Winter Storm — South End of the Upper Sierra, California

2025-11-17 · South End of the Upper Sierra, California

Event narrative

Public reported snow totals of 3.3 inches at Pine Mountain At 6000 feet.

Wider weather episode

A prolonged period with significant precipitation occurred on the 13th until the 17th due to a series of systems that brought abundant moisture. Many San Joaquin Valley locations received around 1-3 inches of rain for that period, and the Sierra Nevada foothills, as well as the Sierra Nevada below the snow line, received around 3-6 inches. Snow levels varied from around 8,000 to 9,500 feet from the 13th until the 16th, then lowered to around 5,000 feet by the 17th. The Kern County mountains received a few inches of snow towards Frazier Park on the 17th and 18th, mainly at elevations above 5,000 feet. However, rain fell at the lower elevations, as well as along Tejon Pass towards Lebec. Many Kern County locations received 1 to 2 inches of rain in the San Joaquin Valley and the Kern County desert, while about 2-4 inches of rain fell in the mountain areas.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1302109. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.