Winter Weather — Frazier Mountain Communities, California

2021-12-29 to 2021-12-30 · Frazier Mountain Communities, California

Event narrative

Several road closures were reported by California Highway Patrol and the California Department of Transportation. Several stations measured 2 to 5 inches of new snowfall above 4000 feet.

Wider weather episode

A low pressure system dropped slowly southward along the California coast on December 29 and 30 resulting in much of the area picking up between a quarter to half an inch of liquid precipitation. The snow level varied during this event beginning at around 2000 feet during the morning of December 29, but quickly rising to around 5000 feet by the afternoon of December 29. Snow levels lowered overnight to around 4000 feet by the morning of December 30 resulting in accumulation snow on several roads in the Kern County Mountains. Interstate 5 was closed through Tejon Pass for a few hours as a result of snow fall disabling several vehicles trying to travel through the area. A surge of milder marine air pushed in over the Tehachapi Mountains during the afternoon of December 30 resulting in the snow turning to rain and temperatures rising well above the freezing mark. The precipitation ended by early evening as the slow moving low moved out of the area.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 990797. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.