Winter Storm — S Sierra Mtns, California

2004-10-19 to 2004-10-20 · S Sierra Mtns, California

Wider weather episode

Following the early-season Winter Storm that began on the 17th, extensively more snow fell on the 19th and 20th in the higher elevations of Central California. High winds accompanied this system throughout much of the state. This early winter storm caught numerous climbers and hikers throughout the Southern Sierra Nevada in the open. Two climbers in Yosemite National Park froze to death as they were climbing the El Capitan Face. Snow amounts for the period from the 19th through 21st in the South Sierra Nevada included 45" at Blackcap Basin; 40" at Gin Flat; 39" at Chilkroot Meadow, Tamarack Meadow, and Agnew Pass; and, 38" at Mitchell Pass and West Woodchuck Meadow. In the Tulare County Mountains 25" of snow was reported at Big Meadows with 22" at Farewell Gap. Accompanying the winter storm in the Southern Sierra Nevada were gusty wind throughout Interior Central California. In the Kern Mountains south winds were sustained at 15 MPH but had gusts to 50 MPH at the Bear Valley RAWS site west of Tehachapi, CA. On the Central San Joaquin Valley floor Fresno recorded a daily rain total of 0.75" shattering the old record of 0.21" on the date set in 1936.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5426016. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.