A large upper level low pressure system dropped southeast over the Great Basin on January 3 which pushed a cold front across central California. This system produced moderate to locally heavy rainfall for a short time over the lower elevations and 12 to 18 inches of new snowfall above 6000 feet from Fresno County northward as well as 5 to 10 inches of next snow above 6000 feet in Tulare County.
Every event with a place to put it; 20 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.
A large upper level low pressure system dropped southeast over the Great Basin on January 3 which pushed a cold front across central California. This system produced moderate to locally heavy rainfall for a short time over the lower elevations and 12 to 18 inches of new snowfall above 6000 feet from Fresno County northward as well as 5 to 10 inches of next snow above 6000 feet in Tulare County. Rainfall amounts were generally a half inch to an inch of rain in the Sierra foothills, a quarter to half inch of rainfall in the central San Joaquin Valley and a tenth to a quarter inch in the south San Joaquin Valley.
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 Jan 3, 12:12 AM PST, 48 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 1212 AM PST Wed Jan 3 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... 1. Snow amounts up to 18 inches in the Sierra Nevada above 6,000 feet today and tonight. 2. Snow amounts up to 6 inches in the Kern County mountains above 4,500 feet today and tonight. 3. Northwest wind gusts near 55 mph in the Mojave Desert Slopes today and tonight. 4. A colder storm system will impact Central California this weekend, resulting in the possibility of hazardous travel over Kern County mountain passes due to accumulating snow Saturday night and Sunday morning. && .DISCUSSION... An upper-level area of low pressure will move to the southeast across the Great Basin today. This cyclone aloft will enter the Desert Southwest tonight. Precipitation associated with this atmospheric disturbance will be heaviest this morning. Snow levels in the Sierra Nevada will drop to around 4,000 feet this morning. Snow accumulations of 12 to 18 inches expected in the Sierra Nevada above 6,000 feet today and tonight. Total snow of 6 to 12 inches anticipated in the Sierra Nevada from 5,000 feet to 6,000 feet today and tonight. Snow accumulations of 3 to 6 inches expected in the Sierra Nevada from 4,000 feet to 5,000 feet today and tonight. Farther south, in Kern County, the snow level should bottom out at around 4,500 feet. Total snow accumulations of 3 to 6 inches anticipated in the Kern County mountains above 4,500 feet today and tonight. Rain amounts of one half of an inch to one inches are expected in the Sierra Nevada foothills and eastern portion of the San Joaquin Valley today and tonight. Rainfall of one quarter of an inch to one half of an inch are anticipated in the central portion of the San Joaquin Valley today and tonight. Rain amounts of one tenth of an inch to one quarter of an inch are expected in the western portion of the San Joaquin Valley today and tonight. In addition, a Wind Advisory is in effect for the Mojave Desert Slopes today and tonight due to northwest wind gusts near 55 mph. A ridge of high pressure will quickly pass through Central California Thursday, followed by a trough of low pressure Friday. This trough of low pressure should be dry. A colder low pressure system will impact the service area this weekend. This atmospheric disturbance will be responsible for low snow levels. Snow may fall in the Sierra Nevada foothills Saturday night and Sunday. Travel could be hazardous over Kern County mountain passes Saturday night and Sunday morning due to accumulating snow. Dry weather will return to Central California Sunday night and persist through at least Tuesday. && .AVIATION... MVFR or lower conditions expected in and near precipitation today. IFR conditions and mountain obscurations anticipated in the Sierra Nevada and Tehachapi mountains today and tonight. MVFR visibilities are possible in the San Joaquin Valley tonight due to mist. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES... On Wednesday January 3rd, 2024, fireplace/wood stove burning status is: no burning unless registered in Fresno and Kern Counties. Burning discouraged in Kings, Madera, Merced, and Tulare Counties, as well as in 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... Wind Advisory from 7 AM Wednesday to 4 AM PST Thursday for CAZ338. Winter Storm Warning until 4 AM PST Thursday for CAZ323-324- 326>331. Winter Weather Advisory until 4 AM PST Thursday for CAZ333>336. && Public/Aviation/Fire Weather...BS PIO/DSS........................AS weather.gov/hanford
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
13 heavy snow, 5 high wind, 2 winter weather, 2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
The White Wolf SNOTEL (7900 feet) picked up an estimated 14.0 inches of new snowfall.
The Lower Kibbie Ridge SNOTEL (6479 feet) picked up an estimated 13.0 inches of new snowfall.
The Paradise Meadow SNOTEL (7676 feet) picked up an estimated 13.0 inches of new snowfall.
The Tenaya Lake SNOTEL (8150 feet) picked up an estimated 19.3 inches of new snowfall.
The Ostrander Lake SNOTEL (8200 feet) picked up an estimated 12.0 inches of new snowfall.
The Poison Ridge SNOTEL (6988 feet) picked up an estimated 14.4 inches of new snowfall.
The Horse Meadow SNOTEL (8400 feet) picked up an estimated 17.3 inches of new snowfall.
The Chilkoot Meadow SNOTEL (7150 feet) picked up an estimated 12.0 inches of new snowfall.
The Green Mountain SNOTEL (7900 feet) picked up an estimated 12.0 inches of new snowfall.
The Blackcap Basin SNOTEL (10300 feet) picked up an estimated 12.0 inches of new snowfall.
The Huntington Lake SNOTEL (7020 feet) picked up an estimated 13.0 inches of new snowfall.
The Bishop Pass SNOTEL (11972 feet) picked up an estimated 15.0 inches of new snowfall.
The State Lakes SNOTEL (10419 feet) picked up an estimated 14.0 inches of new snowfall.
Several SNOTEL stations picked up an estimated 5 to 10 inches of new snowfall.
Several SNOTEL stations picked up an estimated 5 to 10 inches of new snowfall.
Public report of flooded roadways on Rd. 56 between Caldwell Ave. and SR 198.
The Blue Max RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 65 mph.
The Southern California Edison station at Cottonwood Creek West measured a peak wind gust of 67 mph.
California Highway Patrol reported debris on southbound Interstate 5 at the Grapevine Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility.
The Indian Wells Canyon RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 65 mph.
The Southern California Edison station at Little Oak Canyon measured a peak wind gust of 59 mph.
The Southern California Edison station at Cottonwood Canyon measured a peak wind gust of 58 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 historyWarnings in California, January 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: 1146678, 1146679, 1146680, 1146681, 1146682, 1146683, 1146684, 1146685, 1146686, 1146687, 1146688, 1146689, 1146690, 1146759, 1146760, 1146696, 1146694, 1146691, 1146697, 1146695, 1146692, 1146693.