Heavy Snow in South End of the Lower Sierra, California

CHP reported moderate to heavy snow with multiple vehicles stuck in snow on Cuddy

Valley Rd at Mt Pinos Rd.

A strong atmospheric river moved through California late on December 23rd into the afternoon of December 24th. Very heavy rainfall and strong gusty winds were observed across most of our County Warning Area (CWA). The heaviest rainfall was observed in Fresno, Mariposa and Kern County. Rainfall ranged from around half inch up to four inches in some localized areas. Flash flooding occurred mainly in eastern Kern County were several roads or closed.

Wet pattern began in the region during the early morning hours of the 24th and lasted until the 26th. Many locations reported 2-4 inches of rain, and some other locations reported as much as 9-10 inches of rain, mainly towards Shaver Lake and Dinkey Creek in the Sierra Nevada in Fresno County. About 2-4 feet of snow fell at elevations above 7,000 feet, and snow levels lowered to about 6,000 feet by the 26th. Some vehicles were stuck in snow as far south as Kern County, or in Pine Mountain Club on the afternoon of the 26th. Heavy rain prompted Flood Warnings over the burn scars in Fresno and Kern Counties and Flood Advisories in the Central Valley and quite a bit of the higher terrain adjacent to the San Joaquin Valley. Gusty winds developed each day during this period, with the strongest gusts in the Coastal Ranges that reached above 60 mph. In addition, isolated thunderstorms popped up over parts of the Central Valley in the afternoon and early evening of the 26th which produced mainly lightning, gusty winds, and brief moderate rainfall.