A low pressure system moved inland out of the Pacific Ocean into central California during the morning of February 6. As a result, widespread precipitation spread across the area during the late morning and early afternoon hours.
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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 HNX wrote it up.
A low pressure system moved inland out of the Pacific Ocean into central California during the morning of February 6. As a result, widespread precipitation spread across the area during the late morning and early afternoon hours. Much of the Sierra Nevada picked up between 0.75 and 1.50 inches of liquid precipitation with the snow level rising from 6500 feet on the morning of February 6 to around 8000 feet by late afternoon. Several SNOTELs above 8000 feet picked up an estimated 5 to 10 inches of new snowfall. Much of the Sierra Foothills picked up between a half inch and an inch of rainfall while much of the San Joaquin Valley, the West Side Hills north of Kern County as well as the Kern River Valley generally picked up between a quarter and a half inch of rain. Rainfall amounts were generally a tenth of an inch or less in the far south end of the San Joaquin Valley, the Tehachapi Mountains and over the Kern County Desert areas. This system also brought some strong wind gusts to the area with several ridge top stations and stations in the Sierra Nevada measuring gusts exceeding 45 mph while a few stations had gusts above 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 6, 9:40 AM PST, 20 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Hanford CA 940 AM PST Thu Feb 6 2025 .UPDATE...Updated Aviation Section. && .KEY MESSAGES... 1. A winter storm will move through central California today and Friday and bring more precipitation to the area with thunderstorms possible in the San Joaquin Valley and sierra foothills. 2. A Winter Storm Warning continues for elevations above 6,000 feet in the Sierra Nevada with accumulations of one to two feet of new snow. 3. Cooler and drier weather is expected for the weekend into the early portion of next week. && .DISCUSSION...Next storm is on the way and expected to arrive around the mid- day period. In the meanwhile, Central California could see a few patches of fog with visibility down to a mile or so. Ensemble mean onset of precipitation is around 1100 PST with ensemble plume analysis showing precipitation starting as early as 0700 PST. Based on where the main area of the next storm is currently located on IR satellite imagery, will opt for the 1100 PST start time with the bulk of the next moisture moving in closer to 1600 PST. In the meanwhile, another cold morning on tap as overnight low dip down into the mid to upper 30s. While the Probability of Exceedance (PoE) of reaching 32 degrees is 10% or less across the San Joaquin Valley, PoE of 35 degrees does go up to 10%-20% in a few spots. Therefore, a good chance (40%-60%) exist of having many valley locations reach the 39 degree mark this morning. Wind-wise, surface pressure gradients from KSFO to KLAS expected to remain relaxed and below 6mb as strong winds remain aloft and over the high country of the Sierra Nevada. Northern California could see some windy conditions that may extend into Merced and Mariposa Counties. The next 24-36 hours will see a Winter Storm hit Central California with snow above 6,000 feet from moisture having Atmospheric River (AR) characteristic (though limited). Afterward, the weekend is expected to remain clear as cold air inhabits Central California for possible freezing overnight conditions through early next week. In the short term, Precip-Water Satellite Imagery is showing the plume of higher moisture (around 1 inch) surging toward Northern/Central California. While ensemble surface analysis has the center of low about 850-900 miles offshore, the center is expected to may landfall around 1600 PST today with ever-deeper moisture surging ashore ahead of the low. Therefore, with ensemble precip-water one inch line hitting the Central California Coast by 1000 PST, confidence is high on the expected onset of precipitation at around 1100 PST as Probability of Measurable Precipitation (PoMP) jumps to 60%. By 1600 PST, a majority of Central California north of Kern County will have PoMP in the 50% to 100% range with higher values favoring the higher elevations. In addition, PoMP of 0.50 of an inch in a six hour period will remain over the higher elevations where values will range from 50% to 80% between 1600 PST today and 1000 PST on Friday. This is also the time frame where ensemble consensus places the highest values of Integrated Water Vapor Transport (IVT) of almost 500 kg/ms (near moderate AR) and increases the confidence of at least a Weak AR hitting Central California. With this, will maintain the Winter Storm Warning in place as snowfall will reach 2-3 feet and locally 4 feet. Looking