An upper low pressure system approached the southern California coast during the evening of February 27 and the morning of February 28. The southerly flow ahead of the low mixed downward and produced strong downslope winds in the Grapevine area with a few stations reporting gusts exceeding 60 mph.
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.
An upper low pressure system approached the southern California coast during the evening of February 27 and the morning of February 28. The southerly flow ahead of the low mixed downward and produced strong downslope winds in the Grapevine area with a few stations reporting 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 27, 9:04 PM PST, 2 hours 26 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 904 PM PST Thu Feb 27 2025 .UPDATE...Updated for 06Z Aviation and cancelled Wind Advisory. && .KEY MESSAGES... 1. There is a high probability for above normal maximum temperatures Thursday & Friday. 2. Cool down begins Friday into Early Next Week. 3. Precipitation chances increase this weekend, with another round midweek. && .DISCUSSION... We have had a ridge of high pressure over us the past few days leading to warm afternoons. This ridge has led us to look out for records to be broken today in the Valley. Bakersfield has a 70 percent chance of shattering its high temperature record of 83 degrees with even a 30 percent chance of a high of at least 87. Bakersfield has the highest probabilities as they are going to see strong southeasterly gusts from the Tehachapi Mountains this afternoon. Merced has a 40 percent chance of breaking its record of 77, Madera has a 25 percent chance of tying or breaking its record of 78, Fresno has a 35 percent chance of tying or breaking its record of 79, and Hanford has a 35 percent chance of tying or breaking its record of 81. However, we also have a Wind Advisory in Kern County Mountains due to wind gusts hitting 45 mph in the Grapevine. Luckily, latest ensembles are in agreement that there will be a change as a cutoff low sweeps through Southern California Friday into Saturday. This first low brings our first chance of rain and snow in about two weeks with a 50 to 70 percent chance of a dusting of snow in the Sierra Nevada above 6,000 feet. However, the Valley and foothills have a 20 to 50 percent chance of any rain accumulation. We have a stronger trough moving in Sunday into Monday bringing a 20 to 40 percent chance of a quarter inch of rain into the Valley. The foothills have a 15 to 40 percent chance of an inch or more of rain with this second system. The Sierra Nevada has a 30 to 60 percent chance of 6 inches or more of snow above 6,000 feet. Tuesday will be drier as a weak ridge develops in the wake of this trough. On Wednesday, another strong trough moves in bringing in another dose of rain and snow to the area through Friday. This system brings a 45 to 65 percent chance of at least an inch of rain total to the foothills and a 25 to 55 percent chance of half inch or more of rain in the Valley. The Sierra have a 35 to 65 percent chance of 12 inches or more of snow with this third system. The CPC has picked up on this with a 40 to 60 percent chance of below average temperatures and a 50 to 60 percent chance of above average precipitation in its outlook. && .AVIATION... 06Z Friday update: VFR conditions will prevail throughout the Central California interior for the next 24 hours. Gusty easterly winds near 25 kts are expected at KBFL until 09Z Friday. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES... On Friday February 28 2025, Fireplace/Wood Stove Burning Status is: Burning Discouraged in Fresno, Kern, 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... None. && JPK/SM/Meadows/BSO weather.gov/hanford
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The PG&E station at Arvin Hills measured a peak wind gust of 59 mph.
The PG&E station at Lebec 5NW measured a peak wind gust of 70 mph.
The Southern California Edison station at Tejon Hills measured a peak wind gust of 81 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: 1229838, 1229837, 1229839.