A second, very strong, winter storm impacted Southwestern California. Rainfall totals were very significant across the area.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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 LOX wrote it up.
A second, very strong, winter storm impacted Southwestern California. Rainfall totals were very significant across the area. Los Angeles county reported rain totals of 4 to 14 inches, Ventura county reported 2 to 10 inches, Santa Barbara county reported 4 to 12 inches and San Luis Obispo county reported 2 to 5 inches. With the heavy rainfall, numerous reports of flooding were received. In the mountains, very significant snowfall was reported with amounts in the 1 to 3 foot range. Also, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes were reported.
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 Los Angeles, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 3, 10:33 PM PST, 4 hours 27 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
1033 PM PST Sat Feb 3 2024
.SYNOPSIS...03/916 PM.
A powerful atmospheric river will arrive in northern areas tonight
spreading through the southland by Sunday morning. This storm will
bring very heavy rain and potentially life-threatening flash
flooding, and high elevation mountain snow to much of the region
through Tuesday morning. This storm will be followed by showers
and lowering snow levels through the week.
&&
.SHORT TERM (SAT-TUE)...03/914 PM.
***UPDATE***
The storm system that has been the subject of most of the
conversation in the weather business in southern California
recently was beginning to affect the forecast area this evening.
Radar imagery clearly shows warm frontal development across the
forecast area this evening. Rain has become steady, though it was
still on the light side, from about Santa Barbara northward and
westward. Rainfall rates were still mostly a tenth of an inch per
hour, but those rates should increase overnight as mid level
dynamics improve, and strengthening low level southerly flow
causes warm air advection and favorable orographic lift.
Synoptically, a strong and cold upper low was centered about 300
nm west of Crescent City as of 7 PM PST this evening. The center
of the low was beginning to elongate in a north to south fashion
as has been advertised, with a trough extending south
southwestward to 600 nm west of Point Conception. The upper low
will move little overnight, but a second center is forecast to
form about 500 NM west of Point Conception by daybreak Sun. At the
surface, a 1007 mb low was centered about 500 nm west of Eureka,
with a 995 mb low centered near 33N/13OW, a rather deep surface
low for such a southerly latitude. The surface pressure gradient
between KLAX and KSFO was 3.3 mb, but this pressure gradient is
expected to increase sharply overnight as the surface low
strengthens to 985 mb and it moves northeastward toward the San
Francisco Bay area. By late Sunday morning, all models show
surface gradients between KLAX and KSFO between 17 and 19 mb!
Between KSBA and KSMX, the pressure gradient will peak between 5
and 6 mb Sunday morning, the opposite direction of what would
produce sundowner winds.
As a result, low level southeast to south winds will increase
rapidly overnight, with southeast winds across SLO County and
western SBA County reaching 50 to 55 knots at 950 mb (about 1500
feet above sea level) by late morning, and southerly winds at 850
mb reaching 70 to 75 knots. This will likely bring widespread
damaging southeast to south winds to much of SBA and SLO Counties
late tonight and Sun, with significant tree damage likely, along
with a growing risk of widespread power outages. High Wind
Warnings are in effect for both counties later tonight through
Sunday evening, with the peak of the wind expected in most area
between 6 AM and 3 PM Sunday.
Rain will increase in intensity overnight and Sunday, becoming
heavy at times in SLO and SBA Counties due to improving dynamics,
strong low and mid level ascent, a strengthening cold front
approaching the coast and very favorable orographic enhancement.
Widespread rainfall rates of one third to two thirds of an inch
per hour are expected across SLO and SBA Counties later tonight
and Sunday, with rates up to one inch per hour on and below south
facing slopes and in and convection that develops Sunday.
***From Previous Discussion with minor modifications reflecting
the latest information***
RAIN...
Light to moderate rain will continue across SLO and SBA Counties
tonight, likely spreading into Ventura and Los Angeles Counties
late tonight. Rain will become heavy at times across SLO and SBA
Counties late tonight and Sun.
