An early spring storm brought heavy mountain snow, rain, gusty winds and thunderstorms to interior northern California at the end of March and carried into the evening of April 1st. Storm total snow of 24 to 44 inches was reported above 5000 feet, from March 31 to April 2.
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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 STO wrote it up.
An early spring storm brought heavy mountain snow, rain, gusty winds and thunderstorms to interior northern California at the end of March and carried into the evening of April 1st. Storm total snow of 24 to 44 inches was reported above 5000 feet, from March 31 to April 2. Traffic was held on Interstate 80 between Alta and NV stateline due to heavy snow from approximately 10 AM to 2 PM on April 1st, with US Highway 50 held from Meyers to Echo Summit from 12 PM through 3 PM on April 1st. An EF-0 tornado was confirmed in Stanislaus County as well.
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 Sacramento, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 31, 12:53 PM PST, 11 hours 7 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Sacramento CA 153 PM PDT Mon Mar 31 2025 .Discussion... .Synopsis... A strong system will continue to impact the region through Tuesday evening bringing rain, heavy mountain snow, gusty southwest winds, and isolated thunderstorms. Only light showers currently expected over the northern Sierra on Wednesday into Thursday, with dry and warmer weather late in the week and over the weekend. .Key Messages... * Through 11 PM Tuesday: Winter Storm Warning for the northern Sierra and southern Cascades above 3500 feet. Snow levels fall to around 3000-4000 feet by this evening, then to around 3000 feet by early Tuesday. 48-hour Probability of snowfall > 12 inches: 85-100% above 5000 feet. Probability of snowfall > 24 inches: 65-95% above 5000 feet. * Through 5 PM Tuesday: Winter Storm Warning for the northern Coast Range and Shasta County mountains above 3000 feet. 48-hour Probability of snowfall > 12 inches: 50-90% above 3500 feet. * Southwest wind gusts up to 30-40 mph today in the Valley and foothills, and 45-65 mph over the Sierra Crest; strongest winds expected this afternoon. * 15-35% chance of afternoon/evening thunderstorms in the Valley/Foothills today and Tuesday. Main threats will be lightning, brief heavy rain, small hail and gusty winds. * Wednesday-Thursday: A weak system enters the region, with just some light showers over the northern Sierra. Little to no impacts are expected. * Drier and warmer weather returns late week into the weekend. .Changes from previous forecast... * Thunderstorm chances have trended slightly higher for today and Tuesday. && .AVIATION... Generally VFR conditions expected at TAF sites, although periods of MVFR/IFR possible in scattered SHRA next 24 hours, with isolated TSRA chances through 03z Thursday. IFR/LIFR conditions expected along the Sierra in snow showers next 24 hours. Snow levels 3500 to 4500 feet, falling to 3000 to 4000 feet after 03z. South to west winds gusting 20 to 30 kts at times through 03z across the Delta, Valley, and foothills, with stronger surface gusts up to 60 kts possible along the Sierra crest. Winds gradually trend down after 06z, but remain breezy into Tuesday. && .STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Warning until 5 PM PDT Tuesday for Mountains Southwestern Shasta County to Western Colusa County-Shasta Lake Area / Northern Shasta County-West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada- Western Plumas County/Lassen Park. &&
The San Francisco radar (KMUX), 98 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:13 UTC.
4 heavy snow, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Nearby CoCoRaHS at similar elevations measured 2 to 5 inches of snow above 3500 feet in 24 hours. The National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center estimated 2 to 6 inches of snow above 3000 feet with up to 6 to 12 inches at the higher peaks.
Nearby CoCoRaHS at similar elevations measured 2 to 5 inches of snow above 3500 feet in 24 hours. The National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center estimated 2 to 6 inches of snow above 3000 feet with up to 6 to 12 inches at the higher peaks.
CoCoRaHS in Shingletown measured 2 to 5 inches of snow above 3500 feet in 24 hours. The National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center estimated 2 to 6 inches of snow above 3500 feet with up to 6 to 12 inches at the higher peaks including Mount Lassen.
Caltrans District 3 measured 8 to 14 inches of snow above 5000 feet in 24 hours. UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab measured 13.2 inches over the same timeframe. Ski resorts in the Sierra measured 7 to 18 inches of snow above 6500 feet. The National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center estimated 24 hour snow totals to be around 2 to 6 inches above 3500 feet with 6 to 12 inches above 5000 feet and up to 12 to 18 inches at the highest peaks. Traffic was held on Interstate 80 between Alta and NV stateline due to heavy snow from approximately 10 AM to 2 PM on April 1st, with US Highway 50 held from Meyers to Echo Summit from 12 PM through 3 PM on April 1st.
A brief EF-0 tornado touched down at 2 ENE Salida at 2:13 PM PDT and was on the ground for 0.9 miles until 2:15 PM PDT. The tornado moved through several orchards and 3 properties. Dozens of almond trees were uprooted and large tree branches were broken. Minor structure damage observed at the properties included a covered patio and roof material ripped off, a broken window, and outbuilding and metal fencing was displaced, and a large trailer was lifted and moved approximately 20 feet.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for California, 2025Warnings in California, April 2025
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: 1248997, 1248998, 1249000, 1249003, 1248984.