lower in elevation, Extreme Forecast Index, along with WPC’s Excessive Rainfall Outlook of at least 5% Marginal Risk, leans toward higher precipitation values during the next event. The limited moisture will need to be watched as precipitation accumulation (if higher values are obtained with Thunderstorms) may approach flooding impacts. By later on Friday, the storm is expected to exit the area with other concerns developing. In the long term, ensemble clear out the Central California Interior as cold air moves in behind the next storm. Ensemble minimum temperature analysis along with Extreme Forecast Index show the surge of cold drier air moving south into the region this weekend with near freezing expected by Sunday Morning. Once the cold air is over the region, PoE of reaching 32 degree or below will range from 40% to 60% from Sunday through at least Tuesday. During this time, ensemble agreement is not the best, but does indicate a possible ridge pattern to maintain a stable atmosphere for the period in question. By Wednesday, ensemble hint toward another introduction of moisture later next week. As moisture enter the area, PoE of freezing diminishes with a trend toward Minimum temperature moving back into the 40’s by day seven. && .AVIATION...18Z Update: In the San Joaquin Valley, increasing areas of MVFR in rain thru 22Z Thu with local IFR in rain, mist and low clouds. Isolated thunderstorms are possible. Conditions continuing thru 18Z Fri. In the Sierra Nevada in adjacent foothills, increasing areas of mountain obscuring IFR in rain, higher elevation snow and low clouds thru 22Z with mountain obscuring IFR prevailing between 22Z Thu and 18Z Fri. Isolated thunderstorms are possible in the foothills. In the Tehachapi Mountains, VFR thru 21Z Thu then increasing areas of rain and mountain obscuring IFR between 21Z Thu and 03Z Fri with mountain obscuring IFR prevailing between 03Z Fri and 18Z Fri. In the Mojave Desert portion of Kern County, VFR conditions will prevail thru 18Z Fri. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES...On Thursday February 6 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 high. 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... Winter Storm Warning until 4 PM PST Friday for CAZ323-326>328- 330. && public...Molina aviation...DAS weather.gov/hanford
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley CA
903 AM PST Thu Feb 6 2025
CAZ317-318-323-061730-
Mariposa-Madera Lower Sierra CA-Yosemite NP outside of the valley CA-
Mariposa Madera Foothills CA-
903 AM PST Thu Feb 6 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTH CENTRAL MARIPOSA AND
SOUTHWESTERN TUOLUMNE COUNTIES THROUGH 930 AM PST...
At 902 AM PST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles southeast of Smith Station, or 25 miles northwest of Yosemite
South Entrance, moving northeast at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Hetch Hetchy, Hetch Hetchy Ranger Station, Miguel Meadow Ranger
Station, Gin Flat, Lower Kibbie Ridge, Lake Eleanor Ranger Station,
Crane Flat Campground, White Wolf Campground, Rancheria Falls
Wilderness Campground, Crane Flat, Hodgdon Meadow Campground, and
Mather Ranger Station.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3789 11953 3761 12001 3774 12015 3783 12008
3776 11994 3776 11990 3777 11986 3781 11987
3785 11982 3789 11982 3790 11988 3803 11988
3809 11984 3809 11976
TIME...MOT...LOC 1702Z 230DEG 33KT 3771 12002
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
JPKThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 high wind, 5 winter weather, 2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Several SNOTELs above 8000 feet picked up an estimated 5 to 10 inches of new snowfall.
Several SNOTELs above 8000 feet picked up an estimated 5 to 10 inches of new snowfall.
Several SNOTELs above 8000 feet picked up an estimated 5 to 10 inches of new snowfall.
Several SNOTELs above 8000 feet picked up an estimated 5 to 10 inches of new snowfall.
Several SNOTELs above 8000 feet picked up an estimated 5 to 10 inches of new snowfall.
California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding at the intersection of N. Friant Rd. and North Fork Rd.
California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding at the intersection of Ave. 96 and Rd. 208.
The Southern California Edison station at Huntington Lake measured a peak wind gust of 58 mph.
The PG&E station at Las Yeguas measured a peak wind gust of 67 mph.
The PG&E station at Yosemite Pilot Peak measured a peak wind gust of 72 mph.
The Crane Flat RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 60 mph.
The Alcalde RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 64 mph.
The PG&E station at Joaquin Ridge measured a peak wind gust of 61 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: 1226187, 1226188, 1226189, 1226190, 1226191, 1226177, 1226179, 1226172, 1226169, 1226171, 1226167, 1226165, 1226166.