From Sunday morning through Monday morning, strong cold front
will interact with an atmospheric river to bring SIGNIFICANT
RAINFALL to the area. Behind the front Monday afternoon through
Tuesday morning, atmospheric river will linger over eastern LA
county, but all areas will still see some additional rainfall
through Tuesday.
Rain totals still look to be very impressive with at least
3-6 inches across coastal/valley areas and 6-12 inches for the
foothills and mountains (especially from Santa Barbara county
southward). Rainfall rates are expected to peak in the 0.50 to
1.00 inch per hour range, but locally higher rates are likely
near thunderstorms and favored upslope areas. Also, given the
sheer amounts of rainfall expected in the time period, the 3-6
hour rain rates could be problematic, exceeding USGS thresholds
which could lead to mud/debris flow issues as well as swift
water rescues in the local rivers and streams. A FLOOD WATCH
remains in effect for all areas. See LAXFFALOX for the latest
details.
THUNDERSTORMS...
As the cold front sweeps through, atmospheric instability will
increase across the area. This instability will combine with
diffluence aloft to bring a threat of thunderstorms to most areas
in the Sunday through Monday time frame with the threat lingering
over Los Angeles county through the day on Tuesday. Given the
forecasted shear profile in the atmosphere, there will be a threat
of waterspouts over the coastal waters and even small tornadoes
over the land. Also, there is the potential for some strong
downburst (straight-line) winds with any convective activity. As
for rain rates, any thunderstorm activity could generate very high
rates, on the order of around 1.50 inches per hour.
SNOWFALL...
Snow levels will be on a gradual increase tonight/Sunday ahead of
the cold frontal passage (increasing to the 6500-7500 foot range
late tonight/Sunday), then will drop into the 5000-6000 foot range
Monday/Monday night and further down into the 4000-5000 foot range
on Tuesday. So, snow totals of 2-4 feet will be likely above 7000
feet, 10-20 inches between 6000 and 7000 feet and 3-10 inches
between 5000 and 6000 feet. With strong southerly winds,
potentially gusting up to 80 MPH, significant winter storm
conditions are likely and WINTER STORM WARNINGS are in effect for
the eastern San Gabriel Mountains and the northern Ventura county
mountains. Future shifts may need to issue Winter Weather
Advisories for other mountain areas, depending on how things
develop. See LAXWSWLOX for the latest details.
WIND...
As the cold front sweeps through, very strong and gusty
southeasterly winds will impact all areas. As mentioned, there
will be widespread damaging winds across SLO and SBA counties, but
damaging winds are also expected in the mtns of L.A. and Ventura
Counties including the Santa Monica Range and the Santa Susana
Mountains, the Antelope Valley and foothills, and the Santa
Clarita Valley. High Wind Warnings may have to be expanded into
coastal and valley areas of Ventura County and northern/western
Los Angeles County. See LAXNPWLOX for the details.
.LONG TERM (WED-SAT)...03/121 PM.
For the extended, models are in the best agreement, but the
differences will not impact the forecast too much. Essentially,
for Wednesday through Saturday, the area will remain under a
northwesterly flow aloft. For Wednesday, skies will likely be
partly cloudy and a stray light shower can not be ruled out just
about anywhere. For Thursday/Friday, a weak system is forecast to
move across the area, bringing the possibility of light to
moderate precipitation to the area. On Saturday, conditions look
to improve in the wake of the Thursday/Friday system.
&&
.AVIATION...04/0632Z.
At 0505Z at KLAX, there was no marine layer nor any inversion.
Moderate confidence in TAFs through 20Z. Cigs will vary from MVFR
to low VFR. Vis will Vary between 5SM and 6SM. Conditions will
deteriorate aft 20Z and cigs and vis will lower and begin to
vary. IFR to MVFR cigs will be common and vis could lower to as
low as 1SM RA BR. Winds will be an issue esp for KSBP, KSMX and
KPRB.
