Heavy Snow — Sequoia Np, California

2024-02-18 to 2024-02-19 · Sequoia Np, California

Event narrative

The Crabtree Meadow SNOTEL (10700 feet) picked up and estimated 15 inches of new snowfall.

Wider weather episode

A large slow moving upper low pressure system off the northern California Coast pulled up a deep fetch of moisture of tropical origin which pushed into central California during the late afternoon of February 18 through the evening of February 19. A period of strong wind gusts accompanied the precipitation during the morning of January 19 and the snow level was around 7500 feet for much of the event. Much of the San Joaquin Valley and West Side Hills picked up between a half inch and an inch of rainfall. The Sierra Nevada and adjacent foothills generally picked up between an inch and 2 inches of liquid precipitation with several SNOTELS picking up an estimated 12 to 20 inches of new snowfall. Between a quarter and a half of an inch of rain fell across most of the Tehachapi Mountain range while the Kern County Deserts generally had less than a quarter inch of rainfall. Scattered thunderstorm broke out over the San Joaquin Valley by late morning on January 19 and continued through late afternoon. Several of the thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall and small hail. There were also several reports of roadway flooding in the Visalia area. The precipitation tapered off by late evening.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1152896. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.