High Wind — Central Sacramento Valley, California

2008-01-04 · Central Sacramento Valley, California

Event narrative

High wind was recorded across the area including a 69 mph wind gust at Yuba City, a 66 mph wind gust at Chico airport, and a 61 mph wind gust at Marysville airport. A Yuba County employee was killed along Griffith Avenue just south of North Beale Road in Linda when he was struck by a falling eucalyptus tree branch while clearing roads of debris. There were many power outages due to power poles down from fallen trees and hundreds of customers were without power for up to seven days. Fallen trees and branches and flying debris also damaged cars and buildings. Sutter County Regional Airport had hangar and plane damage.

Wider weather episode

A powerful Pacific storm brought widespread winds gusting to 60 mph and in some areas to more than 80 mph across interior Northern California, causing extensive damage and numerous power outages. Rainfall and liquid equivalent amounts ranged from 2 to 3 inches in the northern Central Valley and 4 to 11 inches in the mountains of Shasta County. Snowfall totals of 3 to 11 feet were reported in the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains, with winds up to and possibly exceeding 100 mph coupled with heavy snow bringing blizzard conditions.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 79048. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.