swell moving through the waters this morning
around 11 feet at 14 seconds. This is expected to slowly diminish to
around 8 feet by Monday morning. At this point a second longer
period swell is expected to start around 4 to 6 feet at 16 seconds
and build to 11 feet at 14 seconds by Monday evening. This will
gradually diminish through the week with another swell building in
Tuesday night. MKK
&&
.HYDROLOGY...A second storm will bring additional periods of moderate to
localized heavy rainfall today through Tuesday. Once again a
rapid rise on rivers, streams, and creeks are expected. This will
bring another risk of minor flooding of urban areas and small
streams as a result. WPC continues to have portions of our area in
a "Slight Risk" for excessive rainfall today through Tuesday. The
Russian River at Hopland currently has around a 40 percent chance
of exceeding flood stage today through Tuesday. Scott's Creek
will also rise quickly today and exceed monitor stage (9 feet) by
Monday. Clear Lake in Lake County is expected to rise through the
weekend and exceed monitor stage (8 feet) by Tuesday, and may
bring minor flooding to some lake side residents. /ZVS
&&
.EKA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...
Flood Watch from 1 PM PST this afternoon through Tuesday
morning for CAZ103>106-108>115.
High Wind Watch from late tonight through late Monday night
for CAZ103-104-106-108>115.
Wind Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 6 PM PST this
evening for CAZ104>115.
Winter Storm Warning from 3 PM this afternoon to 3 PM PST
Tuesday for CAZ107.
NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA COASTAL WATERS...
Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PST Monday for PZZ450.
Small Craft Advisory until 9 AM PST this morning for PZZ455-
470.
Gale Warning from 9 AM this morning to 3 PM PST this
afternoon for PZZ455-470.
Small Craft Advisory until 7 AM PST this morning for PZZ475.
Gale Warning from 7 AM this morning to 3 PM PST this
afternoon for PZZ475.
&&
Visit us at https://www.weather.gov/eureka
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter at:
https://www.facebook.com/NWSEureka
https://www.twitter.com/NWSEureka
For forecast zone information
see the forecast zone map online:
https://www.weather.gov/images/eka/zonemap.pngPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Eureka CA
107 PM PST Sun Feb 18 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0106 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 NNW Redwood Valley 39.30N 123.21W
02/18/2024 Mendocino CA Dept of Highways
Tree down on top of powerlines, blocking
roadway.
&&
JHWPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Eureka CA
109 PM PST Sun Feb 18 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0109 PM Landslide 10 S Fort Bragg 39.30N 123.79W
02/18/2024 Mendocino CA Dept of Highways
Landslides in roadway on Highway 1.
&&
JHWPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Eureka CA
152 PM PST Sun Feb 18 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0151 PM Landslide 5 WSW Dinsmore 40.44N 123.67W
02/18/2024 Humboldt CA Public
Landslide covering eastbound lane on highway
36.
&&
JHWThe Eureka (Bunker Hill) radar (KBHX), 139 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:03 UTC.
4 high wind, 3 heavy rain, 2 strong wind, 2 flood, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Tree reported downed across Highway 1 along the Mendocino coast south of Fort Bragg.
Tree down blocking SR 175 and Loch Lomond Rd.
A measured wind gust of 88 mph was reported on the north side of Mt. Konocti. Winds caused multiple trees to fall around the area blocking roads.
Scott Valley Rd. flooded by Scott's Creek near Highway 20.
Creek flooded onto the road at the intersection of Bell Creek Rd. and Adobe Hill Rd.
Tree down into powerlines causing a power pole to fall into the roadway south of Whitethorn.
Landslide completely blocked Highway 1 resulting in a full closure for slide removal.
Multiple weather stations reported wind gusts over 60 mph with a peak gust at the Mattole Rd. weather station up to 75 mph.
Tree down blocking the roadway south of Rio Dell.
Landslide completely blocking Highway 299 west of Salyer.
Trees down onto garage, mobile home, and vehicle resulting in one person temporarily trapped in the mobile home.
Mudslide completely blocking Highway 162 southwest of Covelo.
Lightning struck a house shattering windows. No other damage was reported.
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: 1165496, 1165497, 1165499, 1165498, 1165500, 1165501, 1165502, 1165495, 1165503, 1165504, 1165506, 1165505, 1165507.