Blizzard in California
Every blizzard event the National Weather Service has filed in California, year by year, with the most significant episodes. Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.
The most significant on the map
The most significant blizzard episodes in California.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The record
- Events
- 44
- Deaths
- 1
- Injuries
- 0
- Damage
- $150,000
Every year
The most significant
Ranked by deaths, injuries, damage and size together.
- Blizzard and High Wind in California, January 4 to 5, 2008A powerful Pacific storm brought widespread winds gusting to 60 mph and in some areas to more than 80 mph across interior Northern California, causing extensive damage and numerous power outages.
- Blizzard and Avalanche in California, March 1 to 3, 2018A strong upper level low over the northeast Pacific on February 28th moved southeast, reaching southern Oregon/northern California on the 1st of March. This system brought high winds and snowfall to the Sierra Nevada and western Nevada through the 3rd.
- Blizzard and Avalanche in California, January 9 to 12, 2017Strong low pressure over the northeast Pacific on the 9th moved southeast slowly, reaching northern California on the 12th. This brought exceptional snowfall and a period of blizzard conditions to the Sierra with considerable impacts.
- Blizzard and Heavy Snow in California, February 26 to 28, 2023A major winter storm brought heavy mountain and low elevation snow with blizzard conditions in the Sierra, where 5 to 7 feet of storm total snow was reported, with locally higher amounts. Significant power outages, school closures, and road closures were observed.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in California, January 26 to 29, 2021A cold trough from the Gulf of Alaska dropped into Northern California which brought a high impact winter storm to the region. Widespread precipitation, low snow levels of 500 to 2500 feet, and strong and damaging wind resulted.
- Blizzard and Avalanche in California, January 27 to 29, 2021A very strong atmospheric river combined with a cold, dynamic area of low pressure produced significant snowfall across northeast California and the Sierra Nevada.
- Blizzard and High Wind in California, February 20 to 21, 2000A 70-knot gust of wind as 12:30 AM on the 21st damaged a glider and felled a 3-foot diameter tree at Mountain Valley Airport. Subsequent reports of roof damage from high wind was also received from the California City area in the Kern County Desert.
- Blizzard in California, December 22, 1996Blizzard conditions developed across parts of Mono County from 3 PM to 9 PM. Wind gusts of 61 to as high as 87 kts were reported in the Mammoth Lakes area. A tree fell on a house in Mammoth Lakes. Another tree fell on a power line, knocking power out for over half the town.
- Blizzard in California, July 10, 2002
- Blizzard in California, April 3, 19996 inches of snow in 3 hours with visibilities ranging from 0 to 300 feet in South Lake Tahoe. A 13 car accident was reported on US Highway 50.
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in California, February 22 to 25, 2023A powerful winter storm brought heavy rain, heavy snow and strong winds to Southwestern California. Rainfall totals ranged from 2 to 5 inches across coastal and valleys areas with 4 to 10 inches across the foothills and mountains.
- Flash Flood and Blizzard in California, February 21 to 26, 2023An intense period of heavy snow and blizzard conditions, damaging winds, low-elevation snow and widespread flooding rainfall plagued Southern California February 21-27.
- Blizzard and Heavy Snow in California, January 27 to 28, 2008Yet another winter storm brought another round of heavy snow to Northern California and Southern Oregon. The snow level dropped to sea level during this event...bringing snow to areas that rarely get any snow.
- Blizzard and Heavy Snow in California, January 1 to 2, 2004An extraordinary winter storm struck Oregon and Northern California on January 1, 2004. A multitude of warnings and advisories were issued to cover this event. The California warnings are summarized below.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in California, February 27 to 28, 2023This winter storm shaped out to be the strongest of our recent series of late February winter storms. A low positioned off-shore the Pacific Northwest set a favorable pattern for the transport of colder northern Pacific moisture that wrapped into an attendant cold front.
- Blizzard and Heavy Snow in California, December 20 to 23, 2012A long lasting winter storm occurred during this interval, caused by a series of closely spaced storms.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in California, March 1 to 3, 2024The coldest and snowiest storm of the season that started on February 29th lingered into early March, bringing blizzard conditions to the Sierra with heavy mountain snow and strong, gusty winds. Rain and thunderstorms were also observed.
- Blizzard and Heavy Snow in California, January 27 to 28, 2008A powerful winter storm brought 2 to 3 feet of snow to the Sierra Nevada, and strong winds to the Sierra and western Nevada.
- Blizzard and Heavy Snow in California, January 30 to 31, 2008The snow kept on coming. Another storm moved in at the end of January. A Heavy Snow Warning was issued for California zones CAZ080/082/083 above 2000 feet at 30/0220, effective from 30/2200 until 31/1600. The warning elevation was raised to 2500 feet at 30/1059 PST.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in California, February 29, 2024The coldest and snowiest storm of the season arrived at the end of February and continued into early March, bringing substantial disruptions to daily life.
- Blizzard in California, January 3 to 4, 2008Multiple storm systems contributed to a historic heavy snow event over Northern California from 01/03 to 01/05/08. The event started off as a wind and snow event with blizzard conditions occurring in a number of places.
- Blizzard in California, December 22, 1996A cold front sweeping through the San Bernardino and Riverside Mountains generated strong winds and heavy, wet snow in elevations above 6000 feet.
- Blizzard and Heavy Snow in California, February 9, 2019Several storms in February brought heavy snow to unusually low elevations, making a great impact in some areas. This was the first of the storms.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in California, January 26 to 27, 2021A front stalled over the area on these dates, bringing an extended period of heavy snow and wind to northern California.
- Blizzard in California, December 6, 2004A Snow and Blowing Snow Advisory was in effect at the time of this report. This report met the criteria for a Blizzard Warning, but it was the only report definitely verifying such conditions.
More
Sources
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.