High Wind — Central Sierra Foothills, California

2020-02-09 · Central Sierra Foothills, California

Event narrative

A personal weather station at Cascadel Heights measured a peak wind gust of 93 mph.

Wider weather episode

A upper level low pressure system dropped southward along the crest of the Sierra Nevada on the evening of February 8 and morning of February 9 then strengthened over southern California during the afternoon of February 9 through the morning of February 10. This system produced a very strong offshore gradient which resulted in damaging northeast winds over the Sierra Nevada mainly over Yosemite Park and Sierra National Forest as well as over the adjacent foothills. The winds knocked down many drought killed trees over the Sierra, and produced widespread property damage over the Sierra foothills in Madera County. There were also several reports of wind gusts between 60 and 70 mph over the Kern County Mountains and Deserts between the evening of February 8 and morning of February 10.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 868100. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.