High Wind — Southern Sacramento Valley, California

2008-01-04 · Southern Sacramento Valley, California

Event narrative

A 71 mph gust was measured 4 miles west northwest of Elk Grove. A 69 mph wind gust was measured at Sacramento Executive Airport and a 66 mph wind gust was measured at Sacramento International Airport. The State Legislature building had several windows broken and proceedings were forced to be suspended. Many trees were reported down, including an 80 foot oak tree near the interesection of Elm and Hazel in Sacramento. PG&E reported many power poles down throughout the area and thousands of residents and businesses were without power for up to seven days. Several big rigs were reported down by the CHP, including one on I-5 south of River Rd. in Woodland, and another on I-80 east of State Route 113.

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 79050. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.