KLAX...Moderate confidence in TAF through 20Z. Cigs will vary
BKN025 TO BKN040. Vis will Vary between 5SM and 6SM. Conditions
will deteriorate aft 20Z and cigs and vis will lower and begin to
vary. Good confidence in east wind forecast.
KBUR....Moderate confidence in TAF through 20Z. Cigs will vary
BKN025 TO BKN040. Vis will Vary between 5SM and 6SM. Conditions
will deteriorate aft 20Z and cigs and vis will lower and begin to
vary.
&&
.MARINE...03/741 PM.
Dangerous marine conditions are likely to develop across the
entire coastal waters later tonight and Sunday. Hazardous seas
over the majority of the coastal waters will likely persist up
until the onset of the storm later tonight. There is an 80-100
percent chance of GALE FORCE winds developing tonight, with a
70-80 percent chance of rare STORM FORCE winds Sunday with gusts
up to 55 knots for the entire outer waters, the inner waters N of
Point Sal and the E Santa Barbara Channel. A very large southerly
wind swell will affect south-facing harbors with large breaking
waves tonight through Monday morning. Santa Barbara Harbor and
Port San Luis could see large waves entering harbors during this
period.
Along with the winds and high seas, there will be a 20 percent
chance of thunderstorms between Sunday through Monday. Any
thunderstorms that develop will be capable of brief heavy rain,
gusty and erratic winds, steep and rough seas, dangerous cloud to
surface lightning, and possible waterspouts.
Small Craft Advisory (SCA) conditions could linger into Monday
over large portion of the coastal waters due to winds and/or seas
then conds should fall below SCA levels Monday night and Tuesday.
&&
.BEACHES...03/741 PM.
An extended period of high surf will affect southwest California
beaches through Monday. A large west to northwest will subside
through tonight, then a southerly wind driven swell will develop
through Sunday. The greatest impacts for SOUTH and SOUTHWEST
facing beaches will occur on Sunday and Monday.
Surf at northwest and west facing beaches will subside through
tonight, then on Sunday and Monday, surf will peak on Sunday at 8
and 12 feet for south to southwest facing beaches south of Point
Conception, and the Central Coast will peak at 14 and 18 feet with
local sets up to 20 feet.
This large wind swell will create breaking waves and a possible
push of water into unprotected SOUTH to SOUTHWEST facing areas
like Port San Luis and Santa Barbara Harbor & Pier, and El Capitan
State Beach.
A combination of strong winds creating large wind driven waves
and higher water levels due to lower atmospheric pressure will
result in a threat of coastal flooding. For south to west facing
beaches along the the Central Coast, moderate coastal flooding
coastal flooding impacts are expected CONTINUOUSLY through the
Monday early morning high tide, due to the luckily miss aligned
high tides and peak surf. For beaches south of Point Conception,
moderate coastal flooding is possible for SOUTH facing harbors
such as Santa Barbara Harbor, mainly during high tide early Monday
morning.
&&
.LOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...High Wind Warning in effect until 10 PM PST Sunday for zones
38-340>344-346>352-549-550. (See LAXNPWLOX).
Flood Watch remains in effect through Tuesday afternoon for
zones 38-340>358-369-371-374>377. (See LAXFFALOX).
High Surf Advisory in effect until 9 PM PST Monday for zones
87-340-346-349-350-354-362-366. (See LAXCFWLOX).
Wind Advisory in effect from 6 AM Sunday to 6 AM PST Monday
for zones 87-354>358-362-366>368-371>374-548. (See LAXNPWLOX).
Flood Watch remains in effect from Sunday afternoon through
Tuesday afternoon for zones
87-88-362-366>368-370-372-373-378>383-548. (See LAXFFALOX).
Coastal Flood Advisory in effect from 1 AM to 9 AM PST Monday
for zones 87-349-350-354-362-366. (See LAXCFWLOX).
High Wind Warning in effect from 4 AM Sunday to 6 AM PST
Monday for zones 88-369-370-375-376-378-379-381>383. (See LAXNPWLOX).
