A strong low pressure system approached central California on January 31. Gusty southerly winds ahead of this system resulted in some tress being downed and several reports of gusts exceeding 40 mph.
Every event with a place to put it; 10 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 strong low pressure system approached central California on January 31. Gusty southerly winds ahead of this system resulted in some tress being downed and several reports of gusts exceeding 40 mph. Many wind prone locations in the higher elevations measured gusts exceeding 60 mph.
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 31, 1:22 AM PST, 6 hours 38 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 122 AM PST Wed Jan 31 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... 1. Damaging south winds gusts are expected along the Interstate 5 corridor through the Grapevine today and tonight. Strong, gusty south winds are anticipated in the Coastal Range and San Joaquin Valley today and tonight. 2. Major to extreme winter storm impacts in the Sierra Nevada above 5,000 feet this evening through Thursday evening due to snow amounts up to four feet. 3. Excessive rainfall in the Sierra Nevada below 5,000 feet and adjacent foothills may cause flooding and mudslides this evening through Thursday afternoon. 4. A few strong thunderstorms are possible in most of Central California Thursday afternoon and Thursday evening. && .DISCUSSION... An impactful atmospheric river will approach Central California today. As a result, the surface pressure gradient should increase significantly. South wind gusts near 65 mph are expected along the Interstate 5 corridor through the Grapevine from 9 AM PST this morning until 4 AM PST Thursday morning. A High Wind Warning is in effect. South wind gusts near 45 mph are expected in the Coastal Range and San Joaquin Valley from 9 AM PST this morning until 4 AM PST Thursday morning. A Wind Advisory is in effect. Precipitation assoicated with the aforementioned atmospheric river will overspread Central California from west to east this evening. Major to extreme winter storm impacts are expected in the Sierra Nevada above 5,000 feet this evening through Thursday evening due to snow amounts up to four feet. Here are probabilities of 18 inches or snow or more for select locations in the Sierra Nevada from 10 PM PST this evening until 4 PM PST Friday afternoon: Badger Pass Ski Area - 93% Lodgepole - 90% Huntington Lake - 89% Wishon Lake - 86% Tuolumne Meadows - 67% Tioga Pass - 58% The heaviest rainfall associated with the atmospheric river is expected tonight through Thursday afternoon. Flooding and mudslides are possible in the Sierra Nevada below 5,000 feet and adjacent foothills due to rain amounts up to three inches. A few strong thunderstorms are conceivable in much of Central California Thursday afternoon and Thursday evening. Here are probabilities of one inch or more of rain for select locations in the San Joaquin Valley from 10 PM PST this evening until 4 PM PST Friday afternoon: Merced - 83% Clovis - 75% Madera - 71% Fresno - 68% Porterville - 67% Visalia - 62% Tulare - 56% Hanford - 49% Bakersfield - 35% There should be a brief break in precipitation Friday night and Saturday, before another atmospheric river impacts Central California late this weekend into early next week. && .AVIATION... VFR conditions will prevail this morning and this afternoon. MVFR or lower conditions are likely in and near precipitation this evening and tonight. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES... On Wednesday, January 31st, 2024, fireplace/wood stove burning status is: no burning for all in Kern and Kings Counties. No burning unless registered in Fresno and Madera Counties. Burning discouraged in 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 9 AM this morning to 4 AM PST Thursday for CAZ300>316. Winter Storm Warning above 5000 feet from 10 PM this evening to 4 PM PST Friday for CAZ323-326>331. Winter Storm Warning above 5000 feet from 4 AM Thursday to 4 PM PST Friday for CAZ333-334-336. High Wind Warning from 9 AM this morning to 4 AM PST Thursday for CAZ334>336. && Public/Aviation/Fire Weather...BS PIO/DSS........................EW weather.gov/hanford
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 high wind, 3 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The PG&E station at Joaquin Ridge measured a peak wind gust of 75 mph.
The Southern California Edison station at Beartrap Rd. measured a peak wind gust of 59 mph.
The PG&E station at Beartrap Rd. measured a peak wind gust of 61 mph.
California Highway Patrol reported a large tree down blocking both lanes of SR 184 at the Panama Rd. crossing.
California Highway Patrol reported a large tree blocking the intersection of Rose Ave. and Robin Ave.
California Highway Patrol reported a large tree down across Monterrey St. near Barlow St.
The Crane Flat RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 62 mph.
The Southern California Edison station at Beartrap Rd. measured a peak wind gust of 70 mph.
The Southern California Edison station in Tehachapi measured a peak wind gust of 63 mph.
The Southern California Edison station at Pigeon Spring measured a peak wind gust of 62 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: 1150341, 1150344, 1150345, 1150337, 1150338, 1150339, 1150340, 1150347, 1150342, 1150343.