High Wind — Central San Joaquin Valley, California

1999-02-09 · Central San Joaquin Valley, California

Event narrative

Gusty wind was reported beginning at 0625 PST in the Central San Joaquin Valley in Livingston with more gusty wind reports of 30 to 40 MPH as a coldfront moved southeastward through the area. An estimated gust of 44 knots occurred at the Fresno Air Terminal ASOS site at 1147 PST and a 100 year old oak tree was toppled in Reedley around noon. A blowing dust report was received from the Coalinga area around 0755 PST.

Wider weather episode

A period of inclement weather began in Interior Central California very early on the 6th of February with initial reports of high wind in the foothills of the Southern Sierra Nevada (56 MPH at Oakhurst), and events continued through the 9th. The latter portion of this period was marked by a winter storm in the higher elevations. Lower elevations had substantial rainfall along with gusty wind accompanying frontal passage in the late morning hours and early afternoon of the 9th. Over 55,000 utility customers lost power from the snow and wind. In the Fresno area, power was lost to 27,000 customers alone as 13 power poles blew down in northwest Fresno and another 22 were downed throughout the area. In the mountain areas numerous instances of gusty wind to 45 MPH were reported along with substantial rainfall amounts such as the 1.75 inches of rain in the 18-hour period prior to 1110 PST on the 9th at Fish Camp. Tuolumne Meadows in the Southern Sierra Nevada received 9 inches of snow by 0800 PST on the 7th, 23 inches by the 8th, 9 inches by the 9th, and 20 inches reported by 0800 PST on the 10th. Yosemite received 9 inches of snow by the morning of the 8th and 10th with Lodgepole in the Tulare County Mountains receiving 13 inches by the morning of both the 8th and 10th. Near Wishon 24 inches of snow fell on the 9th. In the Kern County Mountains, Tehachapi received 12 inches of snow by the 10th. Rainfall occurring on Sunday the 7th through 0800 on the 8th ranged from 2 to 2.5 inches at CA Zone 22, Southern Sierra Nevada foothill reporting points. San Joaquin Valley 24-hour rainfall amounts varied from near an inch at Merced decreasing to 1/4 inch at Bakersfield.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5689074. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.