Following the departure of the winter storm which brought moderate to heavy precipitation and strong winds on February 4 and 5, a large upper trough moved into California during the morning of February 6 bringing with it another round of precipitation and gusty winds which continued until the morning of February 8. 5 inches of liquid precipitation with 8 to 15 inchers of additional snowfall…
Every event with a place to put it; 8 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 HNX wrote it up.
Following the departure of the winter storm which brought moderate to heavy precipitation and strong winds on February 4 and 5, a large upper trough moved into California during the morning of February 6 bringing with it another round of precipitation and gusty winds which continued until the morning of February 8. This system brought another half inch to an inch of rain to the San Joaquin Valley and 0.75 to 1.5 inches of liquid precipitation with 8 to 15 inchers of additional snowfall above 6000 feet in the Sierra Nevada. There were several reports of nuisance flooding as the ground was saturated by the previous storm at the onset of this storm. A fatal accident took place on SR 99 during the morning of February 6 as a result of the flooding. While winds were not as strong as with the previous system, several stations reported gusts exceeding 45 mph. The trough finally moved to the east of the area on February 8.
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 Hanford, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 6, 12:46 AM PST, 3 hours 44 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 1246 AM PST Tue Feb 6 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... 1. Major winter storm impacts are expected in the Tulare County portion of the Sierra Nevada today through Thursday morning due to snow amounts up to two feet. 2. There is a marginal risk of excessive rainfall in Kern County today and tonight. 3. A few strong thunderstorms are possible this afternoon into this evening south of Madera County. 4. Strong, gusty west to northwest winds are possible in the Mojave Desert Slopes Wednesday. && .DISCUSSION... An upper-level area of low pressure will move southward down the northern coast of California today. This cyclone aloft will open up into a trough of low pressure as it passes over Central California tonight. Another trough of low pressure will dive southward across Northern California Wednesday. This trough of low pressure will move southeastward into the Great Basin Wednesday night into Thursday morning. As a result of all of this, periods of precipitation are expected in Central California today through Thursday morning. There is a greater than 70 percent probability of eighteen inches of snow or more in the Tulare County portion of the Sierra Nevada today through Thursday morning. New Winter Storm Warnings and Advisories will needed to be issued when the current ones expire at 4 AM PST. The snow level may fall to pass elevations in Kern County Thursday morning. There is a 27 percent probability of less than one inch of snow at Tejon Pass Thursday morning. There is a 58 percent probability of one inch or more of snow at Tehachapi Pass Thursday morning. That probability decreases to 39 percent for two inches of snow or more at Tehachapi Pass Thursday morning. Here are probabilities for one half of an inch of rain or more for select locations in the San Joaquin Valley from 4 AM PST Tuesday, February 6th, 2024 until 10 AM PST Thursday, February 8th, 2024: Bakersfield - 96% Porterville - 96% Visalia - 92% Tulare - 92% Delano - 92% Hanford - 88% Fresno - 84% Lemoore - 82% Madera - 70% Merced - 58% In addition, a few strong thunderstorms are possible this afternoon into this evening south of Madera County. Dangerous cloud to ground lightning strikes, intense rainfall rates, and small hail are the primary thunderstorms hazards. Finally, strong, gusty winds are possible in the Mojave Desert Slopes Wednesday. A relatively weak trough of low pressure could clip Central California Thursday night and Friday, resulting in a chance of precipitation. Dry weather will return to the service area this weekend. A warning trend is expected this weekend into early next week. By Monday afternoon, high temperatures should be near normal for this time of year. && .AVIATION... MVFR conditions are likely in and near precipitation today and tonight. Areas of mountain obscuring IFR conditions are expected as rain and snow continue to impact the area. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES... On Tuesday, February 6th, 2024, fireplace/wood stove burning status is: burning discouraged in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, and Tulare Counties, as well as in and Kern (Greater Frazier Park Area) and Sequoia National Park and Forest. && .CERTAINTY... The level of certainty for days 1 and 2 is medium. The level of certainty for days 3 through 7 is medium. Certainty levels include low, medium, and high. Please visit www.weather.gov/hnx/certainty.html for additional information and/or to provide feedback. && .HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch until 4 AM PST early this morning for CAZ300>322- 324-325-329-332>339. Winter Storm Warning above 5000 feet until 4 AM PST early this morning for CAZ323-326>331. Winter Storm Warning above 6000 feet until 4 AM PST early this morning for CAZ333-334-336. && Public/Aviation/Fire Weather...BS PIO/DSS........................AS weather.gov/hanford
The San Joaquin Valley radar (KHNX), 32 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:29 UTC.
5 heavy snow, 4 flood, 3 funnel cloud, 2 high wind, 1 debris flow, 1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A truck slid off of SR 99 and crashed into a divider near the exchange with Ave 200. The driver of the truck was killed in the accident. A flood watch was in effect for Tulare at the time of the accident and rain was ongoing as well.
California Highway Patrol reported that Road 236 was closed between Ave. 60 and Ave. 80 due to flooding.
The West Woodchuck Meadow SNOTEL (9209 feet) picked up an estimated 18 inches of new snowfall.
The Farewell Gap SNOTEL (9500 feet) picked up an estimated 15 inches of new snowfall.
The Wet Meadows SNOTEL (9019 feet) picked up an estimated 16 inches of new snowfall.
California Highway Patrol reported the Rodrock-Randsburg Road was closed between SR 14 and US 395 because the road had separated due to a washout.
Public report of 7 inches of new snowfall near Bear Valley Springs.
Public report of an estimated 7 inches of new snowfall in Greeley Hill (3300 ft).
KMPH Channel 26 mentioned a California Highway Patrol report of a funnel cloud just east of the intersection of SR 99 and Ave. 184.
A trained spotter observed a funnel cloud west of Lemoore Naval Air Station which extended 1/3rd of the way before dissipating.
Broadcast media report of a funnel cloud over Allen Rd. between Hageman Rd. and Rosedale Hwy. in Bakersfield.
California Highway Patrol reported large rocks and tree debris on eastbound SR 178 1 to 2 miles west of mile marker 21.
California Highway Patrol reported that SR 58 was flooded east of Edison Rd.
The Jawbone Canyon RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 65 mph.
California Highway Patrol reported a semi truck jack knifed on SR 58 7NW Mojave.
The Southern California Edison station at Cottonwood Creek West measured a peak wind gust of 63 mph.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flood, Tulare | 2024-02-06 | 22 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Indirect |
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: 1151475, 1151388, 1151370, 1151371, 1151372, 1151394, 1151415, 1151422, 1151398, 1151401, 1151403, 1151409, 1151405, 1151430, 1151424, 1151432.