The strong winter storm on February 13 and 14 brought enough precipitation to the area to offset the drought conditions which had developed in much of Kern County due to a long term precipitation deficit. The drought ended over the Tehachapi Mountains, but moderate drought conditions persisted in the desert areas.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 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.
The strong winter storm on February 13 and 14 brought enough precipitation to the area to offset the drought conditions which had developed in much of Kern County due to a long term precipitation deficit. The drought ended over the Tehachapi Mountains, but moderate drought conditions persisted in the desert areas.
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, 9:57 PM PST, 2 hours 3 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 957 PM PST Fri Jan 31 2025 .UPDATE... Aviation Section and minor updates to Key Messages and Discussion. && && .KEY MESSAGES... 1. A pattern shift will start this weekend, bringing strong chances for rainfall to the northern areas of our CWA. THere is a 40 to 80 percent chance for 0.5 inches of rainfall in the northern San Joaquin Valley, with a 65 to 85 percent chance for 1 inch in the Sierra Nevada and Foothills. 2. A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for the Sierra Nevada from Yosemite National Park to Kings National Park as six to twelve inches of snowfall is expected above 8,000 feet; totals up to three feet are possible at the highest elevations. 3. Strong wind gusts are expected along the crests of the Sierra Nevada associated with the upcoming storm system. There is a 50 to 70 percent chance for wind gusts greater than 50 miles per hour. A Wind Advisory has been issued. 4. A stronger storm is favored for next week with the storm total having a 55 to 85 percent chance for at least half an inch in the Valley and a similar chance of an inch or more in the foothills. && .DISCUSSION... A significant pattern change is underway for California as a trough off the coast of the Northwest CONUS is pulling tropical moisture into mainly Northern California, but portions of Central California as well. This will result is moderate precipitation for the northern parts of the Sierra Nevada and adjacent foothills, with the strongest precipitation expected tomorrow. Since the moisture is originating from the tropics, the storm system is overall a warm one, with snow levels expected to be around 8,000 feet for the duration of the system. Moderate to heavy snowfall is still expected above that elevation, with 6 to 12 inches of snow forecast above 8,000 feet. The highest elevations can expect up to 3 feet of snow, due to the large amount of moisture this system is expected to bring in. A Winter Storm Warning is in place for the Yosemite National Park, as well as the Kings Canyon National Park, until 4 AM Sunday. With the Winter Storm Warning is strong winds, where gusts of 50 mph are expected with the snow to the north, but also in the Southern Sierra Nevada, where a Wind Advisory has been issued. These strong winds are expected to last from 4 AM tomorrow through 10 PM Sunday. Moderate rainfall is expected for the lower elevations as well, with the bulk of rain forecast to fall in the Sierra Nevada and the adjacent foothills, mainly in Mariposa and Madera Counties. There is also a Marginal Risk (<5%) of excessive rainfall for those areas tomorrow, and a Slight Risk (<15%) of excessive rainfall in the northern portion of Mariposa County. For this reason, a Flood Watch has been issued for the Foothills regions of Mariposa and Madera Counties, also including Yosemite Valley, as these areas may see 3-4 inches of rainfall in a 72 hour period. This would also present a risk for the French burn scar next to the city of Mariposa, as heavy rainfall over a short time period may result in flash flooding. Looking to next week, the trough in the Northwest is expected to dig further south by Tuesday and Wednesday, resulting in the moisture shifting from mostly Northern California and a portion of Central California, to directing the moisture fully into Central California and into Southern California. With the tropical moisture directed at our region, rainfall is expected to be more intense and widespread, with the Marginal Risk for excessive rainfall extended to include the San Joaquin Valley and Sierra Foothills to the north of Delano on Tuesday. Current probabilities for rainfall have a 55 to 85 percent chance for at least half an inch in the Valley and a similar chance of an inch or more in the foothills over the duration of the system, from Tuesday through at least Thursday. With heavier rainfall comes heavier snowfall, with the Sierra Nevada above 7,000 feet seeing a 50 to 60 percent chance for 2 feet of snow. && .AVIATION... 06Z Update: Slight chance (10%-20%) of MVFR in low clouds and rain in the San Joaquin Valley. Widespread MVFR to IFR in the Sierra Nevada due to low clouds and precipitation. In the Tehachapi Mountains and the Mojave Desert in Kern County, VFR conditions will prevail thru 06Z Sat. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES... ISSUED: 01/31/2025 15:09 EXPIRES: 02/01/2025 23:59 On Saturday February 1 2025, Fireplace/Wood Stove Burning Status is: No Burning Unless Registered in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, and Tulare Counties. Burning Discouraged 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... Flood Watch through late Saturday night for CAZ317-318-324. Winter Storm Warning until 4 AM PST Sunday for CAZ323-326-328. Wind Advisory from 4 AM Saturday to 10 PM PST Sunday for CAZ330-331. && Public..............SM/JPK Aviation/Updates....JPK IDSS/PIO............BSO weather.gov/hanford
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
The Indian Wells Valley was classified as being in an moderate drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The Mojave Desert Slopes were classified as being in an moderate drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The Mojave Desert was classified as being in an moderate drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in California, February 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: 1229945, 1229946, 1229947.