A upper low pressure system moved across northern California on February 19 then across the Great Basin on February 20. This system pushed a cold front through central California which brought a period of increased winds to eastern Kern County during the evening of February 19 and the early morning of February 20.
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.
A upper low pressure system moved across northern California on February 19 then across the Great Basin on February 20. This system pushed a cold front through central California which brought a period of increased winds to eastern Kern County during the evening of February 19 and the early morning of February 20. Several stations measured peak gusts exceeding 45 mph and a few low impact indicator sites briefly had 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 Feb 19, 4:00 PM PST, 2 hours 27 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 400 PM PST Wed Feb 19 2025 .UPDATE...Updated air quality issues. && .KEY MESSAGES... 1. Drier conditions will prevail through the middle of next week as high pressure strengthens off the coast before moving inland. 2. There is a 40 to 65 percent chance for winds gusts greater than 50 mph in the Mojave Desert Slopes today and Thursday. 3. There is a likely chance for a strong warming trend across the region over the weekend, with the NWS CPC giving an 80 to 90 percent chance for above normal temperatures in the 6 to 10 day period. && .DISCUSSION... A trough coming into the northern west coast has brought some high clouds to the region, and will bring increased winds later this afternoon. Strong winds are expected for the Mojave Desert Slopes as a cold front associated with the trough aloft crosses the area. Wind gusts of 50 mph are likely for that area for today through tomorrow morning. A Wind Advisory is currently in effect and is set to expire at 7 AM tomorrow. The Valley is expected to remain dry as the front passes through, with the moisture primarily falling in the Pacific Northwest. This front will also result in a slight cooldown for tomorrow as cooler air is left behind in the wake of the ridge that is expected to build into the place o the trough. This ridge is expected to remain in place over the weekend and into early next week, which will push Valley temperatures into the 70's. There is currently close to a 100 percent chance for highs of 70 degrees or higher on both Sunday and Monday. Then a trough expected to pass over Washington and Oregon will lead to more zonal flow over the region, causing a slight dip in high's on Tuesday. Chances are still high for at least 70 degrees that day, but instead of near 100 percent, are 50 to 75 percent, a marked difference. The region will remain dry for at least another week, with highs well above normal for the time of year. The long term ensemble models are showing the next time precipitation of any kind is expected will be at the end of February/beginning of March, with current probabilities for measurable rain (0.01 inches) at 25 to 45 percent, as a weak trough may drop down from the North Pacific. Until then, dry weather will prevail for at least the next 7 days. && .AVIATION... 00Z Update: VFR conditions will prevail for the next 24 hours. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES... On Thursday February 20 2025, Fireplace/Wood Stove Burning Status is: No Burning Unless Registered in Fresno and Kern Counties. Burning Discouraged in Kings, Madera, Merced, and Tulare Counties, 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... Wind Advisory until 7 AM PST Thursday for CAZ338. && DS/EW/BSO weather.gov/hanford
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Bird Springs Pass RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 75 mph.
The Blue Max RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 64 mph.
The Jawbone Canyon RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 63 mph.
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: 1227992, 1227991, 1227990.