Heavy Snow — S Sierra Mtns, California

2019-01-05 · S Sierra Mtns, California

Event narrative

Tuolumne Meadows measured 17 inches of new snow.

Wider weather episode

A Pacific low pressure system pushed into northern California during the morning of January 5. This system pushed a precipitation band through central California during the afternoon and evening of January 5 which produced a quarter to half of an inch of rain across much of the San Joaquin Valley and the Kern County Mountains and half an inch to an inch of liquid precipitation across the southern Sierra Nevada and an estimated 12 to 18 inches of snow fell above 7000 feet from SNOTEL observations. The Kern County Deserts were rain shadowed for much of this event and most areas only picked up a few hundredths of an inch of rain.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 792040. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.