Coastal Flood Advisory in effect until 9 AM PST Monday for
zones 340-346. (See LAXCFWLOX).
High Wind Warning in effect until 4 AM PST Monday for zones
345-353. (See LAXNPWLOX).
Winter Storm Warning in effect until 6 PM PST Tuesday for
zones 377-380. (See LAXWSWLOX).
PZ...Gale Warning in effect until midnight PST tonight for zones
645-670-673. (See LAXMWWLOX).
Gale Warning in effect until 6 AM PST Sunday for zones
650-676. (See LAXMWWLOX).
Small Craft Advisory in effect until 3 AM PST Sunday for zone
655. (See LAXMWWLOX).
Gale Warning in effect from 3 AM Sunday to 3 AM PST Monday
for zone 655. (See LAXMWWLOX).
&&
PUBLIC...Thompson/DB
AVIATION...Rorke
MARINE...Sirard
BEACHES...Hall/Schoenfeld
SYNOPSIS...MW/Schoenfeld/DB
weather.gov/losangeles
Experimental Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook at:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=loxPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
257 AM PST Sun Feb 4 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0100 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 7 SSW Lompoc 34.57N 120.50W
02/04/2024 M62 MPH Santa Barbara CA Mesonet
Mesonet station PG852 De La Concepcion.
0218 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 WNW Solvang 34.60N 120.16W
02/04/2024 Santa Barbara CA Public
Tree branch down on Highway 246 near
Buellton Flats.
0244 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 4 E Vandenberg Village 34.71N 120.39W
02/04/2024 M57 MPH Santa Barbara CA Mesonet
Mesonet station PUSC1 Purisima Hills.
0200 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 SSW Atascadero 35.45N 120.71W
02/04/2024 M58 MPH San Luis Obispo CA Mesonet
Mesonet station PG210 Falcon Rd (PGE).
0210 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 5 W Santa Margarita 35.39N 120.71W
02/04/2024 M61 MPH San Luis Obispo CA Mesonet
Mesonet station PG223 TV Towers Rd 2 (PGE).
&&
HallThe Los Angeles radar (KVTX), 8 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:13 UTC.
23 flash flood, 16 thunderstorm wind, 2 winter storm, 2 debris flow, 2 tornado, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
Winter storm conditions impacted the northern mountains of Ventura county. Snowfall totals of 8 to 18 inches were reported above 6000 feet along with wind gusts up to 55 MPH.
Winter storm conditions impacted the eastern range of the San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles county. Snowfall totals of 1 to 3 feet were reported above 6000 feet along with wind gusts up to 83 MPH.
Flash flooding and debris flows forced the evacuation of several homes in the Hollywood Hills.
In the community of Nipomo, several vehicles were trapped in flood waters near the intersection of Guadalupe Road and Division Street.
Significant flooding forced the closure of Highway 1 between Black Road and Soloman Road.
Refugio Road, between Camino Cielo and Calle Real, was closed due to flooding.
California Highway Patrol reported the full closure of Highway 192 for several miles due to flooding.
Significant flooding forced the closure of Highway 135 near Los Alamos in Santa Barbara county.
Santa Barbara county officials reported the full closure of Santa Barbara County airport due to significant flooding.
Flooding closed Vineyard Avenue between Montgomery Avenue and Central Avenue.
California Highway Patrol reported the full closure of Highway 23 near Carlisle Road due to flooding.
Foxen Canyon Road, north of Highway 154, was closed due to flooding.
California Highway Patrol reported significant flooding on Interstate 5. All lanes of the interstate were flooded.
Significant flooding was reported on Topanga Canyon Boulevard near Robinson Road. Several vehicles were stuck in the flood waters with the water reaching up to their vehicle hoods.
Significant flooding was reported in downtown Ventura in the area of Thompson Boulevard and Main Street.
Flash flooding and debris flows were reported on Balcom Canyon Road. One vehicle was stuck in mud that flowed across the roadway.
Flash flooding and debris flows were reported on Cornell Road near Mulholland Highway. Significant mud flows blocked both lanes of the roadway.
Significant flooding was reported on Interstate 405 near Sawtelle Boulevard. California Highway Patrol reported one foot of water across all lanes of the 405.
California Highway Patrol reported significant flooding at the connector of Highways 60 and 71. Several vehicles were stuck in water and mud.
California Highway Patrol reported significant mud and debris flow across Highway 23 near Waynes Way.
California Highway Patrol reported excessive street flooding. Numerous vehicles were reported floating in the flood waters.
California Highway Patrol reported significant flooding on Highway 101 near Campo de Cahuenga. Numerous vehicles were stuck in the flood waters.
Significant flooding was reported near the community of Reseda. Oxnard Street was completely closed between Tampa and Topeka due to flooding.
Significant flooding and debris flows were reported on North Beverly Drive in the Beverly Crest area. Several vehicles were completely buried in mud and five homes sustained significant damage.
A vehicle was stuck in mud and flood waters at the intersection of Palmdale Boulevard and 93rd Street East.
A significant debris flow, over 1 foot of mud, was reported on Coldwater Canyon Road between Mulholland Drive and Sunset Boulevard.
UP to 2 feet of water was reported on Rosecrans Boulevard between Beach Road and La Mirada Street.
Several reports of funnel clouds were received near Buckley Road in the community of San Luis Obispo.
A brief EF1 tornado impacted the Los Osos area. The tornado traveled about 5 miles with estimated wind speeds of 95 MPH. Numerous trees were uprooted and damaged power poles, buildings and vehicles.
A brief EF1 tornado developed in the Grover Beach area. Estimated wind speeds were 95 MPH. Several power poles were snapped and some roof damage to a greenhouse was reported.
An automated sensor at Mount Lowe reported a thunderstorm wind gust of 66 MPH.
An automated sensor at De La Concepcion reported a thunderstorm wind gust of 60 MPH.
An automated sensor at Rough Road reported thunderstorm wind gusts of 61 MPH.
An automated sensor at Juniper Mesa Road reported thunderstorm wind gusts of 59 MPH.
The RAWS sensor at Mill Creek reported thunderstorm wind gusts of 61 MPH.
The RAWS sensor at Grass Mountain reported thunderstorm wind gusts of 60 MPH.
An automated sensor at Sierra Pelona West reported thunderstorm wind gusts of 75 MPH.
An automated sensor at Sierra Pelona reported thunderstorm wind gusts of 60 MPH.
An automated sensor at Magic Mountain Truck Trail reported thunderstorm wind gusts of 64 MPH.
An automated sensor at N3 Highway reported thunderstorm wind gusts of 62 MPH.
Severe thunderstorm winds knocked down several trees on the 100 block of Arnaz street in Ojai.
An automated sensor at Magic Mountain Truck Trail reported thunderstorm wind gusts of 67 MPH.
An automated sensor at Saddle Peak reported thunderstorm wind gusts of 62 MPH.
Severe thunderstorm winds, gusting up to 60 MPH, knocked down several trees on Stockton Road near Balcom Road.
An automated sensor at Sandstone Peak reported thunderstorm wind gusts of 82 MPH.
An automated sensor at Yucca Circle reported thunderstorm wind gusts of 65 MPH.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for California, 2024Warnings 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: 1164885, 1164887, 1164916, 1164910, 1164925, 1164914, 1164901, 1164906, 1164903, 1164922, 1164900, 1164915, 1164894, 1164893, 1164907, 1164888, 1164889, 1164892, 1164895, 1164896, 1164902, 1164898, 1164909, 1164918, 1164920, 1164926, 1164927, 1164928, 1164932, 1164930, 1164933, 1164934, 1164937, 1164936, 1164938, 1164939, 1164940, 1164941, 1164942, 1164943, and more.